Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It was deeply disappointing the Government railroaded their anti-union legislation through the House of Commons on Monday. Arrogantly, they did not accept a single amendment, despite the Bill being badly drafted and containing little detail or proper consideration of its impact.

“This undemocratic, unworkable and almost certainly illegal measure now goes to the House of Lords where we hope it will receive the extensive scrutiny it deserves. It is a direct attack on working people’s fundamental right to strike to defend their pay and it is essential that we protect the right to strike.

“Alongside our movement’s campaign against anti-strike laws we send a message of solidarity to our brothers and sisters engaged in industrial action. Their battle against years of austerity and pay restraint is our battle too. We urge the Government and employers to get around the table, engage in meaningful negotiations and settle the dispute with the pay award these workers deserve.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
 
TUC petition can be signed at: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/protect-the-right-to-strike

TUC protect the right to strike campaign: www.tuc.org.uk/ProtectRightToStrike

Labour’s New Deal for Workers: www.usdaw.org.uk/LaboursNDW

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion