Workers’ rights

In the recent Queen’s Speech the Tory government announced that it would further restrict trade unions’ rights to strike, leaving Scottish workers as some of the weakest legal protections in the developed world.

While the UK Government is keen to tackle the UK’s poor productivity levels, countries that rank highest for workers’ rights have higher productivity than the UK, underlining the folly of the UK Government’s plans to restrict trade union rights.

According to OECD statistics, the vast majority of EU countries, including Germany and France, ranked best by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) for workers’ rights have higher productivity than the UK.

Eleven members of the EU are top rated for workers’ rights by the ITUC – the UK is ranked in the third highest category of country.

This attack on workers’ rights is therefore not just morally wrong but will also undermine economic progress.

With full powers over trade union and employment policy the Scottish Government can work more effectively in partnership with trade unions, the third sector and business to boost growth, to increase productivity, to support employment and to deliver more and better jobs.

Alex Orr

Leamington Terrace

Edinburgh