THE Welsh Government has reversed parts of a controversial law imposing restrictions on
strike ballots and other trade union activities.
UNIONS have welcomed moves by the Welsh Government to block a controversial Bill aimed at reforming
strike ballots, picketing and the collection of union subscriptions.
GOVERNMENT plans to reform
strike ballots will come under attack by delegates at a leading union conference, with complaints that the move is an "outright assault" on the right to take industrial action.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union backed walkouts by 4-1 on a turnout of 60 per cent, beating planned government thresholds on
strike ballots.
Industrial action in the health, education, transport and fire services would require the support of at least 40% of all those entitled to take part in
strike ballots - as well as a majority of those who actually turn out to vote.
Cameron wants to bring in a minimum threshold for
strike ballots, meaning they would only be valid if they have the support of 50 per cent of union members.
"I think the time has come for looking at setting thresholds in
strike ballots...
Summary: Changes to
strike ballots should be made as part of the "modernisation" of industrial relations, a think tank has urged.
Fresh talks aimed at averting industrial action by thousands of engineering construction workers will resume tomorrow as the results of
strike ballots start to be revealed, it was announced today.
Bob Crow, leader of the RMT - the biggest of four unions involved - said: "The private train companies just won't talk to us so we are left with no alternative but to hold national
strike ballots."
He said the union was holding indicative
strike ballots at some schools.
Two other unions, Amicus and the Transport & General Workers, are also conducting
strike ballots.
