Government unveils strike ballot reform

Trade unions have reacted furiously to new legislation that would tighten rules on strike ballots and political donations.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said the proposals would ensure that strikes only happen "when a clear majority of those entitled to vote have done so and all other possibilities have been explored."

But what do you think? Should it be more difficult to strike?

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Labour’s shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna has described the government's trade union reform plans as " the latest in a long line of attempts to stifle reasonable democratic scrutiny, protest and challenge".

He said: "The bill tries to drive a false wedge between government, industry, employees and the public by restricting rights – and at worst criminalising – ordinary working people, from midwives to factory workers to challenge low-pay or health and safety concerns.

“After muzzling charities and restricting access to justice this is the latest attempt to silence critics of this government and its policies.”

Yvette Cooper, one of Labour's leadership candidates, said that the government's plans for trade unions are an "ideologically driven attack on Britain's trade unions" which "puts narrow Tory party interests ahead of what is right for the country".

"It not only undermines years of progress on workers' rights, but it also breaks the growing consensus on the need to reform funding of political parties.

"This is another example of the Tories employing cheap divide-and-rule tactics."

The government's plans to make strikes harder to organise has been criticised as a "brutal assault on the most basic of human rights" by Mick Cash, the leader of the RMT.

He also said that the government's plan "mirrors the actions of hard-right regimes throughout history".

He added: "The trade union movement will unite to fight this brutal assault on the most basic of human rights and that campaign will be taken into the communities who stand to lose access to safe and reliable services as this noose of the anti-union laws is twisted round our necks."