Don’t threaten nurses’ right to strike, new PM warned
Liz Truss will face huge resistance if she tries to curb the right of nurses and other workers to take industrial action, says TUC leader
The leader of the TUC has warned the new prime minister she will face huge resistance if she attempts to weaken workers’ rights such as the right of nurses and others to strike.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said her union had already taken legal advice after it was reported that new Conservative Party leader Liz Truss was planning to review all rights that derive from EU law.
Ms Truss, who was formally appointed PM yesterday, has been widely condemned by unions for pledging to clamp down on industrial action.
In an interview with the Press Association news agency Ms O’Grady said the TUC was prepared to take the government to court if it made any moves to make it more difficult to strike or change legislation on working hours, sick pay, or health and safety issues.
Warning to Truss comes as nurses across the UK contemplate industrial action
She urged Ms Truss not to be a ‘P&O prime minister’, referring to outrage over the sacking of 800 workers by shipping company P&O Ferries in March without notice or consultation.
‘If this government rips up workers’ rights it will be giving a green light to P&O-style rogue employers to skimp on pay and drive down workplace conditions in every corner of the country,’ she said.
Her comments come as nurses across the UK contemplate industrial action, with the RCN set to ballot members in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland later this month.
During the Conservative leadership contest, Ms Truss promised to implement a series of policies to curb strike action, including raising ballot thresholds, introducing a cooling off period and increasing the minimum notice period from two to four weeks.
Change in regulations to allow use of agency nurses to cover for striking staff is condemned by RCN
The increased notice period would make it easier for health and care employers to use new powers to bring in agency workers to cover for nurses on strike, which are being challenged by unions.
Regulations that allow employers to use agency nurses – or bank nurses employed by external providers – to cover for striking staff were approved by MPs in July.
The RCN described the change, currently being scrutinised by the House of Lords, as ‘deeply undemocratic and unsafe’ and Unison has pledged to take the government to court unless it is reversed.
In her first speech as prime minister, Ms Truss promised to transform Britain into an ‘aspiration nation’ with three early priorities including putting the NHS on ‘front footing’.
Ms Truss said she will work to ensure people can get GP appointments and other NHS appointments when they need them. But she said nothing on her intentions to crack down on trade unions and curb strike action.
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