UNISON takes the government to court over law allowing the use of agency workers to break strike

Legal action against the government over new regulations allowing agency workers to replace striking staff has been launched by UNISON. The union issued proceedings with the High Court last week (13 September), triggering the start of a process seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision. UNISON is arguing that ministers’ changes are unlawful and should be axed. Business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg has 21 days to respond from the date the case was lodged last Tuesday. UNISON is arguing the government’s change to the Conduct Regulations 2003* is unfair and based on unreliable evidence. These regulations previously protected employees’ right to strike and ensured agency workers could not replace them. The union is critical of ministers for using what it says are out-of-date and discredited findings from a 2015 consultation. The government did this to justify the change, which came into law this July. UNISON’s legal team aims to show that the government has ignored Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights​. This protects the right to freedom of association and international labour standards on the right to strike, says the union. Separately, the TUC is co-ordinating similar legal action involving 11 other unions to get the regulations scrapped. If UNISON and the TUC secure the court’s permission to proceed, it is likely all the arguments will be heard together. UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The gove...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News Press release agency workers legal action Source Type: news