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14
June 2010
At the end of May RMT
lodged an unparalleled challenge to the UK's anti-trade union
laws in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
The challenge rests on
the court's decision to grant an injunction in favour of EDF
Energy to stop the union in its tracks in the Hydrex dispute.
Employers had claimed there were technical balloting irregularities.
Lawyers acting for RMT assert that the UK's balloting requirements
are so strict that they are incompatible with Article 11 of
the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
We at the United Campaign have no doubt that the UK's laws
are in breach of collective human rights.
The application to the
ECtHR - brought by the union against the UK government - also
claims that the absolute prohibition of unions organising
or taking solidarity action are in breach of Article 11.
Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said "RMT is in no doubt
that the fundamental human right to withdraw labour has been
systematically undermined. This is clearly shown by the EDF
and Hydrex cases and we have no option but to take these matters
to the European Court in a bid to protect the rights of our
members and of working people in Britain."
It will take several years
for the Court to process the claim, but in light of other
decisions of the Court since the autumn of 2008, there is
a prospect of a very significant judgment that the UK government
cannot ignore.
Read more:
Bob
Crow writes on the RMT's challenge of the anti-union laws
in the latest United Campaign newsletter
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