International Centre for Trade Union Rights

ILO experts slam Tory lawsSource: International Union Rights, Vol. 4, No. 2, All different but equal: women workersdemand equality (1997), p. 21Published by: International Centre for Trade Union RightsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41935568 .

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Conclusion There will be a continuing discussion on the pros and cons of EMU, but it is likely that under Labour the UK will join EMU; if not in 1999, shortly afterwards.

My conclusion would be that we have a better chance of rebuilding our economy under Labour, inside the EMU. What we need to ensure however is that working people, and women, do not suffer in the process. We must ensure the necessary economic growth so that the living standards of all can in- crease, and so that we can have growth in our public services, benefits and pensions. We must ensure a decent minimum wage and other protections for workers and trade unionists.

My other conclusion is that women will only achieve equali- ty when we get more involved in economic and monetary poli- cies. Despite pledges by all countries at the Beijing Conference on women to promote the position of women in decision mak- ing, and despite the prominence of women in other key posi- tions in the European Commission, the European Central Bank which is already being established is comprised of 100% men. As women, we sit back and leave these issues to men at our peril. Any volunteers to join the EU Central Bank?!

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International Labour Office has produced yet another damning report of the UK's failure to honour the ILO Conventions which it has ratified. The Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommenda- tions, prepared for the International Labour Con- ference to be held in June 1997 takes the British Government record to task on a number of points. On the denial of trade union rights at GCHQ Cheltenham (see IUR Volume 4.1) the ILO experts note that the employer financed staff association, the GCSF has failed to convince the Government Certification Officer that it is gen- uinely independent. The experts further note that all forms of industrial action are still prohibited. As the Committee of Experts put it "The GCSF is not able to organise its administration and activi- ties in full freedom contrary to Article 3 of ILO Convention No 98".

But given the almost certain electoral victory for the Labour Party which is committed to restoring independent trade unionism at GCHQ, perhaps the more interesting and wider ranging findings of the ILO concern the Right to Strike. Here the Labour Party has given very few under- takings and is widely thought to support most, if not all, of the Tory restrictions on trade union freedoms and workers' rights.

Inter alia, Tory laws have made it unlawful for trade unions to discipline members who strike break, have allowed employers to discriminate against strikers through disciplinary action or dis- missal without adequate redress through Tribu- nals, and have effectively outlawed all forms of solidarity or secondary action. The ILO Commit- tee of Experts found in each case that Conven- tions 98 and 87 have been breached and are awaiting further reports from the British Govern- ment.

These further reports will almost certainly be the responsibility of a Labour Government. The Financial Times , Britain's most authoritive broad- sheet on Labour law issues, quoted senior Labour figures as being more sympathetic to the Tory laws than they are to the ILO's criticisms. If this turns out to be the case it would be a serious set- back for the rule of law embodied in international conventions. No doubt the British labour move- ment and trade unionists from around the world will impress on the inexperienced Labour front bench the importance of supporting the ILO and workers' rights in the cut throat global economy.

Page 21 Volume 4 Issue 2 1997 INTERNATIONAL union rights

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