19 AUGUST 2024 | NEWS
The Government has announced measures to repeal legislation introduced by the previous Conservative administration to toughen up the minimum requirements for trade union workers taking strike action.
The measures currently in force – deriving from the Trade Union Act – which were introduced in the Commons in 2016 and took effect from the following year, set a minimum turnout threshold of 50% when members were balloted for strike action. There was a lower threshold of 40% for public sector organisations, such as those working in health, education and transport, as well as firefighters.
However, there are no plans at present to end the prohibition on members of the armed forces, the police and certain prison officers striking at all. An unnamed Labour source told the BBC that the new Government was “turning the page on the Conservatives’ failed, scorched-earth approach to industrial relations”, adding that this was to be a “new era of partnership” with the trade unions and other employers.
Strikingly, employers have already been told by new Ministers that they may disregard the rules currently in effect in law while the new legislation makes its way through Parliament, which is scheduled to commence by mid-October at the latest. However, it may not take effect until at least next year.
Among the last government’s measures were a minimum requirement of 73% of fire engines to be crewed – even during strike action – along with 40% of rail services.
Branding the move an attempt to “reset industrial relations”, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor described the previous government’s measures as “pointless”, amid a backdrop of fulfilling a Manifesto pledge to repeal them within the first 100 days of a Labour government.
But the Conservatives have said such a move may end up constraining access to emergency services, with Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly telling the press that Labour was being “played by their union paymasters”. Shadow Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake echoed this message, saying: “By surrendering to their union paymasters, Labour are showing us who is really in charge.”
It comes after a report in The Daily Mail today, alleging that Labour Cabinet Ministers have received more than half a million pounds in trade union donations over the past five years, with the Deputy Prime Minister herself having received more than £144,000 since 2019.
The agreed pay uplift deals for junior doctors of 22% over two years and 5.5-6% for many other public sector workers, including teachers and some NHS staff, have been accepted by their respective unions, but it is understood that further strike action may still be on the cards.
The transport trade union ASLEF, for example, has already announced a fresh wave of strikes after accepting their pay offer. Tory MP Alicia Kearns told The Mail on Sunday that ASLEF was the biggest donor to the Labour Party.
She added: “Now the secret’s out, every union boss will be circling. After all, they made donations and what’s the bill? A whopping £4 billion!”
While Chancellor Rachel Reeves had initially budgeted a £10 billion figure for trade union wage uplifts, it appears the full package as presently agreed is likely to be around 40% higher than this amount, coming in at about £13.9 billion. Other settlements may also be in the offing, with passport control officers still not having named a figure. The Royal College of Nursing is reportedly also considering fresh pay demands.
The Conservative Opposition has been briefing its Shadow Ministers to repeat the constant message that the new Government is in hock to its “union paymasters”, it is understood in Westminster. Tory Party Chairman Richard Fuller said: “This new Labour Government is recklessly handing over cash to their union paymasters with ‘no strings’ attached.
“But in doing so, they are sending a dangerous signal to unions across the country that you can strike and be rewarded with a bumper pay packet with no improvements for consumers.”
Responding to claims that the tax burden would unduly impact pensioners, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott said: “Labour need to be honest that they are prioritising unions over pensioners, and have wanted to raise taxes all along. The British public will not forgive Labour if they break their promise not to raise any taxes on working people.”
But a Labour spokesman said: “The last Government presided over the worst set of strikes in a generation, which caused chaos and misery for the British public and wreaked havoc on the public finances. Industrial action in the NHS alone cost the taxpayer £1.7 billion last year. We value the vital contribution the almost six million public sector workers make across the UK, delivering the public service we all rely on.”
Trade union negotiations are understood to be ongoing. Neither the Government nor the Opposition responded to a request for comment.
