Unions would rally behind nurses sacked under strike law, says TUC
Posted 03 January 2024 - 09:00
Right to strike will be defended in the face of ‘toxic’ new law on enforcing minimum service levels, says TUC leader Paul Nowak
The entire trade union movement will rally behind nurses and other workers who are sacked under a ‘toxic’ new law on strikes, a union has warned.
In a New Year’s message to members, Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Paul Nowak said unions would fight the controversial Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, which allows ministers to impose minimum service levels during industrial action by nurses and those in other sectors deemed essential.
The new law means nurses and other key workers could face disciplinary action or even dismissal if they refuse to comply with a work notice while on strike. It will start in sectors including railways and the Border Force before being rolled out more widely.
Mr Nowak said unions would do ‘everything in our power’ to defend workers’ right to strike, labelling it the ‘cornerstone of our democracy’.
New law an attempt to stop working people winning better pay and conditions, says TUC’s Nowak
He added: ‘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.
‘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.’
He also suggested real wages would not recover to 2008 levels until 2028 ‘if something doesn’t change’ and called for an early general election.
It comes after RCN general secretary Pat Cullen urged nurses to push ministers in 2024 for ‘hard cash and safe staffing’ in her New Year’s message, adding that strikes by nursing staff in 2023 led to only ‘modest progress’ in pay.
Government insists the law is compatible with international obligations
The strikes law was introduced after months of industrial action by hundreds of thousands of workers, including many nurses who took to picket lines a year ago for the first time in NHS history to protest against poor pay and working conditions.
The law has faced criticism from unions and the government’s own Joint Committee on Human Rights, which said it had deep flaws. The TUC previously suggested the legislation could mean the UK is in breach of its post-Brexit trade agreement, which includes a commitment to maintain a level playing field on labour standards across the EU and UK.
But the government insisted the law is compatible with all its international obligations.
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