Welsh Assembly clashes with UK over trade union restrictions 

ACADEMICS with expertise in industrial relations have called on the Scottish Parliament to learn from measures adopted by the Welsh Assembly for combating Tory trade union restrictions.

New fund to help modernise trade unions in face of increasing attacks on worker pay and conditions

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT has launched a new quarter million pound fund to help trade unions respond to anti-trade union legislation passed at Westminster in May.

The new fund will be used to support attempts by Scottish trade unions to modernise and mitigate the impact of attempts to inhibit workplace organisation under the terms of the Trade Union Act.

Partial climbdown reflects fear of civil disobedience and legal challenges

AMENDMENTS to the anti-Trade Union Bill have passed following sustained political pressure, diluting plans to undermine workers rights.

However, opponents in both the SNP and Labour remain staunchly opposed to the bill and trade unionists remain determined to undermine the legislation.

Scottish councils had pledged to opt-out of the legislation is the Tories use their majority in Westminster to enforce new draconian measures on the public sector.

General Secretary claims not enough being done with new powers to transform Scotland

GRAHAME SMITH, the figurehead of Scotland's trade union movement, has poured scorn on the ongoing Scottish election debate over a lack of "substance" to tackle inequality through tax and economic policy.

Speaking to the union congress' 119th conference, general secetary Smith claimed that proposals on industry and tax from political parties were "weak" with "nothing of substance".

President attacks austerity, low pay and Tory anti-trade union bill

THE TRADE UNION movement should make the case for stronger workers' rights in the face of attempts to undermine representation in the workplace, according to Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) president Lawrence Wason.

Wason, from the USDAW union, launched the 119th conference of the STUC this morning in Dundee as hundreds of trade union representatives met to organise campaigns and establish national policy.

National trade union convention will focus on economic justice and political change

THE SCOTTISH TRADES UNION CONGRESS' 119th annual convention will take place from 18 April and focus on the need to act for jobs, rights at work and wider equality at home and across the world.

Over 350 delegates from 36 affiliated unions and 22 trades union councils will join national and international political speakers to debate major issues facing the trade union movement at Dundee's Caird Hall.

Unprecedented attack on democratic liberties after six years of Tory-led government

THE TORY PARTY spent centuries opposing the extension of democratic rights in Britain.

Over just six years of government, the party has launched a crackdown on a vast array of civil liberties and political freedoms.

Commonspace looks at 10 examples of Tory restrictions on democracy.

1. Removing the poor from the electoral register

Unite and STUC vow to defy 'bad law' as Trade Union Bill reaches final stages in Westminster

TRADE UNIONISTS in Scotland have promised a 'major fight' to oppose the UK Government's Trade Union Bill, saying they will support activists who defy the law.

Large-scale resistance has been forecast to the government's anti-union measures by senior trade unionists in Scotland, with the UK's largest union Unite promising to support any members who break the law in resisting the new legislation.

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine questions how much unions are representing the wider interests of the people

HOW would my friends in the trade unions respond to me taking the following position:

"I support independence. One of the biggest barriers to independence is the opposition of the Labour party and its networks. The Trade Union Bill will seriously weaken the Labour party and its networks. And since self interest comes before consideration of right and wrong, I support the Trade Union Bill."

Electoral Reform Society poll brings anti-union funding measures into question

THE ELECTORAL Reform Society has released polling results that show 77 per cent of the public believe that big donors have too much influence over political parties.

The figures have been released to coincide with a motion in the House of Lords (20 January) to make the Trade Union Bill one part of a cross-party deal to put constraints on party funding across the board. Under current plans contained in the bill, only Labour will have its funding cut.