Tories outline plans to curb trade union power

The toughest curbs on British trade unions for a generation have been unveiled by the Conservative government, which insists that major public services, such as transport, cannot be at the mercy of poorly supported strikes.

Under the changes, a union will not be able to call a strike unless half its membership votes in the strike ballot.

In addition, 40 per cent of a union’s total membership would have to vote in favour of a strike in key services – health, transport, fire brigades, energy – for it be lawful.

The plans spelt out by business secretary Sajid Javid were immediately condemned by trade union leaders as “spiteful”. They warned the Conservatives wanted to make strikes impossible three decades on from the clashes of the 1980s.

Unions will have to give a fortnight’s notice of strikes, while a Yes vote in a strike ballot will be valid for only four months if it is not used. This will force unions to ballot their members again if negotiations have dragged on.

‘Scab labour’

Meanwhile, the business secretary – the son of a bus driver – has cleared the way for employers to use temporary agency workers to replace strikers, a move that threatens to reopen the “scab labour” debates of the 1980s.

The government’s move comes just a week after a strike by London Underground drivers, who caused nearly two days of disruption for more than three million Londoners when they left work over plans to introduce all-night services.

Defending himself against House of Commons charges that he was not elected with 40 per cent support, prime minister David Cameron said: “The fact is this: people affected by these strikes do not get to vote. That is why it is right to have these thresholds.”

Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite union, said Cameron has “slammed the door in the face of millions of trade unionists”, tilting power “towards the rich and big business, who funded the Tory re-election campaign”.

Describing the plans as “spiteful”, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “[They] will deny millions of ordinary workers a voice at work. Strikes are rare, and the decision to lose a day’s pay is never an easy one.”

Threat to Labour

Nearly five million trade unionists will have to sign up to contribute a levy to the Labour Party, rather than have it taken automatically from their membership fees, in a move that threatens to cost Labour millions. Union members would also have to be asked every five years if they wanted to continue paying it.

The move is significant, because it is the first time a government has tried to make changes to party funding rules without agreement.

Labour’s acting leader, Harriet Harman said: “It is not acceptable for [Mr Cameron] to be curbing funds from hard- working people to the Labour Party while turning a blind eye to donations from hedge funds to the Tories.”

Condemning the Conservatives, GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said companies do not have to ballot their shareholders before they make political donations, while wealthy donors face no cap on the amount that they give.