Order, Order!

Trade Union and Labour Relation Bill 2015

BE IT ENACTED by The Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1. Definitions

a. For the purposes of this act, "emergency industrial action" shall be defined as either a strike, work to rule, go slow, overtime ban, blacking of any job or piece or pieces of equipment, sit in or any other action normally considered to be industrial action, in response to clear provocations which waiting for a vote of the full union do not allow

b. “Emergency and medical service workers” refers to those who work in the police, fire department, emergency medical service, provision of immediately life sustaining medical treatment, coastguard and other emergency rescue services.

Section 2. Repealing the ban on secondary action

a. The Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992, Section 224, 1. shall be repealed

b. Section 224 1. shall read: 'Secondary action as a form of emergency industrial action shall remain illegal but secondary action where balloted and 7 days notice is given shall be protected and is considered lawful picketing '

Section 3. Industrial Action

a. For emergency strike action to be initiated:

i. a union must call an emergency meeting to discuss the dispute and the possibility of taking emergency industrial action;

ii. A majority of members at the meeting must vote in favour, in person or by proxy, and those voting in favour must constitute at least 20% of those eligible to strike.

b. During a period of emergency action, a secret ballot of union members should be held to determine if action beyond five days should occur, unless a resolution to the emergency action is reached within the seven day period.

c. For the purposes of the secret ballot called under subsection (b):

i. the secret ballot may be conducted within the workplace or union hall or any other suitable venue;

ii. absent members may vote using a secure vote using the internet;

iii. a union may issue postal voting forms to its members who cannot attend a vote in person;

d. Unions must adopt provisions in their constitution allowing for emergency industrial action, ratified by a 60% majority of the total membership of the union, before emergency industrial action can be initiated.

e. Emergency industrial action shall only be initiated by representatives of the union as delegated by their constitution with the affirmation of the membership.

f. Work slowdowns, stoppages and other forms of industrial disruption carried out under the auspices of union organising shall be protected with the same rights as any other industrial action.

i. However, must be organised in accordance with section 3 (a)

g. Emergency industrial actions carried out by emergency and medical service workers shall be limited to partial strikes, limited by the number of national workers needed to keep the hospital from deteriorating, and partial work stoppages. Full strikes shall require balloting in line with non-emergency industrial actions in other trades.

h. The Secretary of State shall be permitted to prohibit any emergency industrial action that is voted for by emergency or medical service workers, regardless of whether it meets the requirements in 3(h), if he/she believes that the proposed action may cause serious harm to public health or security.

Section 4 Non-emergency industrial action

a. In order for all or some of a union to strike in non-emergency situations, a secret ballot must be held

i. Members may vote either within the workplace or at a union hall, online via a secure ballot or by post.

ii. At least 20% of eligible members must cast a “Yes” ballot for industrial action, and more eligible members must cast a ballot for “Yes” than “No” for industrial action to be called.

 i. Eligible members are those who would be permitted to strike if industrial action is called.

Section 5. Non-union industrial action

a. Workers not in a union shall have equal protections under the law for industrial action to workers in trade unions provided they elect a committee of representatives for negotiation.

b. Workers in individual shops shall have the right to strike independent of their union, including in sympathy with other workers, provided a majority vote of the shop approves it in accordance with section 3 and 4.

c. No worker shall be disciplined, or have any benefits reduced for refusing to break a strike.

Section 6. Short Title, Commencement, and Extent

a. This act may be cited as the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 2015

b. This act extends to the United Kingdom.

c. This act shall come into force with its passing.

Submitted by the Radical Socialists with support from the Labour Party, the Green Party, the Pirate Party, and the Liberal Democrats.

The division will end on the 11th of July at 10 PM BST