Meeting of the Parliament 14 December 2023
The only way for Scotland to get rid of—for good—Tory Governments that we do not vote for and, by extension, anti-worker and anti-trade union policies is for Scotland to become an independent country and have control of her own laws.
The trade union movement has a proud history of protecting workers’ rights, which was born of the desire to combat exploitation and to ensure a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. Trade unions have been at the heart of social and economic change. I have been a proud trade union member all my working life, and prior to being elected as an MSP, I was a divisional convener for Unison for many years. I have represented national health service staff on numerous issues, from grievances, bullying and harassment claims to appeals against dismissal.
As the only nation in the UK to have averted NHS strikes, Scotland has shown that a better and more constructive way is possible, and that is not an accident. It is testament to the fact that this SNP Government has worked constructively to produce acceptable offers that befit the vital work that our NHS staff do, while the Tories have done nothing but level outrageous attacks at our NHS staff and unions.
On the minimum service levels legislation, the Royal College of Nursing has said that this provocative move
“makes future strike action by nurses more likely, not less likely.”
Roz Foyer, the general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said:
“There’s a real, real slap in the face for workers who were on the frontline during the pandemic, who put themselves and their families at risk to give us key essential public services. These workers are now being told that they may be sacked for taking lawful industrial action.”
The chair of the British Medical Association council said:
“Even before the recent Strikes Bill, the UK has some of the tightest restrictions on trade union activity in Europe, and now with threats that could see individuals sacked if they do not comply with these new laws it feels like another kick in the teeth to our profession”.
Those damning statements have been ignored by Westminster, and I echo and support those words.
Scottish workers deserve to see the back of Westminster’s anti-workers agenda once and for all. We in the SNP are clear that a progressive approach to industrial relations that is built on greater, not fewer, protections for workers is at the heart of a fairer society.
15:31