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Your support makes all the difference.Jeremy Corbyn fronted Labour’s PMQs effort on Wednesday wearing a badge on his left lapel reading “heart unions”. But what does the badge mean?
The “heart unions” is being worn by people to mark “Heart Unions Week” – a campaign launched by the Trades Union Congress.
The week of action is part of unions’ campaign to halt the Government’s new anti-trade union laws.
People wearing the badge, including Jeremy Corbyn, are therefore showing their opposition to the Government’s planned Trade Union Bill.
The proposed laws include a new turnout threshold to stop workers staging industrial action without a certain turnout in the strike ballot.
Unions are also facing new restrictions on political donations unions can give, which Labour would lose out from.
There will also be more regulations about what can happen on a picket-line.
Heart Unions, or 'heartunions' week runs from 8 to 14 February 2016.
"The Trade Union Bill has no place in a modern democracy. Only through coming together and showing our united strength will we be able defend our vital right to strike," said Frances O'Grady, the TUC general secretary, to mark the start of the week.
The proposals have been controversial – Tory MP David Davis criticised part of the bill, now withdrawn, as resembling General Franco’s Spain.
A letter between ministers leaked earlier this week showed that the Government was considering withdrawing the most controversial parts of the bill and granting new concessions.
Nick Boles, a business minister, warned in the letter that the House of Lords might block the bill if it further concessions were not granted.
Mr Corbyn has previously worn his heart on his sleeve during PMQs. He aroused interest in November when he wore a white ribbon, representing the fight against domestic violence.
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