Summer of Discontent
The Sunday papers report that the government is planning to 'get tough' with the unions - if a series of planned strikes turns into a real summer of discontent.
Apparently the government is planning to restrict the use of taxpayers money - to fund local union officials who work full-time on union business - but who remain employed by a local council, health board or government department.
Now this would hit local branch secretaries and suchlike - many of whom have full-time release from their day jobs - to concentrate on union business.
But 'union business' is defined very broadly in some areas - and might include, for example, attending a national union conference - or meetings which have nothing directly to do with the employer providing full-time release
So the government is looking to exploit the fact that much of this 'wider' union work - is really subsidised by the taxpayer - when there is an argument that the trade union should meet the cost.
The other proposal has been around for some time - the introduction of a minimum threshold for turnouts in union ballots.
Various government supporters including London Mayor - Boris Johnson - have proposed that a 40% or even 50% threshold should be met - before a strike vote would be valid.
At the moment, both sides are just testing each other's resolve - probing for strengths and weaknesses - testing public reaction.
But once the summer is over the shadow boxing has to stop - then both the government and the unions will be playing for much higher stakes.
Apparently the government is planning to restrict the use of taxpayers money - to fund local union officials who work full-time on union business - but who remain employed by a local council, health board or government department.
Now this would hit local branch secretaries and suchlike - many of whom have full-time release from their day jobs - to concentrate on union business.
But 'union business' is defined very broadly in some areas - and might include, for example, attending a national union conference - or meetings which have nothing directly to do with the employer providing full-time release
So the government is looking to exploit the fact that much of this 'wider' union work - is really subsidised by the taxpayer - when there is an argument that the trade union should meet the cost.
The other proposal has been around for some time - the introduction of a minimum threshold for turnouts in union ballots.
Various government supporters including London Mayor - Boris Johnson - have proposed that a 40% or even 50% threshold should be met - before a strike vote would be valid.
At the moment, both sides are just testing each other's resolve - probing for strengths and weaknesses - testing public reaction.
But once the summer is over the shadow boxing has to stop - then both the government and the unions will be playing for much higher stakes.
