Renfrewshire trade unions have blasted Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss for saying that they would introduce legislation that would ban workers from striking.
The two Conservative candidates for prime minister said in a TV interview this week that they were both committed to banning workers from striking in order to prevent the kind of disruption that we’ve seen on the railway network this summer.
This has drawn the ire of Renfrewshire trade unions who decried an ‘onslaught’ from the Conservatives on workers rights.
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The question put to the pair by Sophie Raworth in a BBC debate earlier this week was whether they would “ban strikes in essential public services like the railways,” to which Sunak responded: “Yes, it’s a manifesto promise and we need to deliver on it.” Truss also replied: “I’ll do it.”
Educational workers union, EIS and public service worker union, Unison, both have branches in Renfrewshire. Both have slammed the Conservative party’s attack on the democratic rights of workers.
Kenny Fella, EIS Renfrewshire Secretary said: “The recent pronouncements from the Tory candidates in the election for a new Prime Minister are just further examples of the ongoing Tory attempts to undermine trade unions.
“It is a fundamental right in a democracy for trade union members to campaign for better pay, conditions and health and safety for their members including industrial action as a last resort.”
Mark Ferguson, Unison Renfrewshire secretary went even further, saying that the 2016 Trade Union Act, which introduced restrictions on trade unions and their members as to how and when they could take industrial action, fund political parties, and conduct their duties, should be abolished.
He said: “[Striking] is the last resort for workers, but at times it is necessary. If they don't have rights to withdraw their labour, then it gives employers no incentive to behave appropriately. And to try and stop that right to strike is undemocratic.
“If you look at the police, fire service, health, public sector workers, local government, they’re delivering public services, and their pay has fallen over the last 10 years way behind the private sector.
“And I think that it will do more damage overall, to public services, because I think there will be workers, who will have to take unlawful action if they’re not allowed to take industrial action.”
Kenny Fella added that the plans are a kick in the teeth to workers who were on the frontline throughout the pandemic, working to keep people safe and keep the wheel of the economy turning.
“What adds insult to injury with this Tory onslaught on public service trade unions is the lack of recognition of the effort and commitment demonstrated by public service workers in keeping services running during the Covid pandemic.” Said Kenny.
And he promised that if the planned legislation goes ahead his union will be out on the streets campaigning against it.
“EIS Renfrewshire will be ready to join with the wider trade union movement in challenging any further attempts to weaken the ability of trade unions to improve the working lives of their members.” He said.
The Conservatives are proposing that there be a legally binding minimum service requirement for key industries, that could affect teachers, postal workers and the energy sector, among others.
Liz Truss is also proposing that the threshold for strike action to go ahead in any ballot of union members be raised from 40 per cent to 50 per cent.
As well as increasing the minimum notice period for strike action from two weeks to four weeks – a pledge which would make it easier for industries to use new powers to employ agency workers to run services.
Announcing the policies, Truss said: “We need tough and decisive action to limit trade unions’ ability to paralyse our economy. I will do everything in my power to make sure that militant action from trade unions can no longer cripple the vital services that hard-working people rely on.”
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