THE right of workers to organise, take industrial action and collectively withdraw their labour is enshrined in EU and UN human rights legislation and a fulcrum of any democratic society.

We rightly condemn dictatorships for their brutality against workers’ rights, and yet last week the Tories used their majority in the Westminster parliament to steam roll through a regressive Trade Union bill which seeks to dramatically undermine the rights of workers.

It includes a requirement for any strike ballot to have a minimum turnout of 40% (a requirement which has never been placed on the election of any MP, MSP or councillor), as well as requiring any picket line to have an arm-band wearing, identified supervisor.

To ask specific workers to single themselves out and take responsibility for a strike is a deliberate attempt by the Tories to sabotage the efficacy of industrial action. Yet who is surprised by their ruthlessness?

You would have had to be living under a rock to have missed the mistrust and contempt the Tories have historically had for trade unions.

Here in Scotland, the SNP government has always treated trade unions as partners in the pursuit of a fair work agenda, rather than enemies we seek to weaken.

It is because of the Scottish Government’s work to build strong relationships with trade unions that industrial action in Scotland has dropped by 84% since 2007.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress has supported our calls for the devolution of employment law, and its general secretary even seconded a motion at SNP conference this year, condemning the UK government’s Trade Union Bill.

However, the Scotland Bill that passed last week failed to deliver full devolution of employment law.

This means that, despite their complete lack of a mandate in Scotland, these draconian measures from the Tories will be forced on the workers of Scotland.

Until more powers are delivered to Scotland the SNP government will continue to do everything it can to promote a fairer, safer and more equal work environment.

We will continue to improve the hours, availability and flexibility of free childcare, to liaise with trade union leaders and representatives, and to promote the Living Wage – now £8.25 and a higher proportion of people in Glasgow are receiving it than almost anywhere else in the UK!

Finally, SNP MPs will continue to fight Scotland’s corner at Westminster at every debate and in every vote.

I have spoken about proposed tax credit cuts in previous columns.

Labour have claimed that they want to do everything in their power to protect people from these cuts.

Yet when the time came to walk the walk last week Labour MPs from across the UK voted with the Tories against an SNP amendment to the Scotland Bill which would have taken the power over tax credits out of George Osborne’s hands and into the hands of the people of Scotland.