The UK government said on Monday that legislation to enforce “minimum service levels” in key sectors during strikes will be unveiled in parliament on Tuesday, angering unions who have repeatedly criticised the plans.
The new legislation, which builds on a minimum service law passed in July, will require striking rail workers, ambulance staff and border control staff to maintain certain levels of service.
The measures, which are expected to come into force before the end of the year, are aimed at “mitigating disruption and ensuring vital public services continue”, the government said.
The move follows months of disruptive walkouts across the private and public sectors as decades of high inflation have contributed to the worst cost of living crisis in a generation and demands for hefty pay rises.
The government insists the “effective and proportionate” legislation brings Britain in line with European countries and the US, where it says “public services reliably continue during strikes”.
But the move has drawn the ire of trade unions, who claim the imposition of minimum service levels is unworkable and a threat to the right to strike.
The latest legislation, which comes ahead of an expected general election next year, is also seen as politicised and designed to draw dividing lines with the main opposition Labour Party.
The centre-left party, which has been well ahead in the polls for more than a year, has deep historical links with Britain’s trade union movement and still receives substantial donations from several unions.
In a statement announcing the law, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was part of an effort to “stop unions ruining Christmas for millions of people”.
“This legislation will ensure that more people are able to travel to see their friends and family and receive the emergency care they need,” he added.
“We can no longer rely on short-term fixes – including calling up our armed forces or civil servants – to mitigate the disruption caused by strike action.”
But Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC – an umbrella group for 48 unions with more than 5.5 million members), said “these anti-strike laws won’t work”.
“Instead of working constructively with unions, they attack the right to strike and punish emergency workers and rail staff for daring to stand up for decent pay and better services,” he added.
“These new laws are unworkable, undemocratic and almost certainly in breach of international law.”
The TUC said in September that it had lodged a complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) over the minimum service legislation already passed, arguing that it “falls far short” of international legal standards.