Clause 23 - Inducements relating to union membership
Employment Relations Bill
Public Bill Committees, 5 February 2004, 10:30 am
Mr Jim Sheridan (West Renfrewshire, Labour)
I recognise that the Bill goes a long way towards preventing employers from bribing staff out of union representation. I have plenty of anecdotal evidence in my constituency of employers who carry out such practices and offer different employees bonuses, dependent on their status in the company and whether they wish to join the trade union. The Bill goes a long way towards changing the law and reflects the judgment in the European Court of Human Rights. It offers union members a positive right to access the services offered by their union, but makes it clear that employers can still offer individualised contracts if they so wish as long as they do not require as a pre-condition the giving up of union representation.
The only area that gives me some cause for concern is the phrase ''sole or main purpose''. I suggest that that is somewhat too strict a test to give workers the proper recognition and protection that they need. I urge the Minister to consider seriously taking out the words ''sole or main''.