The government has today announced it will repeal the Strikes
(Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 to get public services back on
track and strengthen the rights of working people.
Industrial action in the NHS alone cost the taxpayer £1.7bn last
year with many other sectors also seeing costs and impacts to
public services. This is why strong but fair negotiation is key
to tackling issues between workers and employers, from low pay to
inequality and discrimination.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Business Secretary
have today [Tuesday 6
August] written to the Government departments with sectors most
impacted by strikes Education, Health, Transport, the Home
Office, Energy, as well as Welsh and Scottish governments, to
give a clear message that this government does not support
Minimum Service Levels and intends to repeal the
legislation.
They have also written to all 12 metro mayors across the country
to start engaging with local employers on this upcoming change,
being important partners in resetting relations with these vital
sectors.
Deputy Prime Minister 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.
Repealing this legislation is the first part of our plan to reset
industrial relations so they are fit for a modern economy.”
Business Secretary
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.”
The formal repeal of the previous government's legislation will
form part of the upcoming Employment Rights Bill which will be
introduced within the first 100 days of the new
Government.
No employer has used minimum service levels, and they have not
resolved any strikes- and only inflamed tensions. Companies
should continue to look for alternative mechanisms to solve
disputes through negotiation.
Relevant ministers in the Department for Health and Social Care,
Home Office, Department for Education, Department for Transport
and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have been asked
to engage with their relevant employers to inform them that we
strongly encourage them to engage in discussion with trade
unions, instead of using minimum service levels.
Health and Social Care Secretary, , said:
This Act failed to resolve devastating strikes which led to
cancelled operations and cost the NHS billions.
But this Government engaged meaningfully with the BMA Junior
Doctors' Committee from day one, and agreed an offer in just over
three weeks – paving the way to end strikes.
Scrapping minimum service levels marks another significant step
in resetting relationships with staff, as we fix the broken
health service.”
This comes as the Home Office are writing to the four Border
Force trade unions. This letter will confirm the government's
intention to repeal Minimum Service Level legislation and that we
will no longer be using border security MSL.
