“Anti-union laws are a priority for the Tories at the moment rather than supporting people struggling with the cost of living.”
By Sarah Woolley, Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU)
The Tories have always held trade unions in contempt, as we empower workers to stand together to demand better and support them doing so, which goes against their ethos of helping the rich get richer and the working class ‘knowing their place’.
This new round of restrictions is nothing more than the Tories flexing their muscles in an attempt to remind working people who are in charge.
They are focusing on making strike action more difficult and supporting employers to strike bust, after increasing the powers of the Certification Officer in what we can only presume is an attempt to strangle trade unions financially,
These anti-union laws are a priority for the Tories at the moment rather than supporting people struggling with the cost of living. Yet the reality is working people are worrying about what is to come when the true cost of the energy price hike is felt, and are being pushed further into poverty, often relying on foodbanks and charity to survive. Many are starving.
In the court of public opinion though, the Tories are well off the mark with this new round of trade union restrictions.
Public support is increasing for unions taking action, and will continue to do so as workers fight back, win better wages terms and conditions and continue to smash the restrictions in place.
What the Tories need to start realising is that they may be in Government, but we are 6 million working people strong and growing – and we are the powerful ones.
Keep Organising, Keep Agitating, Keep Winning – most importantly keep standing in Solidarity with each other!
- Sarah Woolley is the General Secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU). You can follow her on twitter here; and follow the BFAWU on Facebook and twitter.
- This article was originally published in print for the Labour Outlook Trades Union Congress 2022 special edition.
