The Trade Union Reform & Employment Rights Act

In the early 1990s, the world changed. The fall of the USSR meant radical changes in how labor and business saw the world, as "workers' states" showed their bankruptcy. As the European Union continued to consolidate, new legislation developed throughout Europe that integrated states with basic European norms. Reflective of this is the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act of Great Britain. Passed into law in 1993, this legislation revamped trade union functions in light of globalization and increasing competition from abroad.

Trade Unions

This legislation generally takes the view that unions harm a country's competitiveness. Under this law, unions are rendered weaker. The basic union legislation makes it easy to uncover and report union irregularities in voting or finances, while it protects whistle-blowers. The government can appoint "independent" auditors to oversee union elections and finances and otherwise force unions to take action to make their work transparent. Under this legislation, unions are overseen by the state.

Rights of Employees

In the West, the "right to work" has always been a synonym for anti-union bias. The view here is that union members have full rights to work outside the union and with those who are not members. "Closed shops" are clearly banned as a result, and workers cannot be penalized by the union for their own independent action in the workplace. In general, this legislation emphasizes that workers are individuals and not part of a class or a "movement."

Unions Weakened

The purpose of the legislation seems to be undermining the solidarity of labor unions in the interest of worker individualism. Union members who turn in union officers or otherwise harm the operations of the union cannot be expelled or excluded from the union itself. All forms of discrimination are banned, and those making complaints cannot be retaliated against. This legislation stipulates (see Part II) that employees who complain against either the union or the firm and quit as a result, are not considered unemployed. They are considered employed until the complaint is resolved. Ultimately, this legislation creates an alliance of the individual worker, the state and the employer against the union.

The Workplace

This legislation also eliminates minimum wage legislation. At the same time, it gives the British government the right to operate employment and career "matching" services in the local school system, making it easier for college students to get good job training and work.

References

• The National Archives of the United Kingdom: The Trade Union Reform & Employment Rights Act, Part I; 1993
• The National Archives of the United Kingdom: The Trade Union Reform & Employment Rights Act, Part II; 1993
• The National Archives of the United Kingdom: The Trade Union Reform & Employment Rights Act, Part III; 1993