Widespread strike action, planned for this Friday, is “grossly irresponsible” and demonstrates “the very worst of modern trade unionism”, according to the Conservatives’ East Belfast spokesman, Neil Wilson. He also challenged Executive parties to “spell out whether they’d back Conservative plans to curb the abuse of the right to strike”, which require a 50% turnout in ballots to endorse strike action.
“The Union leaders are set to subject the ill, school children, parents and everyone trying to get to their work to utter misery this Friday”, Neil explained. “Approximately 75,000 pupils won’t be able to get to school, hospitals – already stretched – could be paralysed, the roads may well be gridlocked and other services will come to a complete standstill. What is worse, is that the union leaders cannot even explain clearly what they hope to achieve with this industrial action, which is backed by a small percentage of members and won’t advance their interests one iota. If elements within trade unions keep abusing the right to strike, when a serious, defensible issue over terms for workers does arise, the public simply won’t listen, because they’re so used to unions crying wolf.”
“This action is not about any particular dispute over wages or conditions and there will be no negotiations to resolve the strike. In fact, it seems to be inspired, almost exclusively, by union leaders who want to vent their extreme political ideas and are prepared to use archaic trade union legislation, allowing them to call out workers on the strength of ballots with tiny turnouts. Only a majority Conservative government can put a stop to this practice, if planned legislation is introduced in Northern Ireland, which requires a 50% turnout in a ballot for strike action. Otherwise union leaders’ extreme politics, basket-case economics and irresponsible attitudes are going to lead to utter chaos over and over again.”