Government ponders strike law “reform”

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude today described the case for reforming strike laws as "very pressing" – especially if public sector workers push ahead with industrial action.

Speaking on the Andrew Marr show, he said legislation would be kept "under review" and signaled that mass walk-outs at a time of economic turmoil could lead to a tightening of trade union legislation. Maude claimed that the CBI had made a "powerful case" for a minimum 40% turnout on strike ballots before they are deemed legal.

More than two million workers are now set to walk out on November 30 for a day of action coordinated by the TUC. The walkout will disrupt schools, courts, government offices, job-centres, driving tests, council services and hospitals.

The government rejects statements by union leaders that pension reforms were the most important issue for members in a generation. Their response is that turnout had been "extraordinarily low".

Maude added that the current offer on pensions was "as good as it gets" and the government reserved the right to withdraw the proposal and impose a settlement in the event of sustained industrial action.