One of the first acts of the new Labour Government, elected in May 1997, was to reverse the ban on trade unions at the General Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) imposed by the Government of former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in 1984. GCHQ is the UK main "spy-tracking" station, which also works for USA intelligence, and it was felt that trade union membership and collective bargaining - with the threat of industrial action they carried - were incompatible with its key role. Reversal of the, together with the reinstatement of the 14 workers who were dismissed for refusing to give up union membership, became a cause célèbre for the trade union movement .
After the initial euphoria over the lifting in May 1997of the ban on trade unions at GCHQ, the UK secret communications station, critics of the ban are now wondering whether this will in fact make any difference.
One of the first acts of the new Labour Government, elected in May 1997, was to reverse the ban on trade unions at the General Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) imposed by the Government of former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in 1984. GCHQ is the UK main "spy-tracking" station, which also works for USA intelligence, and it was felt that trade union membership and collective bargaining - with the threat of industrial action they carried - were incompatible with its key role. Reversal of the, together with the reinstatement of the 14 workers who were dismissed for refusing to give up union membership, became a cause célèbre for the trade union movement .
The initial euphoria with which the lifting of the ban - formally announced on 15 May - and the reinstatement of the sacked workers was received by critics of the ban may be evaporating, however. It is reported that the management of GCHQ, with the support of the Foreign Office, is insisting that the unions must sign a no-strike agreement. Furthermore, any outcome of the arbitration arrangements expected to be offered in exchange is likely to be unenforceable, if a minister decides this is not in the national interest. This is because the management is insisting on the writing into the agreement of the so-called "Royal prerogative". Critics of the proposed arrangements, who include Mike Grindley, former GCHQ employee and long-time leader of the campaign to reverse the Conservative Government's ban, argue that this would mean hardly any change. A staff federation was set up in the wake of the ban and was forced to operate under very similar arrangements.
The reason why the Labour Government is going along with management wishes is also causing some concern among critics. It is suggested that it because they are anxious to avoid accusations from the opposition of giving in to the trade unions.
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Eurofound (1997), Disappointment at GCHQ?, article.
