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| Trade Union Bill: Commons to debate government plans | Trade Union Bill: Commons to debate government plans |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Controversial plans to tighten rules on trade union strike ballots are to be debated in Parliament for the first time later - amid warnings of industrial and legal action. | Controversial plans to tighten rules on trade union strike ballots are to be debated in Parliament for the first time later - amid warnings of industrial and legal action. |
| The government's Trade Union Bill proposes curbs on picketing and higher voting thresholds for ballots. | The government's Trade Union Bill proposes curbs on picketing and higher voting thresholds for ballots. |
| Unions say the bill is a threat to workers' right to strike, with leaders vowing to fight it "tooth and nail". | Unions say the bill is a threat to workers' right to strike, with leaders vowing to fight it "tooth and nail". |
| Business Secretary Sajid Javid said it will stop "endless" threats of action. | Business Secretary Sajid Javid said it will stop "endless" threats of action. |
| The Bill will receive its second reading in the Commons later, giving MPs - including new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - their first chance to debate the proposals. | The Bill will receive its second reading in the Commons later, giving MPs - including new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - their first chance to debate the proposals. |
| Mr Corbyn accused the government of "attacking working people". | Mr Corbyn accused the government of "attacking working people". |
| The government wants to impose a minimum 50% turnout in strike ballots - with public sector strikes requiring the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote. | The government wants to impose a minimum 50% turnout in strike ballots - with public sector strikes requiring the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote. |
| Under current rules, strikes can be called if the majority of those taking part in a ballot vote in favour. | Under current rules, strikes can be called if the majority of those taking part in a ballot vote in favour. |
| The Bill will also: | The Bill will also: |
| The proposals would apply to unions in England, Wales and Scotland. | The proposals would apply to unions in England, Wales and Scotland. |
| 'Criminalising' picketing | 'Criminalising' picketing |
| TUC general secretary, Frances O'Grady, will tell the annual TUC Congress in Brighton later that the Bill is the biggest attack on unions in 30 years. | TUC general secretary, Frances O'Grady, will tell the annual TUC Congress in Brighton later that the Bill is the biggest attack on unions in 30 years. |
| She will say it threatens "the basic right to strike" and will allow employers to "bus in agency temps to break strikes". | She will say it threatens "the basic right to strike" and will allow employers to "bus in agency temps to break strikes". |
| "If an employer believed we couldn't strike, they wouldn't bother to bargain. We wouldn't have safe workplaces, we wouldn't have paid holidays and we wouldn't have equal pay," she will say. | "If an employer believed we couldn't strike, they wouldn't bother to bargain. We wouldn't have safe workplaces, we wouldn't have paid holidays and we wouldn't have equal pay," she will say. |
| GMB general secretary, Sir Paul Kenny, said he would be prepared to go to prison if measures such as fining pickets for not wearing an arm band become law. | GMB general secretary, Sir Paul Kenny, said he would be prepared to go to prison if measures such as fining pickets for not wearing an arm band become law. |
| Meanwhile, Unison leader Dave Prentis said he was prepared to fight the bill "tooth and nail". | Meanwhile, Unison leader Dave Prentis said he was prepared to fight the bill "tooth and nail". |
| He said Unison would withdraw from partnership working in the NHS if the Bill became law, a move he said would affect talks on issues such as equal pay. | He said Unison would withdraw from partnership working in the NHS if the Bill became law, a move he said would affect talks on issues such as equal pay. |
| "We would then take legal cases rather than reach agreements," he added. | "We would then take legal cases rather than reach agreements," he added. |
| 'A fascist dictatorship' | 'A fascist dictatorship' |
| The Commons debate comes after Tory MP David Davis - while backing the majority of the bill - said elements of it were like something out of Franco's dictatorship in Spain. | |
| Labour's new leader Mr Corbyn said the bill will make it harder for workers "to take strike action to defend their jobs, pay and pensions". | |
| Writing in the Daily Mirror, he said: "Britain already has the most restrictive trade union laws in western Europe, and senior Conservatives have likened this new legislation to something from a fascist dictatorship. | Writing in the Daily Mirror, he said: "Britain already has the most restrictive trade union laws in western Europe, and senior Conservatives have likened this new legislation to something from a fascist dictatorship. |
| "There is a choice - there is always a choice - and this government is yet again making the wrong ones." | "There is a choice - there is always a choice - and this government is yet again making the wrong ones." |
| New shadow chancellor John McDonnell told trade union members on Sunday night that Labour will unanimously oppose the Bill. | New shadow chancellor John McDonnell told trade union members on Sunday night that Labour will unanimously oppose the Bill. |
| He pledged to support union demonstrations and protests, saying: "We will be with you at every stage." | He pledged to support union demonstrations and protests, saying: "We will be with you at every stage." |
| However, the government said under current laws, industrial action at ongoing disputes on London Underground and First Great Western could carry on for years. | However, the government said under current laws, industrial action at ongoing disputes on London Underground and First Great Western could carry on for years. |
| Mr Javid said trade unions play "an important role", but added: "When working people's lives are being disrupted by strike action, it is only fair that this happens as a result of a contemporary mandate that is supported by the majority of trade union members." | Mr Javid said trade unions play "an important role", but added: "When working people's lives are being disrupted by strike action, it is only fair that this happens as a result of a contemporary mandate that is supported by the majority of trade union members." |
| Employment minister Nick Boles added: "These modernising reforms will ensure strikes will only happen as a result of a clear, positive and recent decision by those entitled to vote." | Employment minister Nick Boles added: "These modernising reforms will ensure strikes will only happen as a result of a clear, positive and recent decision by those entitled to vote." |