Government is exploiting sleaze scandal to crack down on unions, says TUC

date: 3 June 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on lobbying reforms announced by the government today (Monday), TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'The government is cynically trying to exploit a political sleaze scandal to crack down on unions - which are democratic and accountable organisations. We already have some of the most restrictive union laws in all of Europe and this move smacks of naked opportunism.

'Making it harder for working people to take strike action and for unions to support local candidates is not the way to clean up politics.

'Ordinary people want action to curb the lobbying power of rich men and mighty corporations. It would be better if the government focused on this rather than taking a politically motivated swipe at unions.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The TUC's Campaign Plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
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Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk