Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill — 16 Jan 2023 at 21:48

“fundamental and hard-won rights are being systematically dismantled”

“is not a solution to dealing with the industrial action we see at the moment.”

“numbers of staff taking action short of striking”

“promote more industrial action than they mitigate.”

“safety of individuals or their health is at stake”.

“a supercharged Henry VIII clause.”

“The UK already has among the most draconian restrictions on the right to strike in Europe, and the UK government’s plans would push it even further away from normal, democratic practice across Europe”.

“very serious legal question marks”,

“very supportive of a minimum service level”.-[Official Report, 12 January 2023; Vol. 725, c. 372WH.]

“In the case of other key public services, important factors exist to mitigate the impacts of industrial action”.

“The Government should be finding ways to help striking workers, rather than remove their right to strike! Right now, refusing to negotiate with workers is the last thing our country needs.”

“recourse might be had to negotiated minimum standards for these sectors as appropriate”.

“These examples illustrate the wide diversity of approach that ILO member states have adopted to address the challenges posed by industrial disputes in essential services”.

“supported by the ILO’s supervisory organs, exist to manage the balancing act between these necessary restrictions and the individual worker’s fundamental labour rights”.

“seeks to appropriately balance and protect the right to strike and the rights of others to get to work or school and access necessary healthcare.”

“amend, repeal or revoke provision made by or under primary legislation”

“A substantial groundswell of concern is developing about the shift in power from Parliament to ministers.”

“No court shall…compel an employee to do any work or attend at any place for the doing of any work.”

“protect and promote social dialogue on labour matters among workers and employers.”

“ability to withdraw their labour”.-[Official Report, 10 January 2023; Vol. 725, c. 432.]

“The trade unions are a long-established and essential part of our national life. We take our stand by these pillars of our British society as it has gradually developed and evolved itself, of the right of individual labouring men to adjust their wages and conditions by collective bargaining, including the right to strike.”

“In 2022, we saw the most significant assault on human rights protections… in decades”.

“fundamental and hard-won rights are being systematically dismantled.”

“the protection…to trade unions and employees in respect of strikes”.

“Power of Secretary of State to specify minimum service levels”.

“identify the persons required to work during the strike and…specify the work required to be carried out”.

“The introduction of minimum safety levels does not comply with the United Kingdom’s legal obligations under Convention No. 87 of the International Labour Organisation on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, and Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

“to mitigate the impacts of industrial action in those sectors on wider society.”

“introducing this legislation to ensure that striking workers don’t put the public’s lives at risk.”

“latest attack on the right to strike”,

“It is a fundamental attack on freedoms, and as Welsh Government we will give it no credence or support”.

Debate in Parliament |