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PM condemns public sector strike

Written By blogger on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 | 8:51 AM

People should go to work instead of joining Thursday's public sector strike, David Cameron has said, as he reiterated a pledge to change the laws governing strike action.

The PM told MPs the "time had come" to set thresholds in union strike ballots.

The pledge will be included in the Conservative manifesto for next year's general election, Mr Cameron said.

More than a million public sector workers are set to join Thursday's strike in a row over pay and pensions.

They include council staff, teachers, firefighters and civil servants.

Under the current law, a strike can take place if it is backed by a majority of those balloted.

'Not right'

Mr Cameron told Prime Minister's Questions: "I don't think these strikes are right... I think people should turn up for work.

"I think the time has come for looking at setting thresholds in strike ballots... The [NUT] strike ballot took place in 2012, based on a 27% turnout.

"How can it possibly be right for our children's education to be disrupted by trade unions acting in that way? It is time to legislate and it will be in the Conservative manifesto."

Mr Cameron's remarks echo a pledge he made in May following a strike by Tube workers - but he went a step further on Wednesday by saying it would be included in the party's manifesto.

The prime minister's official spokesman said the Conservatives would look at a "a range of options" for changing strike rules in the future.

He said a variety of proposals had been put forward, including on threshold levels, strike bans for essential services, and whether there should be a limit on how long a ballot is valid for.

An announcement would be made in due course "on the precise detail", he said.

However, there would be "no further movement" on strike rules during the coalition because of Liberal Democrat opposition, he added.


PM condemns public sector strike

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