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Official strike data show government plans for trade union Facebook fines are excessive, says TUC
“These figures show how disproportionate the government’s proposals on strike action are. Even if their new strike thresholds are met, they will legalise the use of agency staff to break strikes. And there are some dangerously intrusive proposals too – unions could be hit by fines if striking teachers, midwives or cleaners use Facebook without telling the authorities first.
“The government’s plans go much further than strike activity. Workplace training, safety and support for millions of workers could be hit by unlimited powers for the government to cap time spent on any union activity. This could even stop a union representative supporting you at a tribunal if you’re the victim of harassment or discrimination.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- In 2014 the UK lost 788,000 days to strikes. The number of days lost to strike action each year is now on average less than a tenth of what it was during the 1980s. In 1980 the UK lost 11.9 million days to strikes. By 1990, at the end of the Thatcher period, the figure was 1.9 million days.
- In 2014, 56 per cent of strike disputes were in the private sector.
- Paragraphs 25 and 28 of the government’s consultation document on the Trade Union Bill propose that trade unions should be fined if they do not submit 14 days notice of plans to use Facebook and other social media during industrial action.
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews