Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones has welcomed the Government’s new legislation on industrial action.
Under the new laws, Ministers will have the power to set minimum safety levels for fire, ambulance and rail services, which will apply to England, Wales and Scotland. It will ensure that a basic level of service continues to operate during strikes including ambulance provision, emergency surgery and skeleton transport service to enable people get to work.
The new laws are consistent with other European countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Germany. They follow the guidance set by the International Labour Organisation who say that minimum service levels are a proportionate way of balancing the right to strike with the need to protect the wider public. The Government easily won the vote in the House of Commons despite Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs voting against it.
Speaking after voting for the legislation, Ms Jones said: “The right to strike remains enshrined in law and is crucial to democracy, it is not going anywhere. But it is just simply is not right that strikes risk people’s lives and or cause financial hardship. The Minimum Service Level is an issue of safety not an attack on workers’ rights. No one is talking about sacking anyone, simply that unions must ensure that the basic rights we all pay for are delivered.
“The Labour Party will only ever dance to the Unions tune. While protecting the right to strike, I am determined that my constituents will be able to get to work or receive the emergency medical care they need even during industrial relations.”
This legislation will not affect the ongoing disputes between the Welsh and UK Governments. Nurses, teachers and transport staff across England and Wales continue to work with the Government to try to reach an agreement.