I’m a union man, and I believe trade unions are a vital part of our democracy. I used to be a member of the National Union of Mineworkers. But 30 years ago, I worked through the miners’ strike – I crossed the picket line. Why? Because then, like now, I took issue with a trade union boss waging war without a mandate. Scargill wasn’t interested in listening to the voice of his members. He tried to get round the ballots. If we’d had proper ballots for industrial action, and if the ballots ruled in favour, I’d have joined the strike. The right to strike is a right protected and defined in law. But with all rights come responsibilities.
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