{"id":8163,"date":"2016-03-17T16:55:55","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T16:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=8163"},"modified":"2016-03-17T17:10:00","modified_gmt":"2016-03-17T17:10:00","slug":"triple-whammy-for-tu-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=8163","title":{"rendered":"Triple whammy for TU Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

The government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s attack on trade unions faced a triple defeat last night (March 16), as the House of Lords moved to block key measures in the controversial trade union Bill.<\/p>\n

 
\nPeers voted in favour by a resounding majority of 148 for an amendment that would scrap proposals requiring members to opt in to trade union political funding. As it stands now, members are automatically signed up to their union\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s political fund but can choose to opt out.<\/p>\n

 
\nAs UNITElive has previously reported<\/a>, the opt-in measure in the Bill would not only hit Labour party funding by an estimated \u00c2\u01418m a year, but it would also significantly shackle unions\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 ability to carry out any political work at all.<\/p>\n

 
\nThe government had gone even further in its attack by giving unions only three months to transition to the opt-in process for political funding.<\/p>\n

 
\nThe House of Lords condemned the assault on trade union funding as shamelessly partisan and divisive in an amendment drawn up by Lord Burns.<\/p>\n

 
\nThe amendment calls for the current opt-out system to be kept for existing trade union members. The new opt-in system should apply only to new members and unions would be given at least 12 months to implement opt-in.<\/p>\n

 
\nThe amendment also scraps the proposal that requires trade union members to renew their decision to contribute to trade union political funding every five years.<\/p>\n

 
\nUnite political director Jennie Formby welcomed last night\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u015bBurns amendment\u00e2\u20ac\u0165.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe clear majority on the vote showed just how united peers of different political persuasions are in opposing a measure that harms our democracy,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bEven two Conservative peers voted in favour of this amendment.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAt the same time, even if the measures in the amendment are eventually implemented, the threat to trade union political funding won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be eliminated; it will only be slightly diminished,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Formby added.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt will still be difficult to maintain our union\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s political fund with the obligation that new members must opt-in.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Continue the fight\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/strong><\/em>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe must strengthen our resolve and continue the fight against this blatant move to silence our right to a collective political voice. After all, if no other organisation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s political funding is constrained in this way \u00e2\u20ac\u201c including the millions in corporate money that fills Tory party coffers \u00e2\u20ac\u201c then why should trade union funding be an exception?\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she asked.<\/p>\n

 
\nStrike ballot thresholds outlined in the trade union Bill \u00e2\u20ac\u201c which would require a 50 per cent turnout for any strike action to be deemed legal \u00e2\u20ac\u201c may also be put on hold.<\/p>\n

 
\nAnother cross-party amendment, backed in the Lords last night by a majority of 139, called for a review into electronic balloting, which will make it easier for trade union members to vote.<\/p>\n

 
\nAs it stands now, union members can only vote in industrial ballots by post.<\/p>\n

 
\nNo civil society organisation is constrained by such restrictions on the methods they use for their own elections. As the Electoral Reform Society highlights<\/a>, the Conservative party itself uses electronic voting in its own internal elections, including most recently in selecting their candidate for London mayor.<\/p>\n

 
\nUnite has long argued that secure workplace balloting would be the most effective way to increase turnouts and so bolster democracy in the workplace.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe only way to increase participation in industrial action ballots is by using secure workplace balloting,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Unite general secretary Len McCluskey explained last month.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a method used frequently over the last decade by the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own Central Arbitration Committee in workplaces where trade unions are seeking recognition. During that period there has not been one case of irregularity.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nWhile the review in the amendment passed by the Lords last night only covers electronic balloting, Unite is hopeful that this will present an opportunity to bring workplace balloting back on the table.
\nLord Kerslake, an independent crossbencher, led the way on the call for trade unions to be allowed modernised voting methods with his amendment.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIf we are to apply these high [threshold] tests before industrial action can be taken, then it is incumbent on us to provide trade unions with the best practical means available to achieve the full participation of their members,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.<\/p>\n

 
\nFacility time<\/strong><\/em>
\nGood things come in threes and the third blow the House of Lords dealt the government last night involved voting down the proposal to cap facility time for public sector workers in local services.<\/p>\n

 
\nCurrent proposals in the trade union Bill have taken aim at the time union reps in public services can spend carrying out essential duties. These restrictions include placing the onus on bosses to keep assiduous track of all union facility time.<\/p>\n

 
\nBoth unions and employers have criticised these restrictions because reps are instrumental in keeping workplaces safe as well as maintaining good relationships between bosses and workers.<\/p>\n

 
\nIn fact, the work union reps do with their paid facility time often ensures disputes don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t needlessly escalate into industrial action.<\/p>\n

 
\nOne academic study<\/a> from a leading business school found that restricting facility time would be harmful for all concerned.<\/p>\n

 
\nKim Hoque of Warwick Business School, one of three academics who spearheaded the research said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bRestricting facility time for union representatives in the public sector would be counterproductive and may damage levels of trust between employers and employees, reduce co-operation when introducing change to improve public services, increase labour turnover, increase the number of industrial tribunal cases, and result in lower levels of labour productivity, service quality and financial performance.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail agreed, and highlighted the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hypocrisy as it seeks to control local authorities despite its supposed support of \u00e2\u20ac\u0098localism.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bEmployers are objecting \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s another administrative burden that they would have to undertake,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she explained. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe have good relationships with most employers where we have recognition and facility time agreements, and reasonable time off for trade union duties is allowed.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis is an example of a government that says it wants local decision-making on one hand, but then on the other hand they are dictating these restrictions on facility time from on high, whether an employer wants to enter this complicated calculation of time off or not,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she added.<\/p>\n

 
\nTUC general secretary Frances O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady highlighted that last night was a big step forward in the continued fight against the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s attacks on trade unions.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis is an important result for the six million trade union members across the UK,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bBut it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a bad day for the government.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThese defeats should be the nails in the coffin of the whole trade union Bill,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady added. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe government has tried to force this bill through Parliament, ignoring objections from all sides of the House. Once again, peers have rightly held them back.<\/p>\n

 
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe government needs to think again and withdraw this damaging and divisive bill.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

 
\nThe House of Lords will continue its deliberation of the Bill after Easter. Stay tuned on UNITElive for the latest updates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s attack on trade unions faced a triple defeat last night (March 16), as the House of Lords moved to block key measures in the controversial trade union Bill.   Peers voted in favour by a resounding majority of 148 for an amendment that would scrap proposals requiring members to opt in to trade […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4292,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[344],"wps_subtitle":"Lords say no to three key points ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8163"}],"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=8163"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8164,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8163\/revisions\/8164"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}