Rishi Sunak trying to 'outdo Thatcher' as Tories push 'extreme' anti-strike law

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The SNP have accused Rishi Sunak of trying to "outdo Thatcher" over new laws which would restrict unions' ability to strike.

The UK Government introduced a bill on Tuesday afternoon which would allow employers to sue unions and sack workers if they did not provide a certain level of service.They would require a minimum number of staff having to work during a strike "to protect the public during strike action".But the SNP, Labour and unions have warned it could see key workers facing the sack if they strike and lead to more walkouts.Former Conservative Margaret Thatcher introduced a slew of laws to restrict trade union power in the 1980s.SNP MP Chris Stephens called the laws "extreme" and warned that Scottish workers' rights could be at risk.Stephens said: "Yet again Rishi Sunak and the Tories are vying to outdo Thatcher in their contempt for the workers who keep this country running, this time proposing a clamping down on the rights protecting hard-working staff.“Square in the firing line are Scottish workers, who as a result of consistent refusals from Westminster to fully devolve employment law, face a stripping back of their basic rights.“Extreme, heavy-handed legislation isn’t the solution to industrial disputes, getting round the table with striking workers is.

Instead the Tories have declared open war on ordinary people fighting for better working conditions."Stephens also called for employment law to be devolved to Scotland to protect the right to strike.He said: “The SNP Scottish Government has left no stone unturned to find a solution to disputes in Scotland, and not once have proposed legislation that would wholly attack the workers involved in industrial action - an approach the Tories should learn from.“If