PARLIAMENTARY COLUMN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2015 :: RMTnews Parliamentary column 9 Under a Tory majority government, the prospect of even greater restrictions on the freedom of trade unions may be realised. The Conservative Party manifesto proposes increasing anti-union legislation across the board but especially in a number of industries including transport. Their manifesto states: “Strikes should only ever be the result of a clear, positive decision based on a ballot in which at least half the workforce has voted. This turnout threshold will be an important and fair step to rebalance the interests of employers, employees, the public and the rights of trade unions. We will, in addition, tackle the disproportionate impact of strikes in essential public services by introducing a tougher threshold in health, education, fire and transport. Industrial action in these essential services would require the support of at least 40 per cent of all those entitled to take part in strike ballots – as well as a majority of those who actually turn out to vote”. Whilst this is unclear as to what is meant by “workforce”, (whether it is all employees or all union members entitled to vote), even if it refers only to members of the union, a minimum of 50 per cent would have to vote in any ballot and a minimum of 40 per cent of total union membership (including non-voters) would have to vote yes. This would mean an 80 per cent Yes vote would be needed on a 50 per cent turnout. This is even more shocking when the current government has just been elected with less than 25 per cent of the electorate voting for them, and less than 37 per cent of those who voted. The Tory manifesto goes further and states: “We will also repeal nonsensical restrictions banning employers from hiring agency staff to provide essential cover during strikes; and ensure strikes cannot be called on the basis of ballots conducted years before. We will tackle intimidation of non-striking workers; legislate to ensure trade unions use a transparent opt-in process for union subscriptions; tighten the rules around taxpayer-funded paid ‘facility time’ for union representatives; and reform the role of the Certification Officer”. Again, not all is clear but the excerpt indicates that external strike- breakers may be engaged by companies, mandates for strike action will be unrenewable, facility time will be attacked and the Certification Officer may interfere to a greater extent in the internal affairs of trade unions. Sajid Javid, the newly appointed Business Secretary, has said that the “reform” of the UK's strike laws are a priority for the new government. RMT will continue to fight against any attacks on trade union rights and to campaign for new freedoms. RMT is affiliated to the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom. If your branch or regional council is not yet affiliated I strongly encourage you to do so. Please visit http://www.tradeunionfreedom.co.uk/ TORIES LAUNCH NEW ATTACKS ON TRADE UNIONS The collapse of a rusted in semaphore signal Cantley in Norfolk has once again revealed how warnings from union reps over serious maintenance issues are being ignored by senior managers. The signal support had rusted right through at its base – an issue that the union had warned of along that section of line only to be told that the signalling is to be replaced at some point in the future with a new centralised system and that therefore repairs and replacements were not required. The union said that it is pure luck that the signal fell away from the track rather than across it, and that it is purely by the chance that the threat of a derailment was avoided. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was a grim reminder that maintenance schedules had been allowed to slip and corners were being cut. I “Once again we have an example where RMT reps had clearly warned about the dangers of the scrapping of maintenance work to these signals and once again those warning have been ignored. “That is outrageous and RMT will not tolerate a position where lives are being put at risk on our transport services because of a pig- headed and cash-led reluctance to listen and to act. “RMT will be raising this issue at senior level with Network Rail and we expect them to listen and to take the appropriate action. “If it is down to the cuts imposed by central government through the Office of Rail Regulation then that needs to be in the public domain as a major political issue,” he said. SIGNALS OF ROT IGNORED Union warnings ignored as corroded semaphore signal collapses in Norfolk