Support the Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) Private Member's Bill

The open letter below appears in today's Guardian. While the French have the right to openly strike, British workers are constrained by the most restrictive legislation in Europe drawn up by the Thatcher government. What is really shocking is that New Labour did nothing to address this injustice during its 13 years in power while it was continually bankrolled by most of the unions.

We are asking MPs to support the lawful industrial action (minor errors) private member's bill on 22 October. There has been a stream of rhetoric from business organisations and rightwing thinktanks on the need to reform trade union law. Yet taking strike action is always a last resort for union members and only done when they feel they have no alternative. Away from the political grandstanding, the reality is that British workers already have the most restrictive trade union laws in Europe, and recent court rulings have made matters even worse. Judges striking down overwhelming secret ballots in favour of industrial action on minor technical grounds, which would have had no effect on the outcome of the ballot, mean that the fundamental democratic right to withdraw our labour is now under threat. This private member's bill is moderate, focused and fair. It will mean that working people struggling to defend services and employment – and who have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action – will not have their democratic will overruled on technical legal grounds.

Tony Woodley, Joint general secretary, Unite

Paul Kenny, General secretary, GMB

Brendan Barber, General secretary, TUC

Keith Norman, General secretary, Aslef

Gerry Morrissey, General secretary, Bectu

Ronnie Draper, General secretary, BFAWU

Michael Leahy, General secretary, Community

Billy Hayes, General secretary, CWU

Chris Kitchen, General secretary, NUM

Gerry Doherty, General secretary, TSSA

Alan Ritchie, General secretary, Ucatt

Dave Prentis, General secretary, Unison

Derek Simpson, Joint general secretary, Unite

John Hannett, General secretary, Usdaw