Trade Union Bill threatens right to strike

11 August 2015

Commenting on a letter signed by scores of academics which describes the Trade Union Bill as the most sustained attack on workers’ rights since the early 19th century, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“It’s clear that the government’s Trade Union Bill threatens the right to strike.

“If it passes, employers will be able to break strikes by bringing in agency workers to cover for strikers. This could have big safety implications, lead to worse public services, and will make the threat to strike all but redundant.

“And the proposed restrictions on peaceful picketing and protests are excessive. They mean that striking workers will have to tell their employer all their plans – including what they will post on Facebook – two weeks before the strike.

“All these changes, taken together, threaten the right to strike – and that means that workers won’t be able to defend jobs or services, or stand up for safety and decency at work.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The text of the letter is available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-BAZbO2vU5ETlpTbXZpUGpqczQ

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