David Cameron's Trade Union bill is a dangerous affront to democracy. It permits replacement workers, makes striking nearly impossible, and takes direct aim at the funding of the Tories' political opponents. And Scottish councils are fighting it with everything they've got.

It is truly a stirring display of solidarity. All 32 of Scotland's local authorities have promised to ignore the controversial bill when it becomes law, rendering it useless north of the border. "This is a new generation's poll tax moment," says Gary Smith, the GMB union's acting secretary in Scotland.

Our unions have made our workplaces safer and have raised the standard of living for every working Briton. They are worth defending. Imagine what would happen if councils throughout the UK showed the same defiance and togetherness as their Scottish cousins?

Join us in asking all British councils to reject the undemocratic Trade Union bill and refuse to enforce its terms.

The timing of this bill, launched less than a week after the conclusion of the Tube strike in London, is extremely cynical. It will make it next-to-impossible for workers to exercise their democratic right to job action. A union now needs approval from 50% of all eligible voters to withhold their labour, instead of just a majority of members who cast a ballot. That is a higher standard than Britain uses to elect its MPs, its mayors and its Prime Minister.

This bill also targets the funding of the Labour party -- it will force unions to get their members to "opt in" to the political levy every five years. Most unions don't have the capacity to engage in such an exercise. The right of a union to collect funds to fight for its interests and protection has always been part of its mandate. But the Tories are taking the opportunity to strip that away too -- while doing nothing to limit the way corporations and hedge funds fill Conservative Party coffers.

Over 100,000 SumOfUs members are fighting this bill. And Scottish councils just gave us a new tactic. If we stand together, we can turn back this piece of dangerous legislation -- just like when union leaders stopped Margaret Thatcher's poll tax debacle in 1993.

Together, we can stop this bill. Tell your local council to ignore David Cameron's dangerous, undemocratic Trade Union Bill.

**********

More information:

Trade Union Bill: All Scottish councils say they will ignore controversial new law, The Independent, Oct 3, 2015

The Trade Unions Bill is the beginning of the end for all workers' rights, politics.co.uk, July 15, 2015