Government confirms it will repeal minimum levels of service Act
The Government has confirmed it will repeal the controversial law which aimed to ensure a minimum level of service during strikes.
The Conservative government took forward the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act last year in response to the unprecedented wave of industrial action by hundreds of thousands of workers over pay, jobs and conditions.
The move sparked fury among unions, with warnings that workers faced being sacked for going on strike.
Labour promised to repeal the Act if it won the election and today confirmed it was taking action.
Attempting to clamp down on the fundamental freedom of working people has got us nowhere and this was targeted at sectors who dedicate their lives to serving us all. That’s why we’re scrapping this pointless law and creating a new partnership between business, trade unions and working people through our New Deal
Angela Rayner, Deputy PM
Ministers said industrial action in the NHS alone cost the taxpayer £1.7 billion last year with many other sectors also seeing costs and impacts to public services, adding that it proved “strong but fair“ negotiation was key to tackling issues between workers and employers.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds have written to the Government departments with sectors most impacted by strikes: Education, Health, Transport, the Home Office and Energy, as well as Welsh and Scottish governments, to give a “clear message” that legislation will be repealed.
They have also written to all 12 metro mayors across the country to start engaging with local employers on the change.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Attempting to clamp down on the fundamental freedom of working people has got us nowhere and this was targeted at sectors who dedicate their lives to serving us all.
“That’s why we’re scrapping this pointless law and creating a new partnership between business, trade unions and working people through our New Deal.
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“Repealing this legislation is the first part of our plan to reset industrial relations so they are fit for a modern economy.”
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We need to get Britain’s economy moving again, deliver growth and the public services which taxpayers deserve.
“The Strikes Act has not worked – unbelievably the UK has lost more days due to strike action than France, costing the taxpayer billions of pounds, and these divisive laws haven’t resolved a single strike since they were introduced.
“By removing minimum service levels, we will reset industrial relations, so they are based on good faith negotiation and bargaining, ending the chaos and restoring trust in public services. This is about restoring politics as public service, ensuring Government acts to fix problems not cause them.”
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Public services work best when governments listen to and engage constructively with their workforces.
“The TUC and countless experts repeatedly warned the previous Conservative administration that its vindictive minimum service levels (MSLs) were unworkable and would only worsen and prolong disputes.
“Strikes are resolved around the table – not through legislating away dissent, but the Tories insisted on railroading MSLs through Parliament in order to score headlines and look tough to backbenchers.
“It speaks volumes that not one single employer to date has issued a work notice ordering staff to break a strike. They too can see how toxic these laws are.
“The new Government is right to repeal this spiteful legislation. It’s time for a new, grown-up era of industrial relations.”