A BAN on trade union membership for some workers was among proposals for the government’s next attack on workers’ rights, according to emails leaked from No 10.

In a move reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher’s ban on trade union membership at the government’s intelligence gathering base GCHQ in 1984, the ban was considered by the current government along with banning strike action in certain sectors and forcing unions to provide minimum levels of service during strike action, the government’s eventual choice.

The government is reported to have considered targeting Border Force workers for the ban.

The workers are members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) and are currently involved in the Civil Service pay dispute, including strike action.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said banning union membership would “leave workers open to countless abuses.”

He said: “Being able to join a union at work is a basic and universal human right.

“It speaks volumes that government ministers have even contemplated the outright banning of union membership and the right to take strike action.

“It would leave working people open to countless abuses.”

He also condemned the enforced provision of minimum service levels during strikes.

“Even the government’s own advice suggests imposing minimum service levels on workers taking part in strike action may be illegal,” he said.

“We need a complete change of approach in Downing Street — one that respects the right of workers to join unions and take strike action in the face of real-terms pay cuts.”

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said he will fight “tooth and nail” Tory attempts to further curtail the human right to strike.

He said that the policy would have represented the “biggest attack on workers’ rights and freedoms” since Thatcher’s anti-worker crusade, and urged ministers to “reconsider their draconian measures and enter into meaningful negotiations to resolve disputes.”

In 1984, staff at the intelligence services’ headquarters at Cheltenham in Gloucestershire were told by the Tory government to quit their unions or be sacked.

There was resistance and initially 130 union members refused.

The scandal prompted a long-running national and international campaign.

Fourteen staff remained resolute and were sacked.

They were led by union activist Mike Grindley, who died on January 1 this year aged 85.