Union to challenge 'strike breaker' law in court
A leading trade union is to mount a legal challenge to a controversial new law allowing employers to use agency staff to replace striking workers during industrial disputes.
Unison says it plans to take the Government to court over changes to the law which came into force on Thursday amidawaveofstrikesinrecent months by workers, including those in the railway industry.
The union has written to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng stating its intention to seek a judicial review of the new regulations, which it believes are unlawful.
Unison says the minister has 14 days to respond, otherwise it will take the Government to the High Court to try to get the measure overturned.
The union said it also intends to show the Government is in breach of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights – which protects the right to strike, and international labour standards.
General secretary Christina McAnea said: "The Government
is prepared to do anything to stop strikes, except encourage dialogue and sensible industrial relations.
"Sending agency staff into disputes to break strikes will only fan the flames and make it harder for employers and unions to reach agreement.
"Ministers have been spooked by the sympathy people are showing for workers fighting for fair wages.”
She added: "The Government's cynical solution is to ride a coach and horses through employment law, risking the safety of staff and the public by parachuting in agency workers who won't know the ropes.
"If ministers won't back down, we'll take the Government to court to prove it."