The Tories introduced the 50% strike ballot threshold to make industrial action harder. MATT WRACK argues that a Labour government has no justification for leaving it on the statute book
IF YOU want an illustration of how the British economy transports cash out of public services and into the hands of investors while short-changing the public, have a look at Porterbrook.
It is one of the most important firms in the privatised rail industry, but is barely mentioned on the news.
Rail staff are going on strike to stop their pay being cut, but the latest accounts show Porterbrook’s boss got a 36 per cent pay rise, taking their salary to £915,000 a year. Porterbrook shareholders got £80 million in dividends.
If we can tackle the big issues, like delivering decent public services and affordable state-built and owned housing by making the richest pay a fair amount of tax, Labour can win back the trust and support of the electorate, argues ANDY McDONALD MP


