'Unions not tied by Bill'
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EMPLOYMENT Under Secretary another defence of the Employm movement.
Speaking at a joint Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service and Institute of Personal Management Conference in Cambridge, he said that suggestions had been made that Government changes to the definition of a trade dispute would outlaw political strikes and so take away the right to strike in the public sector.
"This is nonsense. Purely political strikes are already unlawful.
"Our aim is to make unlawful action which may be organised under the guise of an industrial dispute and which is mainly political. But public sector workers will still be able to argue with the Government over their pay and go on strike," he explained.
To be immune from legal action, disputes would have to be wholly or mainly about such things as pay, jobs and conditions of work. At present just disputes connected with those matters are immune, he said.
"If trade unions sometimes behave irresponsibly, successive Govenments must bear some of the responsibility. For years we have encouraged trade unions to believe they are above the law," Mr Waddington told the conference. "Small wonder they sometimes behave accordingly."