Fury as unions draw up ‘wish list for wrecking Britain’ with demands to tear up anti-strike laws

UNIONS are drawing up a “wish list” for wrecking Britain by demanding a new raft of new protections for workers, the Tories say. Pressure is being heaped on Andy Burnham to go beyond the existing employment rights despite reforms already costing business £1 billion a year. Pressure is being heaped on Andy Burnham to go beyond the existing employment rights despite reforms already costing business £1 billion a year Credit: AP Julia Lopez said: ‘This is a wish list for wrecking Britain. Labour’s first Employment Rights Act has killed thousands of jobs’ The warning comes from the NASUWT teaching union as the trade union movement meets in Brighton for its annual rally. The organisation is demanding a second workers’ rights bill that repeals all anti-trade union laws and introduces sectoral collective bargaining. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Shadow Business Secretary Julia Lopez said: “This is a wish list for wrecking Britain. “Labour’s first Employment Rights Act has killed thousands of jobs, whacked up the cost of hiring, and has been a minefield for businesses. We do not need another.” But Matt Wrack, boss of the NASUWT, last night said: “Fourteen years of the Conservative approach to employment rights left the UK economy in a productivity black hole. “The result was crumbling public services, rapidly diminishing opportunities, sickening levels of inequality and a cost of living crisis that will be remembered for decades. “What does boost productivity? Empowered workers in strong unions. “But perhaps the Shadow Business Secretary does not wish to boost productivity, or equality in the workplace. Perhaps she seeks to boost billionaires’ profits at workers’ expense.” Most read in The Sun Labour has brought in changes including reducing the qualifying period for the right to claim unfair dismissal from two years to six months. Concerns have also been raised over bosses having to inform workers of their right to join a trade union. Comment now