Heckled Cable warns unions of curbs on strikes

6 Jun 11
The government has warned for the first time that it might toughen strike laws if unions take industrial action that causes serious economic damage.
By Richard Johnstone | 6 June 2011

The government has warned for the first time that it might toughen strike laws if unions take industrial action that causes serious economic damage
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Speaking to the GMB union’s annual conference this morning, Business Secretary Vince Cable said that ‘cool heads’ would be required to maintain a low level of strikes amid government spending cuts. He warned that if the number increased the law might change.

His comments followed calls by London Mayor Boris Johnson for tougher strike laws, specifically a minimum participation rate of 50% for a strike ballot to be valid.

Cable said that the planned action by the PCS civil service union on June 30 over proposed
public sector pension changes, along with action that day by some teaching unions, could lead to work stoppages ‘across significant parts of the public sector’.

This would be happening as ‘we are undoubtedly entering a difficult period’ of government spending cuts.


Cable told delegates that if strike levels remained low, the case for changing strike law was not ‘compelling’.


However, to heckles from the conference floor, he added: ‘S
hould the position change, and should strikes impose serious damage to our economic and social fabric, the pressure on us to act would ratchet up. That is something which both you, and certainly I, would wish to avoid.’

Closing his speech, Cable acknowledged that feelings were running high in trade unions, and called for them to address the country’s economic challenges in partnership with government. ‘I believe this is what ordinary union members want their unions to do.’


Responding to the speech, business lobby group the CBI said there was ‘a strong case’ for changing the law.

CBI director for employment Neil Carberry said that businesses should be able to hire agency workers to directly cover strikes.

He said: ‘We hope that union leaders will work constructively with employers to avoid strikes, because the number one priority should be securing the recovery. Strikes should always be a last resort, but the government needs a contingency plan to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum in the event of industrial action.’

Cable also took questions from delegates. One asked about the role of private equity in the provision of public services in light of the financial difficulties of Southern Cross care home group. Cable responded that the Liberal Democrats were taking a ‘distinctive and tough line on privatisation in the NHS’ within government as part of the consultation on the Health & Social Care Bill.


He also said he regretted the LibDems’ general election pledge to oppose a rise in tuition fees. It ‘wasn’t deliverable’ and we ‘shouldn’t have done’ it, Cable said.
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