Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

Composite: Resisting anti-union legislation (minimum service levels)

Session

2023-2024

Meeting link

Annual Congress

Meeting date

29 May 2024

Status

Passed

Motion

22

Motion text

Congress notes:
1. the passing of the “Strikes (Minimum Service Levels)” Act 2023 and the publication of the first regulations
2. UCU’s policy of opposition to this law
3. that the TUC has called on the entire trade union movement to observe a policy of non-compliance – the resolution of the TUC Special Congress on 9 December included a commitment that unions will “refuse to instruct members to cross picket lines”
4. ASLEF’s success in forcing LNER to withdraw the threat to issue work-notices by calling additional strike days.
Congress believes:
a. the attack on the right to strike is part of a wider offensive on our democratic rights to protest and organise and trade unions must mobilise to protect our rights through campaigns of strikes, protests and civil disobedience
b. to meaningfully enact the TUC Special Congress resolution, unions must refuse to “take reasonable steps” to ensure members comply with work notices, and strike in defiance of potential injunctions
c. the labour movement must step up campaigning not only against the most recent law, but for the repeal of all anti-union and anti-strike laws.
Congress resolves:
i. NEC to coordinate with other unions to brief members about the new law and TUC/union policies opposing the law, and to discuss organising defiance
ii. To instruct branches via the GS not to comply with any “work notice” issued by employers under the Act by:
• not supplying any information on members who would be required to work in order to implement a “minimum service level” during strike action;
• calling on all balloted members to strike and respect picket lines;
• escalating to national strike action to defend branches or members facing legal action as a result of non-compliance.

Proposing body

Open University, University of Cambridge

Amended

No

Allocated to

Strategy and finance committee (SFC)

Notes