Union accuses firms of 'industrial terrorism'

摘要

The state of British manufacturing was pushed down the agenda by the possible war with Iraq at the TUC Congress in Blackpool last week, but there were still signs of increasing industrial militancy among speakers and delegates. Amicus, Britain's biggest manufacturing union, threatened to "tear up the form book" on industrial relations by ditching so-called sweetheart deals. And the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) accused the government of allowing inward investment firms to get away with "industrial terrorism." Derek Simpson, who defeated Sir Ken Jackson as head of the engineering section of Amicus, said he wanted to re-examine deals struck with companies which were not in the interests of workers. Employees at a number of firms, including Japanese car giant Nissan, could now be asked whether they want to vote on agreements, which include no-strike clauses.