How The Supreme Court Could Soon Destroy The Right To Strike - More Perfect Union

[barbaraann]

2. Strange that Sunak is also attacking the right to strike in the UK at exactly the same time.

Rishi Sunak’s anti-strike legislation is an assault on democracy itself
Ronan Burtenshaw

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This brings us to the government’s latest proposed trade union legislation – one of the most dangerous attacks on the workers’ movement that this country has ever seen.

The right to withdraw your labour is essential. Without the threat of going on strike, workers have little leverage against bad bosses. But under the provisions of this new law, trade unions in sectors such as health, education, rail and fire would be required to keep “a minimum service level” running during a strike – effectively voiding the right of workers to withdraw their labour. If workers don’t abide by this, they could be sacked.The new legislation could also threaten trade unions with bankruptcy. When workers walk off the job during industrial action, they are probably in breach of contract, and trade unions have been the cause of that breach. But if ballots are conducted according to the law, they can’t be sued for losses incurred due to strike action.
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The new legislation could also threaten trade unions with bankruptcy. When workers walk off the job during industrial action, they are probably in breach of contract, and trade unions have been the cause of that breach. But if ballots are conducted according to the law, they can’t be sued for losses incurred due to strike action.

This sounds like a technicality but it is actually the basis of the right to strike in Britain. If this legislation passes, trade unions would be made liable for losses incurred by strike action that didn’t maintain a minimum service – and the sums of money involved could be astronomical.
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https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/06/rishi-sunak-anti-strike-legislation-britain-economy