Commenting following reports that the government will repeal the 2016 Trade Union Act - which meant for public services such as education 40% of the union’s entire membership has to support industrial action – in its forthcoming Employment Rights Bill, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:
“This would be a further welcome step on the back of the government’s announcement earlier this month that it will scrap the previous administration’s unworkable minimum service level legislation. It was a pre-election promise, and we hope to see the new government delivering on it as soon as possible.
“The right for unions to act to protect their members’ working conditions and the effective operation of vital public services like schools is an essential part of a functioning democracy.
“Successive Conservative governments set out to systematically undermine unions’ democratic right to stand up for their members.
“The new government’s pledge to work in partnership with trade unions is a positive statement of intent as we continue our work to address the challenges facing school leaders - from recruitment and retention, to workload, support for children with special educational needs, and the poor condition of parts of the school estate.
“There is strong evidence that where employers recognise and engage with trade unions, this has a positive role in avoiding disputes and reducing industrial conflict.”
First published 19 August 2024