The government is expected to bring forward legislation today which will enforce "minimum service levels" in additional sectors later this week. The government introduced the Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill in October 2022 but it is understood that the proposed new legislation will cover the health service, education, fire and boarder security, as well as transport.

 

It is also understood that ministers are considering legislating to allow employers to sue trade unions and dismiss employees if minimum service requirements are not met. It is anticipated that the minimum service levels would be agreed between unions and the government, but that the levels could ultimately be imposed by ministers if agreement is not reached. Also under discussion, is the doubling of the minimum notice period for industrial action from 14 days to 28 days, increasing strike ballot thresholds and reducing from six to three months the period in which unions can call a strike after a successful ballot.

 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the new laws would restore the balance between the right to strike and "the right of the British public to be able to go about their lives without suffering completely undue disruption".   Whether they will achieve sufficient parliamentary support to become law remains to be seen...