Trade Union Bill risks creating a new generation of Tolpuddle Martyrs, warns TUC

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady will today (Sunday) warn that the government’s Trade Union Bill risks creating a new generation of Toldpuddle martyrs. 

Speaking at the annual festival in Dorset, Frances will say:

“Squire James Frampton would have approved of the government’s new Trades Union Bill.

“The Squire was a landowner who feared that organised labour threatened the power base of the wealthy classes and called on the full might of the law to quash it. Fast forward 180 years and ministers are looking to do the same.

“The Bill is a modern day masterclass in punishing people for daring to stand up for their rights.

“This government is determined to strip workers of power at the negotiating table and give bosses the upper hand during disputes. Even when ballots succeed in meeting the new thresholds, employers will soon be able to bring in agency staff to break strikes.

“These plans go much further than thresholds. Workplace training, safety and support for millions of workers could be hit by unlimited powers for the government to cap time spent on any union activity. This could even stop a union representative supporting you at a tribunal if you’re the victim of harassment or discrimination.

“And Unions face being hit by heavy fines if they don’t submit their plans for protests during industrial action in advance. The government is even consulting on making striking workers tell authorities what they are planning on Facebook.

“This latest attack on working people – shop workers, teachers, nurses, postal staff and factory workers, and their unions – is an affront to the British sense of fair play and is a huge threat to civil liberties.

“This weekend at Tolpuddle, as we celebrate the six courageous workers who stood together against the Squire, we will also be sending a strong message to the government that this generation of working people are just as determined to defend our democratic unions.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Tim Lezard M: 07810 641459 E: lezard@elmtreecottages.co.uk
Kay Atwal  M: 07941 547469  E: katwal@tuc.org.uk