The right to strike “is a fundamental human right” according to the new leader of the Liverpool Labour group.
Amid a wave of industrial action from sectors across the UK, including nurses, train staff, ambulance crews and bus drivers in the last 12 months, a motion has been laid before Liverpool Council by Cllr Liam Robinson, seeking local authority support for the right to campaign on employment rights. The Kensington and Fairfield member, who was elected leader of the Labour group on the city council in November, has secured a 20 minute debate on the subject when councillors meet at Liverpool Town Hall on Wednesday.
The motion text called upon members to acknowledge “ the vital work that Trade Unions play in countless workplaces across the city and beyond” and how “unionised workplaces deliver higher pay, better terms and conditions as well as stronger health and safety arrangements than non-unionised workplaces.” In the last week, nurses walked out at hospitals across the Liverpool City Region over pay and conditions. Industrial action was called off at 22 household waste sites throughout Merseyside earlier this month after workers secured an 18% pay deal with Veolia.
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Members of the Rail and Maritime Transport (RMT) union have been a semi-regular sight outside Lime Street station since last year in an ongoing battle with train operators and the government. Rail workers have been striking for more than six months over pay and terms and have vowed to continue for “another six months” if needed.
Last summer, Arriva bus drivers left their seats for 29 days in a dispute with the company over their fees. They won an 11% pay increase as a result.
Cllr Robinson’s motion said Britain has some of the “most restrictive” trade union laws in the world and called on the council to register its concern at the UK Government’s intention to introduce the Minimum Service Levels Bill - dubbed the ant-strike law. While the Bill has been laid before parliament focusing on the transport industry, Cllr Robinson’s motion said council should look with concern that it could be extended to other sectors of the country.
The text added: “Council believes that the right to strike is a fundamental human right and that industrial disputes are best resolved through negotiation not measures designed to undermine and potentially outlaw industrial action.” The motion also seeks the local authority to instruct Mayor Joanne Anderson and Theresa Grant, interim chief executive, to write to the Prime Minister to outline the terms of the motion - if agreed - and its opposition to the Minimum Service Levels Bill.
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