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| Change strike ballot rules, think tank urges | Change strike ballot rules, think tank urges |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Ballot rules should be changed so it is tougher for unions to call strike action, a think tank has said. | Ballot rules should be changed so it is tougher for unions to call strike action, a think tank has said. |
| The Policy Exchange suggests 40% of trade union members in a workforce should be required to vote for a strike for it to be valid. | |
| The law currently states that a simple majority of voting union members is sufficient. | |
| The CBI welcomed the report, but the TUC claimed it was "a crude attack on basic workplace rights". | The CBI welcomed the report, but the TUC claimed it was "a crude attack on basic workplace rights". |
| The think tank also called for employers to be allowed to use agency staff to cover strike action, and for the period of protection from dismissal during a strike to be reduced from 12 weeks to eight weeks. | The think tank also called for employers to be allowed to use agency staff to cover strike action, and for the period of protection from dismissal during a strike to be reduced from 12 weeks to eight weeks. |
| 'Rebalance power' | 'Rebalance power' |
| Information about the length of any industrial action and specific grievances should be spelled out in ballot papers, it added. | Information about the length of any industrial action and specific grievances should be spelled out in ballot papers, it added. |
| Andrew Lilico, Policy Exchange's chief economist, said the existing framework was "out of kilter with the realities of the make-up of the modern workforce and the relationship between employers and employees". | Andrew Lilico, Policy Exchange's chief economist, said the existing framework was "out of kilter with the realities of the make-up of the modern workforce and the relationship between employers and employees". |
| "There are some specific reforms that should be made with regards to rebalancing the power between trade unions, workers and employers," he said. | "There are some specific reforms that should be made with regards to rebalancing the power between trade unions, workers and employers," he said. |
| Ed Holmes, co-author of the report, added that taxpayer funding of unions was "extensive, and often hidden" and called for "greater transparency". | Ed Holmes, co-author of the report, added that taxpayer funding of unions was "extensive, and often hidden" and called for "greater transparency". |
| Welcoming the report, John Cridland, the CBI's deputy director-general, said union reform was long overdue. | Welcoming the report, John Cridland, the CBI's deputy director-general, said union reform was long overdue. |
| Many employers were working with unions and other staff representatives to bring about improvements in the workplace, he said. | Many employers were working with unions and other staff representatives to bring about improvements in the workplace, he said. |
| "However, with public sector cuts imminent, we believe the bar needs to be raised for industrial action. This would help ensure that ordinary people do not have to endure the kind of disruption we saw during this week's London Underground strike." | "However, with public sector cuts imminent, we believe the bar needs to be raised for industrial action. This would help ensure that ordinary people do not have to endure the kind of disruption we saw during this week's London Underground strike." |
| But Sarah Veale, the TUC's head of equalities and employment rights, said "What these right-wing policy wonks in their nostalgia for the divisive years of Mrs Thatcher don't understand is that unions do not just benefit their members, but employers and wider society too. | But Sarah Veale, the TUC's head of equalities and employment rights, said "What these right-wing policy wonks in their nostalgia for the divisive years of Mrs Thatcher don't understand is that unions do not just benefit their members, but employers and wider society too. |
| "If they got out a bit more they would find that unions give employees a voice, deal with problems before they turn into disputes or end up in tribunals, and allow change to be negotiated." | "If they got out a bit more they would find that unions give employees a voice, deal with problems before they turn into disputes or end up in tribunals, and allow change to be negotiated." |
| Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said it was not a coincidence that the "concerted attack on workers' rights" came as government "prepared to unleash unprecedented cuts". | Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said it was not a coincidence that the "concerted attack on workers' rights" came as government "prepared to unleash unprecedented cuts". |
| "They want to clamp down on workplace rights because they know full well that the unions will be the main point of resistance to the government's austerity agenda," he said. | "They want to clamp down on workplace rights because they know full well that the unions will be the main point of resistance to the government's austerity agenda," he said. |