TribuneRonan Burtenshaw interviews Mick Lynch.

2022 saw the greatest number of strike days in Britain since the early 1980s. 

This wave of resistance has inspired millions – but it has also led to a fierce backlash from the government. In addition to another round of austerity, their response now involves a new round of anti-union laws designed to impede the growing movement and prevent workers looking to industrial action as a solution to the cost-of-living crisis.

The proposed laws are draconian. Under the legislation, trade unions would have to ensure that a pre-defined ‘minimum service’ was maintained throughout any strike, seriously limiting the impact of industrial action. In addition, it is proposed that named workers will be required to work by companies regardless of whether they wanted to strike or not. And, if trade unions do not encourage these workers to cross their own pickets during strikes, the unions could find themselves liable for all losses suffered by companies in the course of these actions.

In response to this historic threat to the trade union movement, Enough is Enough has launched a ‘Defend the Right to Strike’ campaign. Its aim is simple: to build the broadest possible coalition against the legislation and prevent its implementation by the Tory government. This will take the form of protests, rallies, pledges for the public, politicians, and businesses, and a mass strike solidarity movement which will ensure workers are not isolated when fighting for their rights.

We sat down with RMT general secretary Mick Lynch to discuss the legislation and its potentially dire consequences, not just for trade unions but for democracy as a whole.

Continue reading @ Tribune.

Mick Lynch ⛂ ‘The Government’s New Anti-Union Laws Are a Form of Conscription’

TribuneRonan Burtenshaw interviews Mick Lynch.

2022 saw the greatest number of strike days in Britain since the early 1980s. 

This wave of resistance has inspired millions – but it has also led to a fierce backlash from the government. In addition to another round of austerity, their response now involves a new round of anti-union laws designed to impede the growing movement and prevent workers looking to industrial action as a solution to the cost-of-living crisis.

The proposed laws are draconian. Under the legislation, trade unions would have to ensure that a pre-defined ‘minimum service’ was maintained throughout any strike, seriously limiting the impact of industrial action. In addition, it is proposed that named workers will be required to work by companies regardless of whether they wanted to strike or not. And, if trade unions do not encourage these workers to cross their own pickets during strikes, the unions could find themselves liable for all losses suffered by companies in the course of these actions.

In response to this historic threat to the trade union movement, Enough is Enough has launched a ‘Defend the Right to Strike’ campaign. Its aim is simple: to build the broadest possible coalition against the legislation and prevent its implementation by the Tory government. This will take the form of protests, rallies, pledges for the public, politicians, and businesses, and a mass strike solidarity movement which will ensure workers are not isolated when fighting for their rights.

We sat down with RMT general secretary Mick Lynch to discuss the legislation and its potentially dire consequences, not just for trade unions but for democracy as a whole.

Continue reading @ Tribune.

1 comment:

  1. To quote Micks predecesor, the late Bob Crow, " the last person to outlaw strikes was Hitler" words we should all chew on. As I mentioned before, the late Sam McCluskey once said; "I'm sick of hearing about the law, the law is there to crush us," my own view is fuck the law, such as it is, it is becoming tantamount to "obeying" the law in Nazi Germany. As Arthur Scargill said at the 1984 TUC Conference ;"get off your knees and fight". Remember those words.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

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