01 February 2016

Labour peer Baroness Donaghy has proposed an amendment to the Trade Union Bill to fight back against legislation to double the notice period trade unions have to give employers of industrial action.

We have argued that the 14-day notice period the Tories wish to legislate for will provide employers with enough time to hire agency workers as strike breakers (according to new rules allowing bosses to do so, also in the Trade Union Bill).

Baroness Donaghy has put forth an amendment to the relevant clause – Clause 7 – to state that the current seven-day notice period should remain in cases where unions and employers have already come to an agreement in respect to the industrial action.

This comes after Tory peer Lord Balfe rebelled against his party by amending the Bill to permit trade unions to use electronic balloting and check-off processes.

For all other amendments to the Bill since it had its second reading in the House of Lords on 11 January, please click here.

The Bill will enter Committee Stage in the House of Lords on 08 February.

Protect the right to strike: Kill the Bill - just £5!

The Conservative Government’s proposed strike ballot thresholds: The challenge to trade unions - just £6!