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27
February 2009
The Act was a very significant
lost opportunity to address the failures of UK law to meet
international human rights standards on collective and individual
work place issues.
In October 2008, despite
a widespread campaign from the United Campaign's supporters
and constant pressing from MPs, the Minister for Employment
Relations, Pat McFadden, refused to offer even a consultation
to address the weaknesses in the law. A vote was forced and
45 Labour MPs voted for a key clause taken from the Trade
Union Rights and Freedoms Bill. This led to Gordon Brown suffering
his biggest rebellion in the Commons since taking office,
although the amendment was not passed.
Now the Act is in place,
many unions may want to look to their rule books to take any
advantage from the provisions in the Act in relation to expulsion
of members of fascist parties.
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