Angela Rayner accused of 'surrendering' to union paymasters after repealing strike laws
Unions have welcomed Labour's axing of anti-strike laws.
Labour is “surrendering to their union paymasters” by repealing a law aimed to ensure a minimum level of service during strikes, the Tories have warned.
The Tory government took forward the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act last year in response to the unprecedented wave of industrial action by hundreds of thousands of workers over pay, jobs and conditions.
The move sparked fury among unions, with warnings that workers faced being sacked for going on strike.
Labour promised to repeal the Act if it won the election and today confirmed it was taking action.
Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Kevin Hollinrake MP said: “By surrendering to their union paymasters, Labour are showing us who is really in charge.
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“We put the interests of the British public first through our Minimum Service Levels Act, making sure that the militant unions could not cripple the railways, schools or the NHS. But Labour are placing access to emergency care and schools staying open at risk just to appease the unions.
“Angela Rayner should be focusing on the urgent issues the country is currently facing.”
Ministers said industrial action in the NHS alone cost the taxpayer £1.7 billion last year with many other sectors also seeing costs and impacts to public services, adding that it proved “strong but fair“ negotiation was key to tackling issues between workers and employers.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds have written to the Government departments with sectors most impacted by strikes: Education, Health, Transport, the Home Office and Energy, as well as Welsh and Scottish governments, to give a “clear message” that legislation will be repealed.
They have also written to all 12 metro mayors across the country to start engaging with local employers on the change.
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Deputy Prime Minister Angela 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.
“Repealing this legislation is the first part of our plan to reset industrial relations so they are fit for a modern economy.”
