[IER] Strikes Bill fails to meet human rights obligations – JCHR

Fri Mar 10 14:49:40 GMT 2023

News brief 10/03/23   View this email in your browser 

Strikes Bill fails to meet human rights obligations – Joint Committee on Human Rights

The IER gave evidence on the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill to Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), via our President Professor Keith Ewing and Executive Commitee member Tonia Novitz. On Monday, the 6th of March, the JCHR reported, condemning the Bill as failing to meet human rights obligations:

"The Joint Committee warns that the Government has not made a compelling case that such measures are necessary and finds that the Bill as drafted contains inadequate protection against arbitrary use and is unclear. Under the European Convention on Human Rights, restrictions on strikes must meet a ‘pressing social need’. However, the Government has not proven that existing strike laws and voluntary minimum service levels are insufficient across all the sectors identified in the Bill."

More details 

Strikes bill could breach UK workers’ human rights and expose the government to legal challenges
Tonia Novitz, Professor of Labour Law, University of Bristol and IER Executive Committee member, looks at the legal implications of the Government's Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill - on The Conversation. 

Read more 

EHRC warns Strikes Bill could see all striking workers lose their unfair dismissal protection
Equalities watchdog publishes scathing new report on the anti-strike laws

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Grant Shapps’ Latest Anti-Union Law ‘Likely to Be Struck Down’ in Embarrassing Blow
The Minimum Service Levels Bill is ‘almost certainly’ against international law – meaning any fines or sackings would be thrown out, according to a leading labour lawyer. Reporting by Josiah Mortimer at the Byline Times. 

Read more 

Why it is crucial to oppose the anti-trade union laws
The austerity offensive and the anti-union laws are part of the same package, argues economist Michael Burke (Socialist Economic Bulletin) 

Read more 

Rising Together for Women’s Health & Safety
This International Women’s Day (8th March), UNI Global Union put the spotlight on women’s health and safety in the workplace. 

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Why the trade union struggle needs to be a feminist one – and vice versa
The history of International Women’s Day is not a story from the past – it is a story that transcends time, writes ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch 

Read more 

Events

War on Want: Organise! Our Rights are Under Attack - online webinar

Our rights to assemble, to organise, and to fight for a better world are under threat from the UK Government. 

Monday 13th March 2023 - 18.00  

More details and registration 

Employment Law update 2023 (London)
23rd March 2023 – 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. Book now for our highly popular annual update on statute, case law and employment rights 

Book here 

The Right to Strike 2023 (London)
24th March 2023 – 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. A free IER event that looks at the recent pernicious attacks on the right to strike, and how the trade union movement might respond 

Book here 

Hard Up? Who is to Blame? The Economic Consequences of the Anti-union Laws
An joint event by the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom, and Socialist Economic Bulletin.
Monday 27 March at 19:00 via Zoom

More details and registration 

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