The government will drop plans to outlaw 'check-off' arrangements by which trade union members pay their contributions direct from their wages.
Commenting on this news Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “The government’s u-turn is clearly a welcome move and follows months of campaigning by trade union members. It goes to show how effective trade unions are. I gave evidence to the House of Lords committee scrutinising this legislation in February where it became clear just how weak the government’s argument was.
“But let's be clear, the government is continuing with the rest of this anti-trade union bill, which remains a major attack on the rights of workers. The trade union movement must keep up the fight against the whole bill.
“It has been suggested in the press that this concession will assist trade unions in making the case for a 'remain' vote in the forthcoming referendum. Any problems David Cameron has on that front are entirely his own responsibility. It should be clear to everyone that the prime minister has an anti-worker agenda at home and in Europe - just like the Tory Brexiteers.
“We will be addressing the issue entirely independently and solely from the point of view of what is good or not for working people.”
