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STUC welcomes TUC devolution of employment law pledge

Trade unions from across the United Kingdom have backed a motion at the Trades Union Congress’ annual Congress calling for the devolution of employment law to the Scottish Parliament.

The motion, moved from Unite the Union, called for the TUC General Council to campaign for the devolution of employment law to Scotland in addition to repealing all Tory anti-trade union laws, including the Strikes Bill and the Trade Union Act (2016). The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) welcomed the move, calling on UK Labour to ‘entrench and build’ on the policy within any future UK Labour government,

Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

“It’s a deeply welcome development that the TUC has backed a motion calling for the devolution of employment law to Scotland.

“It’s clear, especially to any incoming UK Labour Government, that the voices of workers across the country now support the Scottish Parliament having full autonomy over labour and employment rights.

“A guaranteed minimum floor of workers’ rights across the UK is a prudent first step to achieve this. We would expect both UK and Scottish Labour politicians to entrench and build on these rights within both parliaments, ensuring the Scottish Parliament is empowered whilst giving every worker in every workplace a guaranteed standard of rights from day one of any future UK Labour Government.

END

Notes to editors:

Story first reported within the Daily Record:

Full text of the motion can be viewed here. Copied below for ease:

Motion 01 Trade union and employment rights Upcoming motion Received from: Unite

Congress condemns the renewed attack on trade union rights including proposals to undermine industrial action in the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill and calls for the repeal of all anti-union laws.

Congress also condemns the fact that trade union rights could also be undermined by other legislation such as the Public Order Bill and the Retained EU Law Bill.

Congress believes that attacks on trade union rights and on employment rights more widely further demonstrates the case for the devolution of employment law.

Congress notes that the House of Lords voted to exclude Scotland from the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) legislation, but this was overturned by the Tory majority in the House of Commons.

Congress also notes the letter to the UK parliamentary under secretary of state from the Scottish Government cabinet secretary for well-being economy, fair work and energy reiterating opposition to the Bill and calling for its abandonment.

Congress further notes that devolution of employment law is the policy of the Labour Party in Scotland and supported by the current Scottish Parliament.

Congress calls upon the General Council to oppose any new anti-trade union legislation and campaign for the:

i. repeal of all current anti-trade union legislation

ii. devolution of employment law to Scotland

iii. Labour government (if elected in the next two years) to repeal all anti-trade union laws within 12 months of gaining office

iv. introduction of a bill of rights providing positive employment and trade union rights – including strong rights to collectively bargain and to take strike action.

Mover: Unite