TUC general secretary PAUL NOWAK speaks to the Morning Star’s Berny Torre about the increasing frustration the trade union movement feels at a government that promised change, but has been too slow to bring it about
A political and ideological attack on trade unions
Next month the certification officer will acquire a raft of new powers to fine unions for a range of ‘offences.’ ADRIAN WEIR reports
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ON April 1 the so-called “trade union regulator,” more formally known as the certification officer, will assume the powers given to her by the Employment Act 2016 to impose financial levies on trade unions.
As a sop, employers’ associations as equivalent “social partners” are also included as being liable to pay the levy but they have successfully lobbied so that the major burden will fall on the unions. One suspects that they didn’t have to lobby too hard.
The certification officer has also been given the power to impose financial penalties on unions (or any other person) but employers’ associations are not included under these provisions.
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