Agenda item

Trade Union Bill

It was moved by Councillor Paul Wood, seconded by Councillor Bob Johnson, that this Council:-

(a)       objects to the proposed amendment to the Trade Union Bill, which it believes is an unnecessary attack on workers’ rights and civil liberties that undermines the collective bargaining powers of trade unions;

(b)       is totally opposed to this draconian proposal;

(c)        notes that this country has a proud tradition of liberty and democracy built up over many years, of which trade unions play a key role;.

(d)       believes that these proposals indicate the Government’s intention to weaken trade unions, resulting in making it easier to attack workers’ rights and pay and conditions of employment; that the Bill clearly demonstrates that this Government is not on the side of working people; and that the proposals would weaken the ability for workers to have a voice that is heard and represented by their trade union in the negotiation and protection of their terms and conditions of employment;

(e)       further believes that these are unfair and undemocratic changes and will make it much harder for public sector workers, who have suffered many years of pay restraint, to ever take industrial action over pay or challenge the behaviour of bad employers, and that it will make it more difficult for trade unions to organise, protest and reflect their members’ points of view, and therefore the proposals represent attacks on civil liberties; and

(f)        calls on the Government to think again and reconsider these plans.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Ian Auckland, seconded by Councillor Roger Davison, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of a new paragraph (f) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraph (f) as a new paragraph (g):-

(f)         notes that these proposals were blocked by the Liberal Democrats in the last Government.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

Following a Right of Reply by Councillor Paul Wood, the original Motion was then put to the vote and carried, as follows:-

RESOLVED: that this Council:-

(a)       objects to the proposed amendment to the Trade Union Bill, which it believes is an unnecessary attack on workers’ rights and civil liberties that undermines the collective bargaining powers of trade unions;

(b)       is totally opposed to this draconian proposal;

(c)        notes that this country has a proud tradition of liberty and democracy built up over many years, of which trade unions play a key role;.

(d)       believes that these proposals indicate the Government’s intention to weaken trade unions, resulting in making it easier to attack workers’ rights and pay and conditions of employment; that the Bill clearly demonstrates that this Government is not on the side of working people; and that the proposals would weaken the ability for workers to have a voice that is heard and represented by their trade union in the negotiation and protection of their terms and conditions of employment;

(e)       further believes that these are unfair and undemocratic changes and will make it much harder for public sector workers, who have suffered many years of pay restraint, to ever take industrial action over pay or challenge the behaviour of bad employers, and that it will make it more difficult for trade unions to organise, protest and reflect their members’ points of view, and therefore the proposals represent attacks on civil liberties; and

(f)        calls on the Government to think again and reconsider these plans.

(Note: Councillor John Campbell, left the meeting during consideration of the above item, having declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and took no part in the debate or voting thereon.)