Tories say they will ram through new anti-union laws

Rail unions are in the Tories’ sights but they have the power to beat anti-union laws (Picture: Guy Smallman)

Deep in crisis, the Tory government is still pressing ahead with new anti-union laws designed to break rising workers’ resistance. It has boasted it will bring in legal moves to introduce minimum service levels during strikes by transport workers.

Prime minister—at the time of writing—Liz Truss is keeping to at least one commitment she made during her leadership campaign. It was to bring in an anti-union bill within her first 30 days of parliament being in session.

Ministers say they expect the minimum service levels will come into force in 2023. And we can guarantee that unlike some of the government’s proposals, the financial markets won’t revolt against this one. 

In some European countries, where similar laws exist, unions must maintain a full rail service from 6.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 7pm plus running 25 percent of the service the rest of the time. That’s gutting the right to strike.

This move was signalled in former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini budget on 23 September. He indicated then that it would be part of a broader package of pro-boss laws. One would require unions to put original pay offers and new offers during a dispute to a members’ vote. 

Companies could watch unions go through all the rigmarole of ballots and then on the eve of action come up with a new and very slightly better offer. This will force workers and their unions to do all the balloting again—unless they are prepared to defy the laws.

And Truss earlier spoke of raising still further the minimum thresholds required for strike ballots. It’s unclear whether the full range will be part of the latest Tory proposals.

Union leaders have to stop these laws before they are imposed. There is no shortage of defiant words from the top of the movement. RMT union general secretary Mick Lynch said, “Working people are fed up with the government trying to make them scapegoats for the country’s problems. RMT and other unions will not sit idly by or meekly accept any further obstacles on their members exercising the basic human right to withdraw their labour.”

TUC union federation general secretary Frances O’Grady said, “These proposals will undermine the right to strike and this is an attempt to stop transport workers taking action for better pay and conditions. 

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“It’s a cynical distraction from their own failings. Trade unions will oppose them every step of the way.”

And Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Unite is prepared for all eventualities. We will defend workers.”

But we have heard such words before about anti-union laws without the necessary action. This time it has to be different. Truss, under fire from all sides, will try to unite her side and chalk up a victory by breaking strikes. But if she is defeated it could finish her off.

And the new assault on unions comes at the same time as yet another round of attacks on protest rights.

If the Tories unveil new laws, it will be another reason to call a day of united strikes across the working class. They have the power to win on individual disputes, despatch Truss, and force a general election.