A BID to get the Government to water down its controversial Trade Union Bill has been rejected - despite concern it could damage workers' rights.

Worcestershire County Council has refused the chance to lobby the Government over it after the Conservative leadership said it was broadly supportive the measures.

The bill, which has just passed its third reading in the House of Commons, aims to make it harder for strike action to cripple key public services.

Under the emerging legislation, for walkouts to be deemed 'valid' 50 per cent of those balloted must respond, with a majority of those backing a strike.

It also changes the way unions are managed financially so workers' subscriptions are not automatically deducted from employer payrolls, meaning they must arrange for it to be paid separately via direct debits.

The Bill has come in for severe criticism from unions, who say the move is an attempt to attack them financially and reduce the threat of strikes.

In return Business Secretary Sajid Javid has insisted the Bill will help prevent "endless" threats of industrial action, saying the proposed changes would "ensure working people's lives aren't unfairly disrupted".

During a County Hall meeting the Labour group tried to get a motion passed voicing concern over the Bill, stating it "would affect this council's relationship with our trade unions and our workforce as a whole".

The motion also called upon the Government to scrap the changes to union subscriptions, but it was rejected by 16 votes to 30 despite backing from the Lib Dems, Greens and independents.

Lib Dem Councillor Fran Oborski said: "It is really important to have good industrial relations and this is something which can't be taken lightly.

"I do hope people will support this, it's pretty conciliatory and helps preserve the good working relations we have with the unions in this county."

Councillor Adrian Hardman said the council should refuse it, before his entire Tory group and UKIP councillor Stuart Cross voted it out.

"This is a Bill the MP for Bromsgrove is piloting through the House of Commons and I think it's a very good Bill," he said.

He said "we as a Conservative administration do put a great deal of effort into our industrial relations", citing regular meetings with Unison.

"I'm sorry to disappoint the Labour group and to some degree, their paymasters but I'll be voting against this," he added.

Parliament approved the Bill with a majority of 34 earlier this month, with it being passed to the House of Lords for consideration.

The last strike action in Worcestershire was in July 2014 when 2,500 public sector workers walked out leaving 5,000 bins unemptied, 29 schools closed, several libraries locked up for the day and scores of bus services cancelled.