{"id":6325,"date":"2015-10-16T16:17:44","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T15:17:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=6325"},"modified":"2015-10-16T16:17:44","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T15:17:44","slug":"threat-to-democracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=6325","title":{"rendered":"Threat to democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Some of the country\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s top trade union leaders gave evidence to MPs at a committee hearing over the trade union Bill yesterday (October 15).<\/p>\n

 
\nThe general secretaries of Unite, GMB, Unison and the TUC \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Len McCluskey, Paul Kenny, Dave Prentis and Frances O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady \u00e2\u20ac\u201c fielded questions from ministers about provisions in the Bill, which, if pushed through, would make the UK\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s trade union laws among the most draconian in the developed world.<\/p>\n

 
\nThe heart of the Bill \u00e2\u20ac\u201c thresholds for strike ballots \u00e2\u20ac\u201c was vigorously contested by the panel of union leaders, who called thresholds a \u00e2\u20ac\u015bthreat to democracy\u00e2\u20ac\u0165.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also a threat to the cohesive nature of the communities in which we work,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said Unite general secretary Len McCluskey.<\/p>\n

 
\nMcCluskey cast doubt on the Conservative government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s assertion that they were introducing thresholds in order to widen participation in strike ballots.<\/p>\n

 
\nModern balloting<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIf [prime minister David Cameron] is genuine about wanting to increase the turnout \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and all of us are concerned about low turnouts \u00e2\u20ac\u201c then he should get involved in a proper debate about modern methods of balloting, the same balloting with which the Conservative party just elected their London mayoral candidate,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.<\/p>\n

 
\nEspecially important, McCluskey said, was secure workplace balloting.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe Electoral Reform Society said this is easily achievable with independent assessors,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he noted, adding that there was \u00e2\u20ac\u015bno reason\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 why the government couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t \u00e2\u20ac\u015bconcede the principle of independent secure workplace balloting.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIf you do that, the issue of thresholds becomes irrelevant,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWorkplace balloting would consistently produce high turnouts.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nTUC general secretary Frances O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady agreed, saying that fears about fraud and security in electronic balloting were unfounded.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe Electoral Reform Society has shown that electronic balloting is no less safe than postal balloting,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said.<\/p>\n

 
\nUnison general secretary Dave Prentis explained that the stricter thresholds the government is seeking to impose on his public sector members would constitute a \u00e2\u20ac\u015bdouble threshold\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 that would mean “the negation of democracy.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nBecause workers in \u00e2\u20ac\u015bimportant public services\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 would need more than a simple majority in a strike ballot in order to withdraw their labour, he said, it would \u00e2\u20ac\u015bbring the end of the right for millions of workers in public services to take strike action.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt will lead to unofficial action, and to breakdown in public services,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Prentis added.<\/p>\n

 
\nMPs expressed concern about the intimidation of workers who choose not to go on strike.<\/p>\n

 
\nBut McCluskey argued that there were already adequate laws in place covering the victimisation of such workers.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe current legislation allows people to go in and out of work, it allows contractors to deliver in and out of work and it also allows striking workers to exercise their right to explain why they are in strike,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe one thing we want when our members are out on strike is to get people back to work,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 McCluskey emphasised. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe want a negotiated settlement. This bill will make it more difficult to achieve those types of aims.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nCertification Officer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 
\nThe trade union leaders hit out against other provisions in the Bill that would see the Certification Officer \u00e2\u20ac\u201c an independent official who oversees trade unions \u00e2\u20ac\u201c given vastly greater powers.<\/p>\n

 
\nIf the Bill goes through as it is, then the CO would be able to seize records from union offices at a moment\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s notice, investigate any complaints made from the public about trade union activity and would be able to monitor all political expenditure over \u00c2\u01412,000. Trade unions would have to pay for all these additional activities the CO undertakes.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWhat are the problems that exist now?\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 McCluskey asked the committee. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never heard any criticism of the current methods of the Certification Officer.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015b[If the Bill goes through] then the Certification Officer would have power to go into a union, to disrupt the union\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s business and crawl all over the union\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s business in relation to how it operates,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in stark contrast to when individuals are seeking redress in an employment tribunal,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 McCluskey noted. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThey have to pay \u00c2\u01411,200 upfront and they can be accused of vexatious behaviour. This would cause unnecessary upheavals in trade unions. And the slap in the face is that our members would have to then pay for it.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nGMB general secretary Paul Kenny agreed, highlighting that the provisions amounted to over-regulation.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI thought this government was about deregulation,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Kenny said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt is apparently until it comes to trade unions \u00e2\u20ac\u201c then it wants to regulate us through the teeth.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nOne Conservative minister argued that limiting strike days was necessary to improve productivity, but O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady challenged this claim.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIndustrial action taken last year amounts to half of one ten thousandth of all working days,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe number of working days lost because of health and safety issues is 450 times that number. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bUnion reps play absolutely critical role in higher workplace productivity, including through health and safety.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bA number of strikes are related to health and safety, which, in the long run is better for business and the economy as well as for working people,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady added. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bTrade union activity and strength actually improves productivity with healthier and better trained workforces.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nMcCluskey highlighted that it was not just unions who were opposing the Trade Union bill.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI deal with every single major manufacturing company within our nations,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bBlue chip companies, too. Not a single CEO of any of those companies are for this Bill. And I would ask that that is seriously taken on board in an independent approach.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Dangerous road\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 
\nOne such independent voice was heard earlier in the afternoon at the Trade Union bill committee meeting \u00e2\u20ac\u201c chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales Steve White.<\/p>\n

 
\nWhite gave evidence as MPs discussed a provision in the bill that would make illegal picketing a criminal activity. Police would also have to monitor social media during a dispute and a picket line supervisor would have to wear an armband and identify himself to the authorities.<\/p>\n

 
\nOn having to vet tweets before a dispute, White said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bGoodness gracious me, that fills me with dread and fear. I have to say, in terms of having to vet tweets in advance, I mean crikey \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think that is anything we want to get involved with.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI am sorry, I found that quite bizarre,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt would be such a massively complex operation and from the police point of a view a dangerous road to go down.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nWhite argued that the trade union Bill would entail the police losing its position as an independent authority.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt would be a travesty if the police went back to the days of the 70s or the 80s when the police were seen as an arm of a state,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe have got to remember that policing in this country is wholly independent of the state. There is not political control of the police.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nStay tuned on UNITElive for the latest on the trade union Bill as it progresses through the committee stage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some of the country\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s top trade union leaders gave evidence to MPs at a committee hearing over the trade union Bill yesterday (October 15).   The general secretaries of Unite, GMB, Unison and the TUC \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Len McCluskey, Paul Kenny, Dave Prentis and Frances O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady \u00e2\u20ac\u201c fielded questions from ministers about provisions in the Bill, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1844,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[344],"wps_subtitle":" TU Bill: unions give evidence ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6325"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6325"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6326,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6325\/revisions\/6326"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}