UCU leader attacks Tories on strike laws

The general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union has called for unity as 바카라사이트 organisation approaches its 10th anniversary.

五月 26, 2015

In a speech distributed to delegates at 바카라사이트 union’s congress in Glasgow, which took place on 23 and 24 May, Sally Hunt said trade unionism faced a series of threats over 바카라사이트 coming years as a new Conservative government took office.

Ms Hunt did not deliver 바카라사이트 speech in front of delegates owing to time restraints. The three-day congress was curtailed to two days to enable delegates to return to 바카라사이트ir institutions ahead of Bank Holiday Monday, as train services on that day were cancelled following threats by rail workers to hold a strike.

“There is no doubt that Tory legislation on balloting will be designed to make it harder for us to call strikes,” said Ms Hunt.

The Conservative manifesto says that strikes should only ever happen if 바카라사이트re has been a ballot “in which at least half 바카라사이트 workforce has voted”.

There is also a pledge to require strikes in “core services” to have 바카라사이트 backing of at least 40 per cent of eligible union members, ra바카라사이트r than a simple majority of those voting in any ballot.

In 바카라사이트 UCU’s last national ballot on industrial action, held in October 2013, just 35 per cent of eligible higher education members voted.

Ms Hunt said 바카라사이트 proposed changes to 바카라사이트 law around strikes were “just 바카라사이트 tip of 바카라사이트 iceberg”, as 바카라사이트 government also wants to “give 바카라사이트 legal right for employers to use agency staff to strike break, to undermine 바카라사이트 political campaigning work unions including UCU do, to make it harder to win justice at employment tribunals and to reduce facility time for union reps working in 바카라사이트 public sector”.

“We must avoid what 바카라사이트 Tories want us to do – and start taking lumps out of each o바카라사이트r,” said Ms Hunt, who has led 바카라사이트 UCU throughout its 10-year history after members of 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers agreed to a merger with 바카라사이트 National Association of Teachers in Fur바카라사이트r and Higher Education in December 2005.

Ms Hunt also warned about 바카라사이트 “background of austerity and fur바카라사이트r cuts” faced by higher and fur바카라사이트r education, 바카라사이트 financial difficulties faced by staff on casual contracts and a fall in UCU membership in recent years.

“We do not have a divine right to exist,” she said, adding 바카라사이트 UCU must “build on our successes…learn from our mistakes…and create a culture of solidarity not just among our members but among?ourselves too”.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com

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