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Class War issue 81: Monks Breaks Vow Of Silence
John Monks, General Secretary of the TUC, has called for a review of rules which exempt businesses with fewer than twenty one employees from holding a ballot on union recognition. It is believed this law effectively excludes between five and eight million workers from union membership. The GPMU print union has found itself particularly vulnerable because of this loophole. One firm split its thirty eight workers into two separate firms and another broke the company down into eight different entities which led to the application for union recognition being withdrawn.
Monks has also called for an end to the practice of abstentions being counted as "no" votes in recognition ballots. The Labour Party has pledged to review the act after it has been in operation for a period in time. However no worth should be attached to yet another Labour pledge as in the past four years they have shown themselves time and time again to be on the side of business in any confrontation with workers.
The crocodile tears of Monks should be seen in the light of his invitations, readily accepted, to bosses organisation, the CBI to send its Director General to speak at the annual TUC conference. This cosy relationship has worked both ways with Monks addressing the parasites of the CBI in a true spirit of 'partnership' at their annual worker bashing shindig.
No doubt Monks has his eye on the prize of a seat among the 'vermin in ermine' in the House of Lords just like so many of his predecessors. Don't expect John Monks to rock the boat too much on this one.
Back to issue 81 contents
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