In a significant move, the Labour government has announced the formal repeal of a contentious anti-strike law that mandated a minimum level of service during industrial action, a measure unions had criticized as overly restrictive on workers’ rights.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds have communicated the decision to various government departments, especially those heavily impacted by strikes, emphasizing the clear message that the legislation will be repealed.
They have also urged metro mayors to begin engaging with local employers regarding the change.
The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act, introduced by the Conservative government last year in response to widespread industrial action over pay, jobs, and conditions, had not been used by employers or resolved any disputes.
Despite this, ministers noted that industrial action within the NHS alone had cost taxpayers £1.7 billion last year.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned that other parts of the NHS would have to “pick up the pieces” following future strikes, as the British Medical Association suggested collective action could last for “months.”
Most senior union figures have welcomed the repeal of the minimum service law. One source expressed relief that, for the first time in 15 years, a government was not attacking unions.
However, some are cautiously waiting to see if the government will fulfill its pledge to overhaul workers’ rights within its first 100 days in power. Union leaders hope this will include bans on zero-hour contracts and fire-and-rehire practices.
Prof Nicola Ranger, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, stressed that “the government must soon go the whole way and remove the remaining anti-union legislation and continue on this mature approach to relations with public sector workers and their representatives.”
Government Embraces New Approach to Industrial Relations
Senior union figures, including TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary Matt Wrack, GMB National Secretary Rachel Harrison, Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis, and Paul Whiteman of the National Association of Head Teachers, quickly praised the news.
This commitment to repeal the law was part of Keir Starmer’s first King’s Speech. Unite remained silent, having criticized the government’s workers’ rights package before the general election.
Nowak stated, “Public services work best when governments listen to and engage constructively with their workforces.”
“Strikes are resolved around the table – not through legislating away dissent. But the Tories insisted on railroading minimum service levels through parliament to score headlines and look tough to backbenchers.”
Paul Nowak
Unison’s General Secretary Christina McAnea condemned the law, saying, “This was a terrible law. It’s great the government is ditching it so early on. Good riddance to a bad law. This legislation should have never reached the statute book. No one wanted minimum service levels, only a spiteful government watching power drain away and desperate to shore up its rapidly disappearing support.”
This repeal is part of a broader reset of industrial relations in Britain. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also attempted to end the dispute with junior doctors by offering a 22.3% wage increase over two years.
Junior doctors’ leaders in England have agreed to the deal, which is now being presented to their members.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has also provided public sector workers with an above-inflation pay increase, following recommendations from independent pay review bodies.
“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.’”
Rachel Reeves
Reynolds added, “By removing minimum service levels, we will reset industrial relations, so they are based on good faith negotiation and bargaining, ending the chaos and restoring trust in public services. This is about restoring politics as public service ensuring government acts to fix problems, not cause them.”
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