THE Scottish organiser for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union yesterday called on the Labour Government to consign Tory anti-union laws to the dustbin, writes Iain Wilson, Chief Reporter.

Mr Phil McGarry declared that employers still had the upper hand because of the legislation - and that must be stopped.

Congress agreed, backing a 21-point composite motion on fairness at work which embraced trade union laws.

However, although upset over ''unfair'' laws covering union recognition, dismissals and strikes, the STUC general council signalled it wanted to work with a Labour Government to enhance workers' rights.

It would appear that a return to the bad old days of wildcat strikes and mass secondary picketing is not on the agenda.

Mr McGarry told congress the majority of Tory legislation which weakened unions was still in place - from blocking ''solidarity'' strike action to determining numbers of pickets and where they can go.

He added that, over the past 20 years, unions had seen a decline in the manufacturing base, attacks on rights and deregulation.

''You name it, we have had it ... but all we want is a level playing field,'' he said.

Mr Jim Elsby, T&GWU delegate, added that good employers had nothing to fear from change, because it would prevent unscrupulous employers from undercutting them thanks to their workforces' poor terms and conditions.

The general council agreed to put fairness at work at the top of its agenda on grounds that its foremost duty was to promote and protect the rights of individuals at the workplace.

Unison's Matt Smith said: ''For too many years we have seen these rights eroded, not by accident or oversight, but by deliberate policy.''

The legislation had brought shame on the nation and untold suffering for many at work. Over time, the UK had become regarded as a soft touch for unscrupulous employers - told to come because of low wages, deregulation and with ''trade unions' influence consigned to history''.

However, Mr Smith also signalled that patience was needed as legislation going through Parliament was a start, even if it did not redress all the losses.

His general council statement argued that unions should embrace much of the Labour Government's approach and recognise the positive nature of what was being proposed.