ConDems Declare War On Trade Union Movement

REPORTS THIS morning that the ConDem Government are planning to rig the anti-union laws even further in favour of the employers have been slammed as a "declaration of war" on the Trade Union Movement as the administration seeks to prevent workers from fighting back against attacks on jobs and working conditions and against public spending cuts.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The ConDems know that the main opposition to their austerity and cuts plans will come from the Trade Unions. They are running scared and are now looking to tighten the noose of the anti-union laws around the workers necks to choke off resistance.

"Under these proposals to raise the bar hardly a single MP in the UK would have been allowed to take up their seats. It's one law for the political class and one law for the working class in a move that has echoes of a right-wing South American dictatorship.

"The idea that Boris Johnson has been called in to advise after dealing with RMT on the tube is incredible. Our members on Tube Lines will be out on strike again next week as they stand up for jobs and safety.

"This is a declaration of war on the Trade Union Movement and our response will be robust as we lay down plans for co-ordinated and generalised industrial and community action against the cuts."

Here are some of the reports on Condem plans to alter union laws:

"Government accused of declaring war on unions over strike law and redundancy plans" - The Guardian

"Unions fear 'war' with government over strikes" - The Independent

> RMT National News

Monday, 22nd December
Rail union RMT celebrated a major victory for rail workers after it was confirmed that the outsourced TransPennine Express dispatch contract will be brought back in-house and transferred to Northern Trains.
Monday, 22nd December
Rail union RMT has called for FirstGroup-owned Avanti West Coast to be stripped of its remaining rail contracts and its operations returned to public ownership.
Friday, 19th December
RMT has condemned proposals by Amey Rail to cut 59 jobs on the Core Valley Lines (CVL) transformation project, warning that the plans could lead to industrial action.
Wednesday, 17th December
Cleaning staff on the Docklands Light Railway will take strike action on New Year's Eve after the employer made no contact with the union following the previous strike.
Wednesday, 17th December
RMT has called on the government to immediately intervene to protect the lives of remand prisoners currently on hunger strike.