ETUC Congress speech

Speech to ETUC Congress

Paul McCarthy

30 October 2015

Trade union bill & attacks on workers’ rights and freedoms

Paul McCarthy GMB trade union, TUC delegation speaking on rights at work

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President, Congress,

Many of you will have heard about our newly re-elected conservative government’s vicious attack against British trade unions in the trade union bill – or, more accurately - the anti-trade union bill.

The bill proposes measures to restrict the ability of trade unions to organise collectively and take industrial action including:

  • unrealistic thresholds for turnout in strike ballots well beyond the levels that put the Tories into government;
  • restrictions on the right to picket;
  • removal of the ban on using agency workers to replace striking workers; and
  • further tightening of the operation of trade union political funds, whilst the Conservative slush fund bulges with money from billionaires with offshore accounts and hedge funds – effectively trying to bankrupt the Labour Party.

For a government that keeps complaining that the EU has too much red tape, it has no qualms about binding up British trade unions in the stuff!

But, Congress, attacking trade unions and workers’ rights is in the DNAof the Conservative Party, which is why attacks on our employment rights are such a big part of Cameron’s EU reform negotiations.

We still smart from the wounds inflicted by Cameron’s mentor – Thatcher.

Her mission in life was to break the unions - militarising the police force in an attack against the miners’ union.

In my own region of Merseyside in 1984, striking shipyard workers in Cammell Laird were unjustly imprisoned for a month for daring to exercise their right to strike – denied any documentation to say why they were put in a high security prison, nor have they ever received an apology for this gross injustice.

In 2009 a database was seized from the consulting association which contained the names of 3,213 construction workers and environmental activists used by 44 major companies in the sector, to vet and prevent trade unionists and health and safety reps from gaining work – we call this blacklisting.

These practices went on over many years and devastated the lives of workers and their families.

We are still seeking justice for them.

So, with this bill, the Conservative Party is trying to finish the job that Thatcher started.

But we will fight them every step of the way.

On behalf of all British trade unions I want to thank the many trade unions in this hall today for their solidarity in writing to our government opposing these draconian measures – it is such solidarity that makes our movement great, and it is much appreciated.

But we know that similar attacks are also going on against many of your trade unions too, either by national governments or through devious and crushing austerity and bailout measures.

We stand by you in your struggles, because, Congress, an injury to one is an injury to all.

We must unite in solidarity against these attacks and tell employers, governments and EU institutions - we are not the enemy.

We are the legitimate and democratic voice of millions of working people across the EU.

Instead of seeking to destroy us, accept that we are a vital part of the solution to tackling unemployment, poverty, inequality, and towards improving productivity and economic growth.

… because, Congress, we are not going away.

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