Sunday 20 July 2014
Tory Ban 'Will Make Legal Strikes Near-Impossible,' TUC Warns
Picture displayed by Street Democracy UK
A TORY strike ban pledge unveiled as the Toldpuddle Martyr’s festival began yesterday “will make legal strikes close to impossible,” TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said yesterday.
Ms O'Grady said that conservative plans for a strike vote turnout threshold of 50 per cent would “fundamentally shift the balance of power” behind bosses and see pay slump — even for people who have never been in a union.
And she hit back at other measures revealed in the new Tory manifesto, which was published even as thousands gathered to remember one of Britain's most historic battles for union rights at Tolpuddle in Dorset.
Unions will be forced to carry out complicated strike ballots that require members to vote on minute details of disputes under the Tory proposals.
Bbosses must be given 14 days' notice of a strike rather than the current seven and mandates will be limited to three months.
And even if unions meet the threshold — which no serving MP has managed — members could face criminal charges if they break strict new picketing rules.
Ms O’Grady will fire back at the biggest Tory attack on workers’ rights in decades in a speech at the annual festival on Sunday.
Tolpuddle celebrates six farm workers who were transported to Australia for the crime of forming a union to boost their pay, which was the equivalent of 30p a week in today’s money.
Speaking ahead of the rally, Ms O’Grady told the Star: “Back in 1834 the government used the law to send six farm workers to Australia to stop them campaigning against low pay.
“Today Conservative politicians are threatening to change the law on ballots to stop workers from taking strike action against low pay.”
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude told House Magazine the Tories will be frustrated in their efforts to make their plans law before 2015.
“We are well into the session and it’s a short session anyway,” he said in the issue, released yesterday.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Michael Dugher lambasted “the cheek” of Tory MPs elected with minority support lecturing unions on democracy.
He said: “This is desperate stuff by a Conservative Party that has given up any pretence of standing up for working people.”
For more click here for Morning Star:
