RMT and FBU have submitted motions to the upcoming TUC Congress (10-13 September, Liverpool) on the Minimum Service Levels Bill. We reproduce both motions below.
We encourage supporters to lobby their unions’ TUC delegations to support these motions. If passed, we need to ensure they’re enacted!
RMT motion (P03)
Congress notes that, not content with their complete betrayal of workers following the P&O scandal, the Tory Government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill now represents the biggest attack on trade union rights and values since the 1900 Taff Vale judgement against one of RMT’s predecessors, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, which ruled unions could be sued and compelled to pay for damages for the impact of their strike action.
The new Bill compels unions to instruct members to comply with work notices to cross picket lines. Members not complying can be dismissed and unions not complying lose their immunity from prosecution.
Congress notes the Bill gives the government sweeping powers to extend minimum service levels across the economy, curtailing the ability of every trade union to protect their members during the ongoing cost of living crisis and beyond, indeed the International Labour Organisation has criticised the legislation as a threat to the fundamental rights of workers in Britain.
Congress agrees we must use all means necessary to defeat this unjust law and calls on the General Council to proactively seek to,
• Legally challenge the legislation;
• Coordinate demands from affiliates that employers, devolved governments, and local authorities do not issue work notices;
• Hold a national march opposing the legislation and calling for repeal of the anti-union laws
• Organise a Special Congress, size to be determined, to explore options for non-compliance and resistance;
• Mobilise support for any affiliate seeking assistance, whose union and members are sanctioned for non-compliance.
FBU motion (P04)
Congress condemns the Minimum Service Levels (MSLs) legislation, the most draconian attack on trade union rights in living memory.
Congress notes that the MSLs legislation effectively outlaws effective strike action in key sectors.
Congress agrees that we have no choice but to build mass opposition to the MSLs laws, including a strategy of non-compliance and non-cooperation to make them unworkable.
Congress welcomes Humza Yousaf’s pledge to the STUC congress that the Scottish Government “will never issue or enforce a single work notice” under the MSLs legislation.
Congress calls on all devolved administrations to refuse to implement the MSLs legislation and to work with the trade union movement to render them inoperable.
Congress further calls on Labour-led local authorities, mayors, fire authorities and other public bodies to refuse to implement the MSLs laws.
Congress welcomes calls by affiliates for mass demonstrations against the MSLs legislation and mandates the TUC to support these demonstrations.
Congress pledges 100% solidarity with any trade unions attacked under these MSL laws.
Congress supports the campaign for mass non-compliance, up to and including industrial action, to defeat these pernicious MSL laws.
Congress reaffirms its longstanding policy to campaign for the repeal of all anti-union laws and for positive legal rights for trade unions.
Congress calls on the next Labour government to immediately repeal MSLs, the Trade Union Act 2016 and take urgent steps to remove other anti-union laws.
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