BOLTON union bosses will be travelling to London to lobby against the government's controversial Trade Union Bill.

About a dozen shop stewards from the Bolton branch of the public service trade union, Unison, will head off from Bolton on Monday to protest in Parliament.

The lobby has been organised by the Trades Union Congress and is in response to the Conservative government's Trade Union Bill which is due to have it's third reading that day.

Bernadette Gallagher, branch secretary of Bolton Unison said: "We are committed to campaigning against the Trade Union Bill.

"The bill is designed to further restrict the right of union members to take action against their employer.

"The bill proposes big restrictions on peaceful picketing and the right to protest with restrictions on the ability to post on social media, for the first time, employers will be able to break strikes through the use of agency workers, this is something that could have serious safety implications".

Matt Kilsby, Branch Chairperson for Bolton Unison added: "There are major restrictions on how unions collect membership subscriptions. The bill includes provisions to outlaw the right of union members in public services to pay their subs through payroll deductions. In Bolton, the council trade unions already pay for this service so it doesn't cost the council or the council tax payer a penny. We are determined to fight the Conservatives' Trade Union Bill at every stage. We will defend our right to organise and defend our right to strike".