UN warns Tory party over crackdown on British workers’ rights | The Canary

Last Updated: February 16, 2016By

A body of the UN – the International Labour Organisation (ILO) – has warned the Conservative party that their controversial Trade Union Bill may breach international law.

The Tories’ bill would lift the ban on using agency workers to replace strikers during industrial action. The ILO has asked that the Tories only permit replacements for ‘essential public services’. The government previously announced that fire, health, education, transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning sectors would be defined as such.

Yet, allowing agency workers to fill in during industrial action deeply undermines the right to strike, no matter the service. If workers can just be replaced, the concrete impact of striking is nullified. It reduces striking to a symbolic action that can readily be ignored by employers.

In turn, this upsets the balance of power between employers and employees. Employers already set working hours, pay and holiday leave. Without at least the option of industrial action, we are left with a race to the bottom of who can endure the worst working conditions. There needs to be a balance; a way in which ordinary people can mediate the power of bosses.

Source: UN warns Tory party over crackdown on British workers’ rights | The Canary

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No Comments

  1. Mr.Angry February 16, 2016 at 5:00 pm - Reply

    Lets hope the dictator Cameron gets a smacked bottom by UN my god he needs it may calm his arrogance a little.

  2. Brian February 16, 2016 at 5:09 pm - Reply

    It’s been said before, that despite the ‘education’ of many in the tory party, they do not know, or how to apply, either historical lessons or social principles. Civilisation has prospered under the auspice of “Guiding Hand”, rather than the Hammer & Sickle. Subjected to austerity and draconian controls can lead only to further division and losses of freedom. The UN is correct in their analysis of this regime, but pressure is required to make the populace understand the sleepwalk must stop.

    • Mike Sivier February 17, 2016 at 12:54 pm - Reply

      I really don’t think you should refer to the “Hammer & Sickle” in association with the Conservative Parasites.

  3. Dave February 16, 2016 at 9:09 pm - Reply

    Why do bosses feel the need to be in power over those who work below their station?

    • Daniel February 17, 2016 at 9:20 am - Reply

      It’s all about wage dynamics. When the balance of power is weighted towards bosses, they are able to suppress demands that wages increase in line with inflation (minimum required to ensure cost of living remains static) or productivity increases (the main factor driving GDP growth). This means that the benefits of growth fall mainly for the capitalist class (i.e. bosses), increasing their wealth, to the detriment of the workers.

      Of course, the reverse is also true. If workers hold the balance of power, they can demand wage increases in line, or above, productivity growth. This would result in poor returns on capital, which lowers investment growth, so would not be good for the economy long-term either!

      The ideal situation is that workers and bosses share the balance, so that workers can enjoy wage increases somewhere between inflation and productivity growth, and bosses enjoy the surplus profits from productivity growth to increase returns on capital as well!

      • wildswimmerpete February 17, 2016 at 1:29 pm - Reply

        Basically as we had during the 1950s and 60s – a balanced economy. Things were a bit different through the 1970s because of the 1974 OPEC oil crisis. I lived through those times.

  4. Michael Broadhurst February 17, 2016 at 11:40 am - Reply

    CaMoron needs more than a smacked bottom,he wants a good punch in his lying gob !!

  5. Malcolm MacINTYRE-READ February 18, 2016 at 5:53 pm - Reply

    I wonder if there is anything that has been proposed and implemented by the Con Gov that is not illegal under international law? Come to that, is anything moral in terms of Common Decency?

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