• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Rishi Sunak’s new law to sack strikers is an affront to democracy

Joe Glenton by Joe Glenton
5 January 2023
in Analysis, UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
164 9
A A
0
Home UK Analysis
321
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Unelected British prime minister and billionaire Rishi Sunak wants to take away your right to strike. At least, that’s what he seemed to be getting at when he floated the idea of a new anti-worker law this week.

The proposed legislation could see public sector workers who refuse to come in and provide a ‘minimum’ service during industrial action sacked. The laws may also allow employers to take legal action against trade unions.

This is a clear attack on a core democratic right – and the Daily Mail reported that the laws could be brought to parliament by the end of the month.

Undue disruption?

In his first major speech since becoming PM, Sunak said that the right to strike:

…has to be balanced with the right of the British public to go about their lives without suffering completely undue disruption in the way we’ve seen recently.

‘And that’s why I have said we will introduce new legislation that restores that balance and crucially protects people’s lives as well as their livelihoods.

Resistance

However, trade union leaders and even Labour politicians fired back. Trade unions are currently trying to overturn existing anti-trade union laws. ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) general secretary Mick Whelan told Sky News:

We’re currently – with 11 other trade unions – taking legal action against the last set of laws they put in place, and we would look at doing that in future as well.

And I think if the government gets away with what it’s doing, we’ll be left with an inherently unsafe railway system.

Even Labour leader Keir Starmer, known for his complicated relationship with the unions, made some encouraging noises:

I don’t think this legislation is going to work and I’m pretty sure they’ve had an assessment that tells them that. It’s likely to make a bad situation worse.

Authoritarian shift

These new proposals must be seen in their proper context. Under the Tories, a range of authoritarian bills have passed into law. And they have brought with them the sense of democratic space narrowing before our eyes.

With the Spy Cops Bill, the Policing Bill, the Overseas Operations Bill, and the Snooper’s Charter, it is evident that many of the basic rights which have been won over many years are being stripped back by successive Tory administrations.

Trade unions – already subject to severe restrictions from the Thatcher era – seem to be the next target.

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons/Alarichall, cropped to 770 x 403, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

BBC opens a can of worms for itself over anti-Corbyn Panorama doc

Next Post

UN rights chief states that women’s rights are under systematic attack

Next Post
Volker Turk

UN rights chief states that women's rights are under systematic attack

Extinction Rebellion protesters in London on Friday 19th April.

As Extinction Rebellion halts disruption tactics, other groups vow to maintain radical methods

Keir Starmer is seeing Labour resignations en masse

Take back control? Keir Starmer panned for adopting Brexit slogan

A Long Covid patient and the NHS logo

NHS scraps long Covid treatment targets - but is it linked to forcing sick people back to work?

Godrick Osei died after police contact

Yet another Black man has died following police contact

Please login to join discussion
Tony Blair climate denial
News

Activists have just dragged Tony Blair over his rampant climate denialism

by The Canary
13 May 2025
A petition calling for the end to the badger cull just passed 100,000 signatures so will be heading for parliamentary debate
News

The badger cull is set for a parliamentary debate – all thanks to a viral petition

by The Canary
13 May 2025
Israel kills journalist Hassan Eslaih in Gaza hospital strike
Analysis

Israel kills journalist in Gaza hospital bombing, and its media debates whether that’s OK

by Ed Sykes
13 May 2025
Starmer Farage
Analysis

Keir Starmer may as well roll out the red carpet to Nigel Farage at this point

by James Wright
13 May 2025
Newham Council
Long Reads

Labour-led council left a disabled person in temporary accommodation with no wheelchair access for two years

by Hannah Sharland
13 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Tony Blair climate denial
News
The Canary

Activists have just dragged Tony Blair over his rampant climate denialism

A petition calling for the end to the badger cull just passed 100,000 signatures so will be heading for parliamentary debate
News
The Canary

The badger cull is set for a parliamentary debate – all thanks to a viral petition

Israel kills journalist Hassan Eslaih in Gaza hospital strike
Analysis
Ed Sykes

Israel kills journalist in Gaza hospital bombing, and its media debates whether that’s OK

Starmer Farage
Analysis
James Wright

Keir Starmer may as well roll out the red carpet to Nigel Farage at this point

ADVERTISEMENT
Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Why More People Are Seeking Legal Advice When Separating