October 17, 2011
Unison, one of the main public sector unions has said it expects employers to make legal challenges against a day of strike action being proposed for November.
This week the trade union issued ballot papers to its 1.1m members making this the biggest industrial action ballot in UK history. The ballot is in response to public sector workers being asked to work longer and contribute more to secure their final salary pensions. A number of unions are also balloting members and it is proposed that there will be a combined action. There are thirteen unions balloting members with another four who went on strike in June already with a mandate for action.
In addition to the strike in November further stoppages are being planned throughout the winter although the trade unions have admitted that it may be difficult persuading low-paid workers to strike in such difficult economic times. The coalition government have made it clear that they will stand by their reforms and will not back down despite the planned action.
In recent times employers have become increasingly successful in challenging the legality of ballots under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary pointed out the challenges facing the union in complying with the legislation: “It is difficult to run a legal ballot in this country. We have got the most restrictive balloting laws in the western world,” Mr Prentis said. “We have spent nearly a year getting our membership register in a state where we do meet the legislative requirements. We will face the legal challenge and fight it out in the courts.”
