Sir Keir Starmer accused of trying to ‘drag Britain back to the 1970s’ by handing unions more power
SIR Keir Starmer has been accused of trying to “drag Britain back to the 1970s” — by handing unions more power if he becomes PM.
The Labour chief would bin laws making it harder to strike and repeal a Bill requiring teachers, rail and NHS staff to provide a minimum service during action.
Employees would also get the right to work from home, the leaked policy document reveals.
Bosses would, additionally, be barred from contacting staff out of office hours, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner told the Financial Times.
MPs and company bosses savaged the plans and warned they will harm the economy.
Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake MP said: “If ever we needed further proof the Labour Party is anti-business and can never be trusted with the economy, this is it.”
He said the policies would “cripple productivity and jeopardise the progress we are making”.
Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said: “Labour would drag Britain back to the 70s with their anti-business policies.”
Fellow Tory Mark Jenkinson said the plans would hammer the economy and make it easy for union barons to “hold the country to ransom”.
Archie Norman, chairman of M&S, said regulating how and when people can work would not make the UK a better place to invest and grow a business.
He said: “Over-zealous regulation by politicians will probably lead to less flexibility not more.”
Sir Martin Sorrell, founder of S4 Capital, fumed: “This beggars belief. It would represent another blow to British productivity.
“As a global service business we operate 24/7. Business opportunities and challenges don’t crop up neatly from 9 to 5.”
Labour sources said they were not talking about handing unions 1970s-style powers, but reversing laws brought in by David Cameron.
They said the leaked policy document was a draft and a Labour manifesto will be released nearer the election.
Easier to strike
UNIONS would not have to give 14 days’ notice of a strike, require 50 per cent of members to vote, or re-ballot every six months for strike approvals.
Right to work at home
LABOUR wants to make “flexible working the default” from day one for all employees — except where it is considered not reasonably feasible.
No calls out of hours
BOSSES would not be allowed to contact staff by phone, WhatsApp or email outside office hours in order to protect the work-life balance of staff.