Yahoo NewsWhat is the Government’s anti-strike bill and who will it affect?
After teachers and nurses announced further walkouts, the controversial “anti-strike” bill has taken a step towards becoming law after passing its second reading on Monday.
The Government introduced the legislation in Parliament on January 10, and if it passes, it would restrict union members’ right to strike.
MPs backed the legislation by 309 votes to 249 — a majority of 60.
Opposition parties have accused ministers of rushing the legislation through the Commons in only two days, without it being properly scrutinised by MPs.
Unions have slammed the bill and Business Secretary Grant Shapps has said the Government is expecting to fight them in court.
What is the anti-strike bill?
The draft Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill was introduced to Parliament by Mr Shapps.
The bill comes amid ongoing strike action across several industries, including transport, health, and education. Firefighters and postal workers have also walked out.
The thresholds for launching industrial action are expected to be raised and companies may be able to sue unions if minimum service levels are not met.
Ambulance Strike | January 2023
What powers will employers have if the bill passes?
Employers would be able to restrict the protection of trade unions from legal action, such as unfair dismissal.
They would also be able to require that “minimum service levels” are delivered during strike action.
The bill would restrict workers' rights’ to withhold labour legally, making it difficult to strike.
Who would the anti-strike bill affect?
The bill would require employees in the following industries to provide “minimum service levels”:
Health services
Fire and rescue services
Education services
Transport services
Decommissioning of nuclear installations and management of radioactive waste and spent fuel
Border security
Nurses strike | December 2022
What has Grant Shapps said about the bill?
When introducing the bill in Parliament, Mr Shapps said: “The Government has a duty to protect the public’s access to essential public services.
“Because whilst we absolutely believe in the right to strike, we’re duty bound to protect the lives and the livelihoods of the British people.”
He continued: “So I’m introducing a bill that would give the 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.”
How have unions responded to the bill?
The Public and Commercial Services union said it was “working with fellow trade unions and the TUC [Trades Union Congress] in fighting against this legislation”.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) general secretary Mick Lynch said the bill was “an attack on human rights and civil liberties”.
UK: Train Strike | December 2022
In a statement, he said: “The only reason this draconian legislation is being introduced is because the Government has lost the argument and wants to punish workers for having the temerity to demand decent pay and working conditions.
“The Government’s own impact assessment of minimum service levels shows it wouldn’t work. They would be better off coming to a negotiated settlement with unions through dialogue.”
Mick Whelan, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef’s) general secretary, said: “Rishi Sunak, rather than doing the decent thing — the right thing — and negotiating with us, is trying to prevent thousands of workers from being able to withdraw their labour.
Royal Mail Strike: Parliament Square London
“That is what authoritarian governments in authoritarian states do. This is — or should be — a free country. In which it is possible — and perfectly legal — to take industrial action. Which is, after all, a fundamental human right.”
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Ministers should be putting all their energies into solving the NHS dispute, not worsening relations with health workers.
“Unions want to work with the Government to secure a pay deal, but attacking workers makes that much harder.”
