The head of the UK’s largest trade union body has warned that the entire trade union movement will rally behind any worker who is sacked under a controversial new law which ensures a minimum level of services during strike action.
The head of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the UK’s largest trade union body, said unions “won’t be bullied” by the legislation, which has been described by many as an anti-strike law.
Meanwhile, in Scotland the Government has been outspoken against the new legislation, saying it would not enforce the act in Scotland.
Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, said “the Scottish Government is vehemently opposed to this bill in its entirety”.
Writing to Kevin Hollinrake in July, the UK Government’s under secretary of state for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Gray said: “The Scottish Government is implacable in its view that this bill is unnecessary, unwanted and ineffective.
“It seeks to undermine legitimate trade union activity and does not respect the Scottish Government’s fair work principles of effective voice, fulfilment, opportunity, respect and security.
“The UK Government’s introduction of this wholly unwelcome bill is unnecessarily inflammatory and will therefore act against the interest of the public.”
The Government brought forward the new law following 18 months of strikes by hundreds of thousands of workers including nurses, teachers, junior doctors, civil servants and train drivers.
The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 means that workers in six industries will be unable to strike in certain circumstances as employers are required by law to provide a minimum service level to keep a service running.
This applies to health, education, transport and fire and rescue services, as well as border security and the decommissioning of nuclear installations and management of radioactive waste.
Unions have vowed to fight the law, under which workers could face being sacked if minimum levels of service are not maintained.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak (below) said: ”Nobody withdraws their labour lightly. It is the last resort when employers refuse to talk and refuse to compromise.
“The action taken by union members in 2023 forced bosses across the country back to the negotiating table and secured better deals.
“Unions will do everything in our power to defend that right to strike. It is a cornerstone of our democracy.
“We won’t be intimidated by this Government, and we won’t be bullied.
“The Tories’ Strikes Act is toxic, unworkable, undemocratic and likely illegal and it’s a brazen attempt to try stop working people winning better pay and conditions.
“The entire trade union movement will rally behind any worker who is sacked for exercising their right to strike.”