Trade Union Bill

Jonathan Reynolds Excerpts
Monday 14th September 2015

(9 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Angela Eagle Portrait Ms Eagle
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It is impossible not to agree with my hon. Friend, and it saddens me beyond words that we are here today dealing with the most significant sustained and partisan attack on 6 million trade union members and their workplace organisations that we have seen in this country in the past 30 years. With the number of days lost to strike action down 90% in the past 20 years, there is no need whatsoever to employ the law in this draconian way.

Jonathan Reynolds Portrait Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op)
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I welcome my hon. Friend to her new position. She says, rightly, that the number of days lost to strikes in the UK is at its lowest for 20 years. It is even more significant than that: we lose fewer days to strike action in the UK today than we did during the second world war. There is no problem here that needs fixing.

Angela Eagle Portrait Ms Eagle
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Again, I agree wholeheartedly with the comments of my hon. Friend.