Following British Airways workers’ ‘yes’ vote on strike action, think tank Progressive Vision has called for an end to a ban on hiring replacement agency workers during industrial action.

Yesterday 80.7% of Unite union members, who returned their ballot forms, voted yes to industrial action on a 78.7% turnout.

Shane Frith, director of Progressive Vision, says the action by BA staff further demonstrates the need for radical amendments to labour relations laws to stop trade unions from holding the nation’s economy hostage.

Frith says: “Such an amendment does nothing to restrict the rights of workers to withdraw their labour.  However, if workers exercise this right, why should employers have their rights restricted by preventing them from hiring willing workers?

“Britain’s economy and competitiveness is in tatters.  They only way the nation can return to true prosperity is to improve productivity and this will not be achieved with trade unions resisting much needed reforms and crippling vital businesses.”