LONDON — British unions have launched legal
action against the
UK government over a new law allowing agency staff to
replace striking workers.
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It comes as tens of thousands of workers,
spearheaded by the rail and postal sectors, are continuing with walkouts over a
cost-of-living crisis in Britain.
Union umbrella group the TUC is taking action on
behalf of 11 unions, while Unison — representing more than a million workers —
and a teachers’ union are bringing their own cases against the government, led
by new Prime Minister Liz Truss.
The government, while Boris Johnson was still in
charge, amended a law over the summer to allow agency staff to help fill gaps
caused by strikes.
“The right to strike is a fundamental British
liberty,” TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said Tuesday.
“But the government is attacking it in broad
daylight. Threatening this right tilts the balance of power too far towards
employers. It means workers can’t stand up for decent services and safety at
work — or defend their jobs and pay.”
Strikes, postponed following the death of Queen
Elizabeth II, are resuming over the next couple of weeks.
Workers across various sectors have gone on strike
across Britain since the summer as decades-high inflation erodes earnings.
O’Grady said ministers failed to consult with unions
over the law change, breaching a legal requirement.
“And restricting the freedom to strike is a breach
of international law,” she added in a statement.
“That’s why unions are coming together to challenge
this change in the courts.”
Over the summer, the UK rail sector carried out its
biggest stoppage in more than 30 years.
Some proposed non-rail strikes were halted after
unions and companies agreed pay deals at the eleventh hour.
But walkouts have still gone ahead by
Amazon warehouse staff and criminal lawyers in recent weeks.
Next week, workers at Britain’s largest container
port, Felixstowe, launch strike action for a further eight days.
The walkout from September 27 until early October 5
comes after an initial eight-day summer stoppage at the port in eastern
England.
Teachers and health workers have meanwhile hinted at
possible walkouts should they not receive new pay deals deemed acceptable.
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