EVERY LAW HAS ITS PLACE IN HISTORY | Socialist Action 1983

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THE COURT injunctions against the NGA, the NUJ, and the POEU have begun to show just how much is at stake in the 1980 and 1982 Employment Acts. This scale of attacks on the unions would have seemed impossible ten years ago, when massive attempt to encourage naaction to secure victory.

• 1o enorce unese laws the courts are now given not merely the right to fine KENT AREA trade unions which has not existed before. measure which needs to be opposed by all who believe in the right of unions to organist the best interests of their members.

The proposals have been presented as an tempt to improve democracy. A Bill to 'give the back to its members' is how government representatives have described the new legislation. But the intention Bill is entirely different. The law would, in effect: • override established union procedures • force unions to ignore their own rule books • allow judges to determine what is fair and reasonable' rather than union members • tie up unions in complicated procedures which effectively will prevent them from taking action • • limit the political activities of trade Not surprisingly therefore those tions who have come out unions but also power to seize their funds and imprison union officials. wholeheartedly in support of the government's pro posals the represen tatives iof major UK employers. The Director General of the ConfederaBritish (CBI), Sir Terence Becket hails the Bill as 'fair and reasonable' At the same time they, along with the Institute of Directors and the Engineering Employers Federation, are now in the process of en couraging the government to introduce even further Fi and are knowi to favour the outlawing of strikes where procedure agreements have been broken - oy unions no managements of course.

The government •will ASCLES introducing, the Bill as a light for further, tougher • measures. Mrs Thatcher has promised a new trade union law every two years. As each piece of legislation is in. troduced rights are limited further. • Unions Attacked Research Department, 78 Research Department, Blackfriars Ra, London SEI 8HF, (includes post and packaging).

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JOIN THE TUC FIGHT BACK AGAINST TEBBIT'S LAW