Angela Rayner has been warned that Labour’s plans to undo trade union restrictions brought in under the Tories could unleash a wave of Birmingham-style bin chaos across Britain. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, is spearheading government reforms that would repeal a number of crackdowns on militant unions, including the requirement that picket lines remain “peaceful”.
The law currently states that each trade union demonstration requires a union representative ensuring decorum. Over the past weeks these figures have been credited with allowing some bin lorries to leave depots in Birmingham and go and collect rubbish, providing some small but much-needed relief to residents. The Tories have now said that Angela Rayner’s plan to abolish this requirement would prevent non-union rubbish collectors from carrying out their jobs, extending pain for Brits.
Andrew Griffith, the shadow Business Secretary, said that the picket supervisors have played a vital role liaising between the unions and the police.
He warned that abolishing the pivotal figure would embolden hardline protesters to block all lorries from leaving their depots and worsen the rubbish crisis.
Mr Griffith said: “That means threats, harassment, intimidation will all be far easier — as long as it’s done by a union, on a picket line — because there will no longer be anyone there to stop it.”
“Nowhere else in your day-to-day life would this be allowed, but Labour seem to be actively encouraging it — ever dutiful to their union overlords.”
He added that Labour’s trade union reform bill means “we could be seeing a lot more of the vicious strikes that have made Brummies’ lives a misery”.
Among the other trade union reforms being pursued by Ms Rayner are a return to mass collective bargaining.
The Employment Rights Bill, which the Tories are also warning will worsen the current economic problems by whacking businesses with further costs, is currently working its way through parliament.
Also included in the new package include the right to flexible working, ending fire and rehire, banning zero-hour contracts, compensation for cancelled shifts, and improving pay for social car workers.
Staff will also be entitled to a raft of rights from day one, rather than only being entitled to them after a period of time working for the company.
These include parental and paternity leave, bereavement leave, and protection from unfair dismissal.
However, a government spokesman insisted that abolishing the peacekeeping roles will not exacerbate the current bin crisis.
A spokesman said: “Restrictions on picketing will remain in place, including laws against intimidation and obstruction of sites and vehicles during picketing.”
