Trade Union Reforms ‘Unacceptable’ in Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon has warned that imposing Conservative trade union reforms in Scotland would be unacceptable. Ahead of a crucial meeting at Downing Street, the First Minister will set out Scotland’s clear opposition to the UK-wide Trade Union Bill.

Scotland’s Clear Opposition

The Scottish Government attempted to block the Bill north of the border, but the move was rejected last week as “not competent” by Parliament’s presiding officer, Tricia Marwick. Speaking ahead of the Downing Street talks, Ms Sturgeon said:

“There is clear opposition across Scottish society and across the Scottish Parliament to this damaging piece of legislation. The number of days lost to strike action have been reduced by 84% through partnership working, not by slapping sanctions on workers.”

“To impose this Bill on Scotland would be an unacceptable step and I will make that clear to the Prime Minister,” she added.

Key Provisions of the Trade Union Bill

If passed, the Trade Union Bill will introduce:

• A threshold for strike ballots;
• New measures on picketing;
• Permission for companies to hire agency staff to cover for strikers.

UK-Scottish Government Cooperation on Security

The discussions will also cover security and intelligence cooperation in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris. Prime Minister David Cameron emphasized the need for cross-border unity:

“We know that Daesh pose a very direct threat to our country and our way of life. That threat applies across the UK and so it is essential that the UK Government and the governments of our devolved nations co-operate in the most effective way.”

Fiscal Framework and the Smith Principles

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Smith Commission principles, ensuring the fiscal framework remains fair to Scotland and the rest of the UK. Mr Cameron stated:

“We must abide by the Smith principles – the promise we have made to the people of Scotland. The fiscal framework must be fair to Scotland, fair to the rest of the UK, and built to last.”

Ms Sturgeon warned that if the accompanying financial framework is flawed, “Scotland could be worse off by hundreds of millions of pounds a year.”

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Further Reading

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