The Government has announced that will introduce legislation to ensure key public services maintain minimum safety levels during industrial action, as seeks to limit disruption from strikes now involving tens of thousands of workers
It would bring the bill to parliament in the coming weeks and would consult on the minimum safety levels to be set for fire, ambulance and rail services.
“While we hope that voluntary agreements can continue to be made in most cases, introducing minimum safety levels… will restore the balance between those seeking to strike and protecting the public from disproportionate disruption,” business minister Grant Shapps said.
Unions have reacted badly to the news
saying that the proposed legislation would make it harder for disputes to be resolved.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:
“This is an attack on the right to strike. It’s an attack on working people. And it’s an attack on one of our longstanding British liberties.
“It means that when workers democratically vote to strike, they can be forced to work and sacked if they don’t. That’s wrong, unworkable, and almost certainly illegal.
“The announcement offers nothing more to help with this year’s pay and the cost of living crisis.”
“The only offer of talks is for next year. But we need to resolve the current disputes and boost the pay of public sector workers now.
“The Prime Minister said yesterday his door is always open – if he’s serious, he should prove it. He should take up my offer to get around the table to improve this year’s pay and end the current disputes.
“There is a world of difference between promises of jam tomorrow with technical discussions about pay review bodies, and proper negotiations on pay in the here and now.
“Our public services are already deep in a staffing crisis. But this government has gone from clapping key workers to threatening them with the sack if they take lawful action for a pay rise. It will only push more people away from essential jobs in public services, harming the whole nation.”
On the trade union campaigning to defend the right to strike,
Paul added:
“Trade unions will fight this every step of the way. We’re inviting every worker – public and private sector, and everyone who wants to protect British liberties -to be a part of our campaign to defend the right to strike.”
