Trade Union Bill

Debate between Emily Thornberry and Angela Eagle

Monday 14th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Ms Eagle]

Great minds obviously think alike, and I may well come back to that issue later in my speech.

[Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) (Lab)]

I declare an interest: I am a proud member of Unite the union and I have been since the miners’ strike. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is remarkable that 77% of the public believe that trade unions defend important aspects of workers’ rights and that we need them?

[Ms Eagle]

It is wise to remember that trade unions defend not only their own members. Over the years, trade unions have created a process that has given us holidays, weekends and reasonable working hours. It is right that the benefits that trade unions bring to our society are recognised and extended to those who are not members of trade unions but happen to be at work. Any attack on those rights that weakens those powers threatens the progress made over many years in democracy at work.