Next debate - Thursday 07 July - This House Would make it harder to go on strike

DATE: Thursday 07 July
TIME: 7.30pm - 10.30pm
VENUE: The George, 213 Strand WC2R 1AP
MOTION: This House Would make it harder to go on strike

BACKGROUND:
Last Thursday, government ministers clashed with trade union leaders as hundreds of thousands of public sector workers went on strike across the country in protest against proposed changes to their pensions. In response to threats of further strikes in the future, the government is under pressure from both business leaders and London Mayor, Boris Johnson, to toughen the law on strike action, especially where essential public services are concerned.

In particular, both the Mayor and the CBI say a minimum turnout should be required for all union ballots and that any strikes called without passing this threshold should be considered illegal. At present, only a majority is needed for a strike to be called regardless of turnout. No decision has been taken yet by the government, but insist that with further strikes still a strong possibility, 'all options remain on the table'.

Should the Prime Minister follow Boris Johnson's advice, and risk an all out confrontation with the country's most powerful trade unions, by making it harder to go on strike? Are the proposed changes to public sector pay and pensions essential to reducing the deficit or are they an unfair attack on the livelihoods of millions of workers throughout the UK?

VENUE:
This week, as we continue our search for a new venue in which to host our summer debates, we will be meeting in the upstairs function room of the George on the Strand (see here for directions). The room can accomodate up to 60 people with a manned bar available to provide food and drink and it will be ours all night.

FURTHER READING:

BACKGROUND:
1) Vince Cable warns unions of tougher strike laws (Reuters)
2) Hundreds of thousands join June 30th strike (Guardian)
3) Public sector pensions report explained (BBC)
4) The pros and cons of tightening the rules on industrial action (The Economist)

ARE PUBLIC SECTOR PENSION CHANGES UNFAIR?
5) Why David Cameron is right on public sector pensions (Channel 4 fact-check blog)
6) Public sector pensions are still a great deal (Citywire)
7) Government reforms will prompt more public sector pension opt-outs (Financial Times)
8) Pension changes not reform, but just a pay cut (False Economy)



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