INDUSTRIAL ACTION BALLOTING PROCEDURES

Early day motion 710, tabled 26 January 2010 by John McDonnell (Labour). Signed by 46 members.

That this House acknowledges that the anti-trade union laws currently in place have led to the deplorable situation of unions having fewer rights to take industrial action now than they did in 1906; expresses its disappointment that the complex rules regarding balloting procedures which are a great financial and bureaucratic burden to trade unions have not been repealed; further notes the unnecessary requirement that trade unions must give notice to an employer both of a ballot for action and of the date when an industrial action will commence; believes that simplifying the rules regarding balloting procedures and notice periods would alleviate the unfair restrictions placed on industrial action and therefore promote more effective representation of workers; and calls on the Government to do everything in its power to ensure that the anti-trade union laws of the past are not allowed to continue into the future.

Signatures by party: Labour 41, Independent 2, Liberal Democrat 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1.