TUC to report Government to UN employees’ rights watchdog over new strikes regulation
T
he TUC is reporting the Government to the United Nations employees’ rights watchdog over the controversial new regulation on strikes, it has been introduced.
General secretary Paul Nowak mentioned the union physique shall be lodging the case on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as a result of the laws on making certain minimal ranges of service throughout industrial motion “falls far short” of worldwide authorized requirements.
Speaking on the opening day of the TUC Congress in Liverpool, Mr Nowak described the brand new regulation as “dreadful”.
Unions will assault the laws throughout a debate on Monday, saying the brand new regulation is pointless and unworkable and can do nothing to resolve disputes.
The Government took ahead the laws following a yr of unprecedented industrial motion by tons of of hundreds of employees, together with nurses, lecturers, civil servants and railway employees.
Mr Nowak informed a news convention in Liverpool: “The ILO has already slapped down the UK Government and ordered it to make sure existing and prospective legislation is in line with ILO standards.
“We believe the Strikes Act falls well short of that, and that’s why we have submitted a case to the ILO over these new laws.
These laws haven’t been designed to resolve conflict at work, they’ve been designed to escalate it. They’re unworkable, undemocratic and almost certainly in breach of international law
“Unions defeated the Government in the High Court over the unlawful use of agency workers during strikes. We are determined to win again.
“These laws haven’t been designed to resolve conflict at work, they’ve been designed to escalate it.
“They’re unworkable, undemocratic and almost certainly in breach of international law.
“They’re the product of a desperate Conservative Government spoiling for a fight with unions to distract from their dire economic record.
“The Strikes Act is the nadir of the Conservatives’ wretched record on living standards and rights at work.”
A Government spokesman mentioned: “The purpose of this legislation is to protect the lives and livelihoods of the general public and ensure they can continue to access vital public services during strikes.
“The legislation does not remove the ability to strike, but people expect the Government to act in circumstances where their rights and freedoms are being disproportionately impacted, and that’s what we are doing with this Bill.”