The key to understanding where this legislation is going is in the statement of purpose. "The economic well-being of the UK" can only have one real meaning - the ability to harass, jail, or retrieve communications from trade-union activists. Before I get accused of paranoia, cast your minds back to the '80's and how much of a role MI5 and other Government agencies such as Special Branch played as key agents in breaking the Great Miners Strike.
"But" I hear you say "this is a Labour government, and aren't they sympathetic to the Trade Union movement?"
Dream on. "New" Labour has repeatedly demonstrated their hostility to the TU movement. They have categoricaly refused to repeal any of the disgraceful anti trade union laws passed in by the Conservative governments of the 80's and 90's, which infringed on the Civil liberties of all UK citizens (although many still don't realise quite the extent of those laws), and which were opposed by the Labour Party at the time. New Labour have also been actively distancing themselves from the historic link with the Unions for a long time now. Many of them are ex -Thatcherites, and some (like Tony Blair for instance) have publicly expressed their admiration of Margaret Thatcher.
The Trade Union movement is still an International movement, and technically Labour is still affiliated to that. If you want to get active over this disgraceful piece of legislation, you can do so if you are a Trade Union member in any part of the World. I strongly urge all trade unionists who object to this Bill to email, write or fax Jack Straw in your official capacity. Also talk about this to your local branch meetings and bring it up on regional committees etc.
www.labournet.org is as always very informative about this bill and the strubble against it.
"The great are only great because we are on our knees" -James Connolly, Irish Freedom Fighter and socialist
Slashdot Mirror
The key to understanding where this legislation is going is in the statement of purpose. "The economic well-being of the UK" can only have one real meaning - the ability to harass, jail, or retrieve communications from trade-union activists.
Before I get accused of paranoia, cast your minds back to the '80's and how much of a role MI5 and other Government agencies such as Special Branch played as key agents in breaking the Great Miners Strike.
"But" I hear you say "this is a Labour government, and aren't they sympathetic to the Trade Union movement?"
Dream on. "New" Labour has repeatedly demonstrated their hostility to the TU movement. They have categoricaly refused to repeal any of the disgraceful anti trade union laws passed in by the Conservative governments of the 80's and 90's, which infringed on the Civil liberties of all UK citizens (although many still don't realise quite the extent of those laws), and which were opposed by the Labour Party at the time. New Labour have also been actively distancing themselves from the historic link with the Unions for a long time now. Many of them are ex -Thatcherites, and some (like Tony Blair for instance) have publicly expressed their admiration of Margaret Thatcher.
The Trade Union movement is still an International movement, and technically Labour is still affiliated to that. If you want to get active over this disgraceful piece of legislation, you can do so if you are a Trade Union member in any part of the World. I strongly urge all trade unionists who object to this Bill to email, write or fax Jack Straw in your official capacity. Also talk about this to your local branch meetings and bring it up on regional committees etc.
www.labournet.org is as always very informative about this bill and the strubble against it.
"The great are only great because we are on our knees"
-James Connolly, Irish Freedom Fighter and socialist