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A tax on trade unions
After the government failed to include an employment Bill in the Queen’s Speech, they snuck out proposals that are nothing short of a major attack aimed at shackling trade unions, warns TONY BURKE
Delegates to TUC Congress in 2018 vote on a motion

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady has slammed ministers for “trying to tie unions up in red tape” after the government’s proposals included three key major changes that will negatively affect the labour movement.

The Certification Officer — the trade union regulator — will have the ability to impose fines on unions; there will be levy on trade unions to fund the CO’s costs; there will be further new powers, including investigating third party complaints about unions by members of the public and third party organisations.

This will not even be debated in Parliament as this requires a commencement order to come into law. Importantly, the TUC was not consulted about these proposals.

The government is dusting off measures that were contained in notorious Trade Union Act 2016 but need secondary legislation to pass into law.

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