UNIONS have welcomed a “new, grown-up era of industrial relations” after the government confirmed today that it will repeal the Tories’ minimum service legislation, which could have been used to ban strikes in certain sectors.
The previous government sparked fury when it forced through the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act last year, following an unprecedented wave of industrial action over pay, jobs and conditions.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds have now written to the government departments concerned with sectors most affected by strikes — education, health, transport, the Home Office and energy — conveying a “clear message” that the legislation will be repealed.
They have also written to the Welsh and Scottish governments and all 12 metro mayors in England urging them to start engaging with local employers on the change.
Ms 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.”
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Public services work best when governments listen to and engage constructively with their workforces.
“The new government is right to repeal this spiteful legislation. It’s time for a new, grown-up era of industrial relations.”
Mick Lynch, general secretary of transport union RMT, said: “We welcome this move as an opportunity to reset industrial relations in Britain and to move to a position of negotiating just settlements to disputes, rather than having trade unions attacked and demonised.”
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea, whose union represents workers in many public services, said: “This was a terrible law. It’s great the government is ditching it so early on. Good riddance to a bad law.”
Public and Commercial Services general secretary Fran Heathcote raised hopes the move “signals the beginning of a new dawn in labour relations and a significant improvement in workers’ rights.”
Royal College of Nursing general secretary Professor Nicola Ranger added: “Nursing staff are a safety-critical workforce in health and care services and when you prevent them from speaking out, you put patients at risk.”
NHS Providers deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said trust leaders would welcome the move as the legislation “risked making industrial relations between trust leaders and front-line teams worse.”
