STEPHEN Flynn has said the UK Government’s anti-strike bill is a “blatant attack” on devolution – and warned that it is just the start.
The SNP Westminster leader said Scotland’s parliament was facing yet more danger with a Tory bill that could force Scottish employees to work despite voting for strike action.
The Aberdeen South MP spoke to The National following a speech at the Scottish Trades Union Congress’s protect the right to strike rally in Glasgow.
He said: “Once again this is a blatant attack on Scotland’s parliament and the devolution settlement.
“It’s not just that, we also have the Section 35 order on the [Gender Recognition Reform] Bill and we see it with the EU Retained Law Bill.”
Flynn said that would see Westminster take control over maternity rights, employment rights and other areas the SNP have argued are devolved.
“Ultimately the Scottish Parliament will have no say in these things,” he said.
“This is a fairly dangerous moment for devolution. I’ve been clear about that in the past and I think everyone in Scotland should be concerned about that.”
Flynn suggested Scotland was limited in how it could counteract the bill – despite Scottish politicians overwhelmingly opposing it.
The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which passed its third stage in the House of Commons on Tuesday, places a duty on public sector bodies to provide an unspecified level of service cover and allows bosses to legally fire employees who ignore a “work notice” ordering them to work during industrial action.
It was voted through by the Tories but was opposed by the LibDems, SNP and Labour.
Flynn said: “This is one of the problems that we have: we have a vastly overwhelming majority of Scotland’s MPs down in Westminster opposed to this bill.
“We know the Scottish Government, and indeed an overwhelming majority of Scottish parliamentarians oppose this bill.
“It goes to the heart of the problem with this Union. It ultimately doesn’t matter what we say, it doesn’t matter what the Scottish Government say, it doesn’t matter what Scotland’s parliament say - it’s for unelected Tories in Westminster to decide what happens, and I think folk in Scotland need to reflect very heavily on that.”
🗣@StephenFlynnSNP speaks at the @ScottishTUC in Glasgow pic.twitter.com/Mvb2OdelsD
— Lee Pirie (@LeePirie) February 1, 2023
Flynn warned this bill will not be the start of what he described as an “attack” on devolution.
“This is the thing that’s worrying us all,” he said. “What next? What does this unelected Tory government in Scotland intend to go next?
“There is no shining light in sight because we are stuck with a Tory government. It’s a worrying time for everyone. We need a little bit of hope and legislation like this doesn’t offer people hope.”
The UK Government say the bill will help bring under control "constant" strikes they say have been "disruptive" and even "dangerous".
But Roz Foyer (above), general secretary of STUC, said removing the right to strike took away a fundamental right that allows workers to obtain better pay and conditions.
She told The National: “This is part of our democracy. No matter how the Government wants to dress this up to be about minimum standards – they don’t care about minimum standards.
“They don’t care about minimum standards, they’ve not maintained minimum standards across our public services for years”
Foyer said unions had no choice but to take action after members overwhelmingly voted to strike over years of stagnant wages culminating in a cost of living crisis.
“It is a far bigger inconvenience to be facing a cost of living crisis and not have services there to support you.
“Our services have been starved of funding for far too long and workers need a pay packet that enables them to pay their bills, put food on the table for their kids, and keep their homes warm.
“These are the gunmetal issues most ordinary working people are having to deal with.
“That is a much greater inconvenience than the strike action that striking members are taking to strike back.”
Recent polling from Sky News on Tuesday suggested there is rising public support for trade unions.
It also showed the majority support strike action taken by nurses, ambulance staff and firefighters while more people supported teachers strikes than those who did not.
