Business lobby group London First has called on the government to limit the power of trade unions by introducing tighter rules on strike action.
In the week that British Airways’ cabin crew were asked once again to vote on industrial action, London First said the government should introduce legislation that outlawed strikes unless at least 40% of balloted members support strike action, as well as a majority of those voting.
In its White Paper for Sustainable Economic Growth, the lobby group said: "Industrial action which affects essential services and has a substantial knock-on cost to the economy needs to be tackled."
Citing the recent industrial action on London Underground it added: "The frequent industrial action on London’s transport network not only has an economic cost – an estimated £48 million every day that the underground is closed[1] – but also causes reputational damage.
"Tighter restrictions should be placed on the ability of unions to call strikes on essential public services, such as a threshold on the number of union members voting to strike."
London First, which represents business leaders in the capital, also called on the government to use the forthcoming Regulation Bill to increase penalties for airlines and airports for service disruptions.
"The inability of London’s airports to cope with the recent bad weather not only cost business but damaged London’s reputation as a world class city," it added.
By Linsey McNeill
[1] RMT tube strike will cost London economy £48m, 24th August 2010, London Chamber of Commerce
