Union boss in ‘slavery’ jibe over plans to force staff to provide a basic service during strikes 

Union boss in ‘slavery’ jibe over plans to force staff to provide a basic service during strikes

  • The plans were unveiled last month after union members staged 27-day walkout
  • Proposal was criticised, with Labour peers condemning it as ‘reprehensible’
  • Mick Whelan, of the union Aslef, said legislation was ‘form of forced labour’

Being forced to provide a minimum rail service during strikes is like ‘slavery’, a union boss has claimed.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, said proposed legislation making industrial action unlawful unless a basic service was provided was a ‘form of forced labour’.

The plans were unveiled last month after members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union staged a 27-day walkout in December over the long-running row about the role of guards on trains.

Being forced to provide a minimum rail service during strikes is like ‘slavery’, a union boss has claimed

But the proposal was widely criticised, with Labour peers condemning it as ‘reprehensible’.

Mr Whelan – who previously described the Government’s plan as a ‘declaration of war’ – told Sophy Ridge on Sky News yesterday: ‘I’m at war with the ethos of forced labour, any form of… slavery. 

Mick Whelan (pictured), general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef, said proposed legislation making industrial action unlawful unless a basic service was provided was a 'form of forced labour'

Mick Whelan (pictured), general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, said proposed legislation making industrial action unlawful unless a basic service was provided was a ‘form of forced labour’

‘That’s what they’re trying to do.

‘Only Lithuania has worse labour laws.

‘This cradle of democracy, this place of Magna Carta – under Maggie’s laws, under the Trade Union Bill, we firstly hurt the right of people to strike. 

‘Now you want to take the actual opportunity to strike against bad employers away.

‘It’s a form of forced labour. We have no right to strike in the UK now.’

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