Time for change
Page 4
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By any standards the Government's discussion document on trades union reform must be regarded as mild. It amounts to giving people the right to belong or not to a union, to confine picketing to those on strike at their place of business and to encourage secret ballots by paying for them from public funds.
Before the discussions begin, both the TUC and TGWU general secretaries warn of dire consequences. They claim that it is an attempt to take away hard-won prizes of trade union battles.
Before they get to the discussion table Messrs Murray and Evans should change their script. It is too transparent.
Is it not really the case that they are afraid that freedom of choice might significantly reduce their ranks? Might they not be apprehensive that members would find courage in a secret ballot? Have they recognised that outlawing secondary picketing would weaken their strike weapon.
We live in a political democracy. We cannot work in industrial dictatorship.
The trade union leaders will do their own cause immense good if they stop playing to the gallery and act responsibly.
The ballot box last May not only mandated a Government; it told the trade unions that much of their conduct had been unacceptable in a free society. They now have the opportunity to change.