Labour movement unites against Government attack on right to strike

In a further erosion of our civil liberties, the Government has briefed the press that it is threatening to invoke emergency powers, contained within the Civil Contingencies Act, in the oil tanker drivers' dispute to draft in soldiers to drive the tankers. The drivers are members of UNITE.

There is widespread concern within Parliament about these proposals as MPs have tabled EDM 1761 (full text at end) on this issue.

John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair, said

“Just after the vote on 42 days detention you thought the assault on people's civil liberties couldn't get worse.

“When the Government introduced the Civil Contingencies Act many of us warned that it would be used against trade unionists and this latest threat from Downing Street confirms our concerns that emergency powers could be used to undermine trade union rights.

“Just at a time when there are attempts to achieve a negotiated settlement to the tanker drivers' dispute this inflammatory threat will exacerbate the situation and undermine the potential for resolving the dispute.”

Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary, said

“The FBU is extremely concerned about the potential of the Civil Contingencies Act to be used to organise strike-breaking.

“There is no evidence that the UK fire service has ever failed to respond adequately to the seriousness of terrorist events. We believe that some employers, with the encouragement of the Government, are using this legislation to organise strike-breaking activities that can only undermine good industrial relations.

“We would urge the Government to avoid inflammatory actions against trade unions in the event of industrial action”

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EDM 1761 Tanker Drivers' Dispute

That this House regrets that Government sources this week have threatened the use of emergency powers against striking tanker drivers, who are members of Unite, including through the drafting-in of soldiers to drive tankers for oil companies; and believes this inflammatory threat sets back the process of achieving a negotiated settlement in this dispute.