The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is intended to provide powers to introduce minimum levels of service during strikes across certain key sectors. The government’s intention is to mitigate the disruption of strike action to the public and ensure their safety.
If the Bill is passed, employers covered by the new rules will be able to issue a work notice to unions setting out who is required to work during a strike. The Bill was introduced into Parliament in January 2023 by Grant Shapps and was swiftly voted through the House of Commons. The Bill is currently progressing through the House of Lords.
The six sectors which are covered by the Bill are health, education, fire and rescue, transport, border security, and nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management services. The Secretary of State can also specify in future regulations which services within these broad categories listed in the Bill could be subject to the proposed rules on retaining minimum service levels during strikes.
Importantly the Bill does not set out the minimum service levels (MSLs) as these will be set out in future “minimum service regulations”. The government has promised to consult on what the MSLs in each sector should be, but it will be able to decide unilaterally what the MSLs should be if the relevant parties do not negotiate and reach an agreement. The MSLs will then be outlined in further regulations which will require approval...
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