Unions warned 'they could be shooting themselves in the foot' over strikes
A Labour MP says unions need to "wake up" to the impact of strikes on "hard-working people" as the UK faces weeks of travel chaos.
Sunday 18 December 2016 17:03, UK
A senior Labour MP has warned trade unions "they could be shooting themselves in the foot" as they prepare for a series of Christmas strikes.
Meg Hillier, chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, told Sky News' Murnaghan programme "it is absolutely right people have the right to strike".
But she added: "There needs to be a bit of a wake-up call about the impact on hard-working people who are trying to get to work or go on holiday.
"I think if not careful, they could be shooting themselves in the foot."
The Prime Minister is reportedly coming under pressure to impose emergency laws on industrial action.
With multiple walkouts planned across several industries, two senior members of the Conservative party backed by dozens of MPs have called for a tougher approach to unions, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
Lord Heseltine told the newspaper: "You cannot have small groups of people holding society to ransom, regardless of personal inconvenience or cost."
Lord Tebbit warned of a "deliberate tactic on the part of the union leaders to inflict as much economic and social harm as they possibly can" over Christmas.
They want Theresa May to bolster legislation so unions that represent "critical" industries can be barred from calling strikes unless they are "proportionate".
But shadow home secretary Dianne Abbott told Sky News' Murnaghan: "Of course these strikes are going to be very disastrous if they all go ahead for the public over Christmas time, but people do have a right to strike.
"It takes two to cause a strike. It's not just the trade union, it is also the problems and the incompetence of some management."
Sean Hoyle, president of the RMT, the union responsible for the strikes that have halted Southern Rail services, has claimed unions were co-ordinating the strikes to "bring down this bloody working-class hating Tory government", The Sunday Times reported.
According to the paper, Mr Hoyle said his union's "rule No 1" was to "strive to replace the capitalist system with a socialist order" at a conference hosted by the Socialist Party in November.
Around 1,500 check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew at 18 UK airports are planning a 48-hour strike from 23 December in a pay dispute. All work for Swissport and are members of the Unite union.
Up to 4,500 BA cabin crew members based at Heathrow will strike on 25 and 26 December in a pay dispute backed by Unite. Talks with conciliation service Acas will take place Monday.
Virgin Atlantic pilots will work "strictly to contract" from 23 December over a union representation dispute.
Around 4,000 Post Office workers will strike for five days from 19 December in a dispute over job security and pensions.
Southern Railway conductors are to hold a two-day strike from Monday and over the New Year. A five-day train drivers' strike is planned from 9 January.