The government published its anti-strike bill, which will require trade unions representing emergency workers to guarantee minimum service levels during industrial action – or face being sued.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps said in Parliament today: “We do not want to have to use this legislation unless we have to, but we must ensure the safety of the British public.”
The sectors the legislation includes are:
health services,education services,fire and rescue services,transport services
decommissioning of nuclear installations and management of radioactive waste and spent fuel and border security
Labour branded it the ‘sacking nurses bill’
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:
“This is an attack on human rights and civil liberties which we will oppose in the courts, Parliament and the workplace
The TUC said “This government is attacking the right to strike. Ministers have gone from clapping our key workers to threatening them with the sack.”
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner responded to the introduction of a bill enforcing minimum service levels during strikes
“My constituent died waiting for an ambulance and that was not on a strike day”
She added:
“By giving ministers carte blanche to fire nurses and teachers at will, these rotten proposals serve to inflame rather than resolve disputes“
