Cable's veiled threat

Business Secretary Vince Cable (pictured) made a veiled threat of further anti-union laws in a controversial speech to the annual congress of general union GMB in Brighton this morning.

In a carefully worded address, Mr Cable assured delegates that he saw the legal right to strike as "a fundamental principle" and stated that the case for changing the law in this area was "not compelling."

But, he continued, if co-ordinated strike action by unions caused "economic damage" then "the pressure on us to act will ratchett up."

Speaking to a BBC interviewer afterwards, GMB general secretary Paul Kenny described Mr Cable's comments as "ill-advised grandstanding."

Mr Kenny reminded the interviewer that working people had not been responsible for the financial crisis - it had been caused by the irresponsibility of the banks and financial institutions. Something that, Mr Kenny pointed out, Mr Cable had himself admitted in the same speech.

"To speak of further restricting civil rights stinks of double standards," said the GMB leader.

"When he gets round to regulating the banks and financial institutions, then perhaps he'll be on higher moral ground."

When pressed by his interviewer over the possibility of strikes by GMB members, Mr Kenny insisted that strike action was a last resort for trade unionists, but that repeated attempts to engage government in meaningful negotiations - particularly over pensions - had been unsuccessful.

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Source: CWU