Government to introduce laws setting minimum service levels during strikes

The Government has unveiled plans for new laws that will allow it to set minimum levels of service which must be met during strikes to “ensure the safety of the public and their access to public services”.

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill will ensure public services such as rail, ambulances, and fire services maintain a minimum service during industrial action, which the Government argues will reduce “risk to life” and ensure the public can still get to work.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: “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 border security.

As is the case currently, a union will lose its legal protection from damages if it does not comply with the obligations set for them within the legislation.

Speaking to the BBC, Mick Lynch, head of the RMT transport union, said the "draconian legislation" sought to "punish workers" for demanding decent pay and working conditions.

The Government has revealed that it will first consult on minimum service levels for fire, ambulance, and rail services.

It said it hoped not to have to use these powers for other sectors included in the Bill such as education, other transport services, border security, other health services and nuclear decommissioning as it expects parties in these sectors to reach a “sensible and voluntary agreement between each other on delivering a reasonable level of service when there is strike action”.

However, the Bill gives the Government the power to step in and set minimum service levels should that become necessary, and the situation will be kept under review.

Shapps said: “The first job of any government is to keep the public safe. Because whilst we absolutely believe in the ability to strike, we are duty-bound to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British people.

“I am introducing a bill that will give government the power to ensure that vital public services will have to maintain a basic function, by delivering minimum safety levels ensuring that lives and livelihoods are not lost.”

Yesterday’s reforms come as government ministers are meeting trade unions to discuss public sector pay settlements for 2023 to 2024.

Lottie Winson