Protect the right to strike - campaign update

Last week, the government's Strikes Bill suffered a string of defeats in the Lords, in the form of major amendments.

These amendments remove the power to sack key workers if they take strike action, remove the power to make unions force their members to go to work on a strike day, exempt Scotland and Wales from the Bill, and force the government to consult on and publish impact assessments before implementing the new law.

This is a huge moment for the campaign and would not have happened without thousands of us signing and sharing actions, attending rallies, writing to local newspapers and to politicians. 

In particular, well done to the frontline workers whose handwritten letters to peers in the House of Lords persuaded crossbenchers to turn up and support key amendments.

So what comes next?

The Bill will return to the House of Commons in the coming weeks, where MPs will decide whether to uphold the amendments and reject the whole Bill. We need to show MPs we are still angry. 

Can you write to your MP today and ask them to vote to reject the Bill and protect the right to strike? If thousands of us take this action right now, MPs cannot ignore us.

Write to your MP

Unions begin High Court battle

Trade unions are coming together to fight these attacks all the way – including in the courts.

A High Court legal challenge brought by trade unions to protect the right to strike began on Wednesday 3 May, with the hearing concluding the next day, and the result expected in a few weeks’ time. Trade unions have come together to take the case against the government’s changes to the law which allow agencies to supply employers with workers to fill in for those on strike.

The changes to the law will worsen industrial disputes, undermine the fundamental right to strike and could endanger public safety if agency staff are required to fill safety critical roles but haven’t been fully trained.