'Draconian' | Government's anti-strike law will 'exacerbate an already ugly situation'

Proposed new laws will allow bosses of key public services to sue unions and sack employees who refuse to work, but the Government’s plan has the potential to create just as many problems as it does solutions, according to HR experts.

Downing Street has announced new legislation which, if passed in Parliament, would enforce “minimum service levels” in key public sectors, such as the emergency services and education, effectively limiting the number of workers who can be on strike.

This follows a change in the law in July 2022 which enabled businesses to provide skilled agency workers to fill staffing gaps caused by industrial action.

The plan comes in response to widespread industrial action across a range of sectors in recent months, including rail workers, teachers, barristers, ambulance workers and nurses, in response to poor pay and working conditions.