§ 19. Mr. Bob Dunnasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce new legislation to guarantee the citizen's right to work and his freedom from intimidation or obstruction at work.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe extent to which the closed shop restricts the freedom to work and the role of the law in dealing with abuses of industrial power are among the issues considered in the Green Paper on trade union immunities. In the Employment Act 1980 we have already increased the protection for those who are dismissed or have action short of dismissal taken against them for refusing to join a trade union in a closed shop and have provided a right for a person working in a closed shop not to be unreasonably excluded or expelled from a trade union. We are now assessing the comments we have received on the Green Paper. Decisions on future legislation will be taken in the light of those comments and of our experience of the operation of the Employment Act.
§ 45. Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards individuals having the right to obtain and retain jobs irrespective of trade union membership.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe Government are opposed in principle to any practice which makes getting or retaining a job dependent on the holding of a union card. In the Employment Act 1980, we have already greatly extended the protection for individuals who are affected by closed shop agreements. We are now assessing the case for further legislation in the light of consultations on the Green Paper on trade union immunities and experience of the operation of the Employment Act.