John Monks: Government will not go back on commitment

TUC general secretary John Monks said the new law, expected next year, would not mean a return to old style trade unionism in the workplace.

John Monks: "Law heralds new partnership"

Instead he said the law would herald a new era of partnership between workers and their employers.

He said employers were concentrating on some of the details and seeking to qualify definitions such as union membership which would make the legislation harder to implement.

But he said he had been given private assurances by a range of government ministers that there were no plans to do a U-turn on the policies in the White Paper.

Mr Monks told BBC Business Breakfast he believed Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Mandelson had no plans to make any changes of principle to the White paper.

"I base some of this on private assurances I have received. Huge efforts went into signing on a wide range of political and union interests into accepting the White Paper," he said.

"Destabilising that political balance and appearing to give in to vested interest lobbying would look both unintelligent and weak."

Fairness at Work

The government outlined its plans to reform employment law in its "Fairness at Work" White Paper last May after intense negotiations with employers and unions.

Employers fear a return to 1970's-style trade unionism.

Peter Mandelson has been lobbied by employers to water down some of the proposals

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and employers' groups are concerned that the legislation will give trade unions too much power and make the country's workforce less flexible and competitive.

They have been lobbying Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Mandelson and now trade unions are worried that the government may dilute some of the key proposals in the White Paper.

Proposals in the paper include:

• Allowing employees to make unfair dismissal claims after one year of employment instead of two

• A legal right to union representation for workers facing disciplinary hearings

• A ban on employers discriminating against trade union activists

• Allowing workers to claim unfair dismissal if sacked for taking lawful industrial action

Unions oppose the proposal that they must get the backing of 40% of the total workplace before they win the right to force management to negotiate over pay and conditions.

Now they fear that changes since May may mean that more than 50% of workers will have to join a union before it becomes compulsory for employers to recognise and negotiate with it.