The public isn’t on the side of the government.
More voters believe that the government has treated striking workers unfairly than those who think its response has been fair, an exclusive poll for LFF has found.
The poll, carried out by Savanta ComRes, found that 47% of voters believe that the government has treated workers taking industrial action unfairly while just 41% say they have been treated fairly.
Among 18 to 24 year olds, 53% of those asked think that the government has acted unfairly, as do just over half of 45 to 54 year olds (51%).
When it comes to party affiliation there is a clear dividing line, with 66% of Labour voters saying that they believe that the government has treated those taking strike action unfairly while just 24% of Tory voters believe the same. 55% of Lib Dem voters also think the government has been unfair as do 64% of Green Party voters.
Recent weeks and months have seen NHS workers, civil servants, border staff and nurses take strike action, with unions coordinating for the biggest strike day yet for February 1. On that date, the TUC is scheduling a national protest against the government’s proposed anti-strike laws, with teachers, university staff, civil servants and train drivers all taking strike action too.
Rather than getting around the negotiating table to discuss pay and conditions with trade unions, the Tories think the best way to tackle the cost of living crisis is by attacking workers and unions, seeking to ban the right to strike through its Minimum Services Bill.
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
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