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Unions defy Truss over right-to-strike threats
Unions have pledged to defy any new attacks on the right to strike , after Tory leadership candidate Liz Truss boasted of plans to introduce further restrictions on industrial action and to repeal EU-derived laws – even though many such laws guarantee workers ’ rights . “ This so-called manifesto is a declaration of war on the trade union movement and working people ,” Sharon Graham , general secretary of the Unite general union , warned , describing Truss as “ an ambitious politician , hawking for the votes of a tiny minority by putting the rights of all workers on the chopping block . “ Let ’ s be clear , Liz Truss ’ s madcap proposals are an attempt to outlaw strike action and effective trade unions ,” she added , promising “ fierce , prolonged resistance ” to such changes . Transport union RMT ’ s general secretary , Mick Lynch , called the proposals “ the biggest attack on trade union and civil rights since labour unions were legalised in 1871 . Truss is proposing to make effective trade unionism illegal in Britain .” And , he promised , “ If these proposals become law , there will be the biggest resistance mounted by the entire trade union movement , rivalling the general strike of 1926 , the Suffragettes and Chartism .” TUC general secretary Frances O ’ Grady had advice for both the candidates competing to replace Boris Johnson : “ The right to strike is an important British freedom . Instead of taking pot-shots at working people and their unions , the candidates should come up with plans to get wages rising again . That ’ s how to deal with the cost of living emergency .” https :// www . unitetheunion . org / news-events / news / 2022 / july / uniteleader-says-any-attempt-to-make-trade-unions-illegal-will-be-metwith-fierce-prolonged-resistance https :// www . rmt . org . uk / news / rmt-will-fiercely-resist-further-attackson-trades-unions https :// www . tuc . org . uk / news / transport-secretary-blockingnegotiations-could-end-rail-dispute-says-tuc
The NHS and social care face the “ greatest workforce crisis in their history ”, the cross-party Health and Social Care Committee of MPs has found . In a damning report they warn that persistent understaffing now “ poses a serious risk to staff and patient safety ” – in both routine and emergency care . According to the report , England is now short of 12,000 hospital doctors and more than 50,000 nurses and midwives . The committee predicts that an extra 475,000 jobs will be needed in health and an extra 490,000 in