Battle expected over ‘significant’ new legislation in wake of election victory
The UK’s strike laws are set for the biggest shake-up since the Thatcher government in the wake of the Conservatives’ unexpected majority victory – and that sets the stall for a fresh battle with trade unions.
Newly appointed business minister Sajid Javid was quick to confirm there would be “significant changes” to strike laws covering staff who deliver essential services.
The proposed changes will require 40 per cent of eligible union members to vote for industrial action, with a minimum 50 per cent turnout, for it to be valid. The government also plans to lift restrictions on employers using agency workers to replace strikers.
“The changes that we want to make to strike laws are proportionate, they’re sensible. If you look at other countries and what they’ve done they’re not too dissimilar,” Javid said.
However, unions reacted with horror, with TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady warning the proposals would make legal strikes “close to impossible”.
Chris Mordue, employment partner at Pinsent Masons, says: “Unions have been preparing for these changes for some time. A key part of their plan has been to seek to use the Human Rights Act (HRA) to strike down any legislation. But that sort of challenge may be closed if the new government also moves quickly to abolish the HRA.”