The Conservative Government is introducing thresholds to protect important public services from strikes that lack clear support.
This is to ensure that people’s lives are not disrupted by strikes backed by only a small number of union members. Whilst Labour plan to rip up strike laws and take this country back to the days of flying pickets.
That is why a 40 per cent support threshold for industrial action in so important in key public services such as fire, health, education, transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning. The thresholds still ensure the right to strike, but also that is fairly balanced with the right of people to be able to go about their daily lives and work. Following campaigning by Zac Goldsmith, Conservative Mayoral Candidate, this will now include Transport for London (TfL) services – because they are essential to millions of people who live and work in London.
This is a One Nation approach – balancing the ability to strike with the right of millions of people to go about their daily lives without last minute disruption – delivering a key manifesto commitment.
The Bill will address this by introducing:
(1) 50 per cent threshold for ballot turn-out.
(2) 40 per cent support threshold for strikes in the key services; health, education, fire, transport, border security, energy sectors and TfL services (Tube and London buses). (3) Setting a four month time limit for strikes.
(4) Requiring a clear description of disputes and planned industrial action on ballot papers, so all union members are clear about what they are voting for.
(5) Greater scrutiny and controls over taxpayer-funded subsidies to unions (so-called ‘facility time’), such as full-time union representatives.
(6) Creating a transparent opt-in process for political subscriptions so that union members can make an active choice to pay into political funds.
(7) Putting in place safeguards to ensure non-striking workers are not subject to intimidation.
The provisions in the Bill are justified and proportionate, and are entirely compatible with our international obligations.
We need to get the balance right between the interests of unions and the interests of the majority of people who rely on the services provided in important public sectors.
