NRT: Go on strike, get a police record

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, September 9th, 2015 - 4 comments
Categories: im/migration, International, Unions, workers' rights - Tags:

no-right-turn-256Reposted from No Right Turn

Over in the UK, the government is carrying out an unprecedented attack on employment and union rights in an effort to return things to their C19th utopia. They’ve already changed legislation to make it almost impossible for unions to legally strike. And now, just in case anyone manages to jump through their hoops, they want to force striking workers to wear armbands and give their names to police as well:

Every worker wanting to join a strike picket could be forced to identify themselves to police, carry a letter of authorisation and wear an armband, under proposed reforms to trade union laws that could be in breach of international agreements, human rights groups have warned.

To point out the obvious: having to give your name to the police if you want to stand up for your rights in the workplace means that that name will go on a police database – and no doubt be shared with a private employer blacklist(something for which no police or spies have ever been prosecuted, BTW). And of course it will show up on all future police checks – effectively turning the police into a blacklist. It is specifically intended to intimidate people out of strike action, keep them cowed and “in their place”.

And that’s modern Britain: where the 1% crush and exploit everyone else, and use their control of the state to silence opposition. But as the C19th showed, making strikes illegal doesn’t stop them – it just means they happen illegally and with more violence and sabotage. That’s the world the Tories are taking the UK back to. I hope they enjoy it.

4 comments on “NRT: Go on strike, get a police record ”

  1. Draco T Bastard 1

    And that’s modern Britain: where the 1% crush and exploit everyone else, and use their control of the state to silence opposition.

    And that’s what’s happening in NZ and the rest of the Western countries as well as the governments, both Left and Tory, take us back to a feudal state under the guise of free-trade.

  2. Macro 2

    This is the most insidious legislation I can imagine. It takes Britain back beyond the the 19th C laws into the dark ages. What are they thinking? Why are there not massive protests across the country? Why is there not major civil unrest? What is happening to the people of Britain? Are they asleep? The people will pay for their compliance at this major infraction of their rights with further incursions by greed obsessed corporates.

  3. millsy 3

    And they call Corbyn far left….,.

  4. Clemgeopin 4

    The POLICE should refuse to enforce such draconian, anti human rights, anti democratic and anti worker laws. Will the police have the moral compass and courage to do so?

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