The Tories introduced the 50% strike ballot threshold to make industrial action harder. MATT WRACK argues that a Labour government has no justification for leaving it on the statute book
PUBLIC SUPPORT for unions has hit its highest point since 1965, the Gallup Organisation’s annual poll says, as respondents approve of unions by a 71 per cent to 26 per cent margin, with the rest undecided.
That ties the 1965 figure of 71 per cent support, Gallup reported. Then, 19 per cent of the public opposed unions, with the rest undecided. The all-time records in the union support-opposition poll, which started in 1936, were 75 per cent to 18 per cent in 1953 and 75 per cent to 14 per cent in the first of three surveys in 1957. The rest of the respondents were undecided.
AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler lauded the results, which she said reflect the facts on the ground, in increased enthusiasm and organising. That has been especially true among low-wage exploited workers.
Strike Map co-founder HENRY FOWLER discusses the significance of today’s joint union letter to video game giant Rockstar, demanding trade union recognition for its workers. Their conversation highlights how our movement can harness its collective power to rebuild union power across the private sector
RAMZY BAROUD assesses the notable shift of US public opinion away from a carte blanche for Israel’s actions in the Middle East
Artists should not be consigned to a life of precarious working – they deserve dignity and proper workers’ rights, argues ZITA HOLBOURNE
Labour’s watered-down legislation won’t protect us from unfair dismissal or ban some zero-hours contracts until 2027 — leaving millions of young people vulnerable to the populist right’s appeal, warns TUC young workers chair FRASER MCGUIRE


