1 in 5 workers’ right to strike at risk in North East because of the government’s anti-strikes bill
The TUC has today (Monday) warned that the right to strike of a massive 1 in 5 workers in the North East is at risk because of the Conservative government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill.
The warning comes as the Strikes Bill returns to the Commons and MPs cast their final vote on the legislation.
New analysis published by the union body shows that 221,000 workers across the North East could be hit by the Bill.
Those 221,000 workers in the North East have their right to strike threatened because – if passed unamended – the Bill will mean that when workers lawfully vote to strike in health, education, fire, transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning, they could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t comply.
The TUC says the Bill allows for minimum service levels to be “dictated from Whitehall” rather than taking account of local circumstances.
Across England, Scotland and Wales, 5.5 million workers could be affected by the legislation. Workers in Northern Ireland aren’t subject to the Bill.
The TUC says Conservative MPs have a chance to show “whose side they are on” and stop frontline workers being sacked for exercising the right to strike.
Last month, four key amendments were made to the Bill in the House of Lords – including stopping frontline workers from getting sacked for exercising their right to strike – and MPs now have the chance to confirm or reject them.
Protect the right to strike
The TUC says the Conservative government must drop the Strikes Bill in its entirety and protect the right to strike.
And the EHRC recently warned that the legislation could see all striking workers in affected sectors losing their unfair dismissal protection as whole strikes could be deemed illegal.
The union body says the UK government has failed to come clean about the draconian nature of the Bill – and has accused ministers of “shortcutting” normal scrutiny procedures by “ramming” the Bill through the parliament.
The Bill will give ministers the power to impose new minimum service levels through regulation.
But MPs have been given few details on how minimum service levels are intended to operate.
The House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee recently criticised the Bill for giving blanket powers to UK ministers while providing virtually no detail.
The Bill has faced a barrage of criticism from civil liberties organisations, the joint committee on human rights, House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, race and gender equalities groups, employment rights lawyers, politicians around the world – and a whole host of other organisations.
Liz Blackshaw, TUC Northern regional secretary, said:
“It’s time for ministers to protect the right to strike and ditch this Bill for good.
“This spiteful Bill threatens the right to strike of 1 in 5 workers in the North East.
“No one should be sacked for trying to win a better deal at work.
“But this draconian legislation would mean that when workers democratically vote to strike, they could be forced to work and sacked if they don’t comply.
“It’s undemocratic, it’s unworkable and it’s very likely illegal.
“With inflation still running at over 10%, the last thing workers need is for ministers to make it harder to secure better pay and conditions.
“Today Conservative MPs must do the right thing and oppose government plans to sack frontline workers for exercising their right to strike.”