Chris Syder discusses the TUC’s challenge to the Trade Union Bill
On 15 July 2015, the UK government published its controversial Trade Union Bill for public consultation. The union movement has responded robustly asserting that “if it becomes law it will make the lives of all working people a lot tougher, giving a green light to bad bosses to behave badly by undermining the ‘right to strike’”.
The TUC also lodged a formal complaint to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Committee of Experts on 10 September. How easy will it be for the TUC to seek international support for the “right to strike”; and how effective?
The ILO’s committee of experts
The ILO promotes social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights. It is part of the United Nations system. The ILO’s Committee of Experts (Experts) comprises 20 eminent jurists appointed by the ILO’s Governing Body. The Experts’ role is to provide an impartial and technical evaluation of the state of application of international labour standards, such as ILO Conventions.
The TUC’s complaint to the Experts asserts that the Bill violates three ILO Conventions, for
