Parties Clash Over Trade Union Bill At PMQs

The Conservatives and Labour have clashed over plans for tougher trade union laws at Prime Minister's Questions.

Harriet Harman accused David Cameron of trying to choke off one of Labour's main sources of funding with the Trade Union Bill, which would make it more difficult for unions to call a strike.

The new laws would require all unions to ask every individual member whether they wish to pay the annual levy into the £25m political fund - much of which goes towards Labour Party campaigning.

Labour's acting leader challenged the Prime Minister to commit to holding off on the changes until there is cross-party agreement on reforming political donations.

She said: "It's not acceptable for him to be curbing funds from hard-working people to the Labour Party while turning a blind eye to donations from hedge funds to the Tories."

The PM fired back: "It always comes back to the trade unions who call the tune.

"If you want to give money to a party it should be an act of free will - not something that is taken out of your pay packet without you being told about it properly.

"If this wasn't happening in the trade unions the Labour Party would be saying this was appalling mis-selling - they would say it was time for consumer protection."

A new Trade Union Bill would require a 50% turnout in strike ballots and 40% of support in disputes in health, education, fire, transport, border security and energy sectors.

There will also be a four-month time limit for industrial action, following a teachers' strike that relied on a two-year old ballot, and safeguards to ensure non-strikers can go to work without intimidation.

The Bill would require unions to give a fortnight's notice of strike action and give employers the right to hire strike-breaking agency staff.

It would also see picket lines legally limited to six people and criminalise unlawful or intimidatory picketing.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Trade unions have a constructive role to play in representing their members' interests, but our one-nation government will balance their rights with those of working people and business.

"These changes are being introduced so that strikes only happen when a clear majority of those entitled to vote have done so and all other possibilities have been explored."

But unions are already threatening more disruption on the Tube and anti-austerity strikes against the Budget.

In a bitter war of words, one union leader has claimed the anti-strike laws smack of Nazi Germany.

Others have threatened civil disobedience.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady told Sky News the Government was "removing civil liberties to protest" to make it easier to implement further austerity measures.

She said: "It's no accident that they're making it much, much harder for firefighters, midwives, nurses and teachers because they don't want opposition to this £37bn worth of cuts that they're trying to push through and that means jobs and services will go."

The legislation is backed by employers, however.

Katja Hall, CBI deputy director-general, said: "We're glad the Government has brought forward this Bill, as the CBI has long called for modernisation of our outdated industrial relations laws to better reflect today’s workforce and current workplace practices.