Latest editorial
Fire Bridge Union members during the demonstration in Parliament Square, London, against the government's controversial legislation on minimum levels of service during strikes, May 22, 2023
TORY ministers have declared war on working people, unions charged today after the government whipped its MPs to reject House of Lords amendments to its widely condemned anti-strikes Bill.
The legislation aims to empower bosses and even ministers to sack workers who refuse to cross their own picket lines and provide an as yet undefined minimum service level during walkouts in six sectors, including transport and education.
The Bill was savaged by peers, who passed several amendments, including removing the threat of dismissal from anyone refusing a “work order” and limiting the provisions to England only after devolved Labour and SNP ministers in Wales and Scotland respectively condemned it.
The Tories introduced the 50% strike ballot threshold to make industrial action harder. MATT WRACK argues that a Labour government has no justification for leaving it on the statute book
LUKE FLETCHER outlines Plaid Cymru bold plans for wide-ranging policy consultations with trade unions in Wales
Labour’s long-promised Act has scraped through the Lords. While the law marks a step forward, its lack of collective rights leaves workers short-changed — and sets the stage for a renewed campaign for an Employment Rights Bill #2, argues TONY BURKE
