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20
October 2010
"We are asking MPs
to support the lawful industrial action (minor errors) private
member's bill on 22 October. There has been a stream of rhetoric
from business organisations and rightwing thinktanks on the
need to reform trade union law. Yet taking strike action is
always a last resort for union members and only done when
they feel they have no alternative. Away from the political
grandstanding, the reality is that British workers already
have the most restrictive trade union laws in Europe, and
recent court rulings have made matters even worse. Judges
striking down overwhelming secret ballots in favour of industrial
action on minor technical grounds, which would have had no
effect on the outcome of the ballot, mean that the fundamental
democratic right to withdraw our labour is now under threat.
This private member's bill is moderate, focused and fair.
It will mean that working people struggling to defend services
and employment - and who have voted overwhelmingly in favour
of industrial action - will not have their democratic will
overruled on technical legal grounds."
Tony Woodley, Joint
general secretary, Unite
Paul Kenny, General secretary, GMB
Brendan Barber, General secretary, TUC
Keith Norman, General secretary, Aslef
Gerry Morrissey, General secretary, Bectu
Ronnie Draper, General secretary, BFAWU
Michael Leahy, General secretary, Community
Billy Hayes, General secretary, CWU
Chris Kitchen, General secretary, NUM
Gerry Doherty, General secretary, TSSA
Alan Ritchie, General secretary, Ucatt
Dave Prentis, General secretary, Unison
Derek Simpson, Joint general secretary, Unite
John Hannett, General secretary, Usdaw
See
the letter on the Guardian site
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