Labour retreats over union rights
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Labour "modernisers" are being forced to retreat from proposals to water down a manifesto commitment on trade union recognition in the workplace.
The manifesto says: "People should be free to join or not to join a union.
"Where they do decide to join, and where a majority of the relevant workforce vote in a ballot for the union to represent them, the union should be recognised. This promotes stable and orderly industrial relations."
But alarm bells rang throughout the Labour Party last week, when Adair Turner, director-general of the CBI, said he believed that ministers favoured his own tough interpretation of the manifesto pledge - that a majority of those entitled to vote, rather than a majority of those voting, was needed for recognition to be given.
A senior government source told the Independent that he suspected Mr Turner had been given a nod-and-wink by No 10, and if that was the case there would be a "battle royal" to get the union rights put through on the more lax, union-led interpretation of a majority of employees voting.
However, a Downing Street spokesman said: "We will act in accordance with the manifesto." That was immediately seen by insiders as a hint of concession to come; recognising the powerful forces now being mobilised against the CBI line.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments