Thread by @EachOtherUK

1/12 Ten #TradeUnions are taking legal action against the government’s new regulations that allow agency workers to fill in for workers on strike. eachother.org.uk/unions-launch-…

2/12 The unions, coordinated by the @The_TUC, are challenging the government, which they say has undermined the right to engage in a strike. eachother.org.uk/is-there-a-rig…

3/12 A primary school in Romford became the first workplace to use the legislation to hire agency workers to cover for staff on strike over pay and conditions on Tuesday. theguardian.com/education/2022…

4/12 The government changed the law in July through an amendment to the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003. legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/852/…

5/12 Unions are launching a judicial review on the grounds that the change violates #Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (#ECHR), which protects the right to freedom of assembly & association, including the #RightToStrike.

6/12 @IanBFAWU national president of @BFAWUOfficial, which is joining the legal action, told EachOther that by undermining the right to strike, the government was creating a “charter for the exploitation of working people”.

7/12 @IanBFAWU said that by allowing the use of agency workers, the government was restricting unions’ legal mandate from workers to call for strike action.

8/12 @FrancesOGrady general secretary of @The_TUC, said: “The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty. But the government is attacking it in broad daylight."

9/12 In a debate in the @UKHouseofLords in July, @Lord_Collins said the amendment “will make it far harder for working people to organise collectively to defend their jobs, their livelihoods and the quality of their working lives.” hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2022-07-…

10/12 The chancellor has previously announced plans to require unions to put every pay offer to members for a vote, which #MickLynch, general secretary of the @RMTunion, called “anti-democratic”. gov.uk/government/new…

11/12 @thetuc is coordinating the legal action between @ASLEFunion, @BFAWUOfficial, @FDA_union, @NEUnion, @GMB_union, @NUJofficial, @POAUnion, @RMTunion, @unitetheunion and @UsdawUnion.

@thetuc @ASLEFunion @BFAWUOfficial @FDA_union @NEUnion @GMB_union @NUJofficial @POAUnion @RMTunion @unitetheunion @UsdawUnion Read the full story by @ellafhopkins eachother.org.uk/unions-launch-…