Posted 09 June 2023 - 15:00
Posted 09 June 2023 - 15:00
News
Lords vote to protect nurses’ jobs from ‘bad’ anti-strikes bill
The House of Lords voted in an amendment to the government’s strikes bill restoring nurses’ right to strike without fear of being sacked or disciplined
The House of Lords voted in an amendment to the government’s strikes bill restoring nurses’ right to strike without fear of being sacked or disciplined
The government faces further blows to its controversial strike laws after the House of Lords voted once again to protect striking nurses from being sacked.
House of Lords votes to amend bill that would introduce minimum service levels on strike days
Voting to amend the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill to restore measures that would protect workers from disciplinary action if they breach working orders by their employers, peers accused ministers of ‘sweeping the sacking issue under the carpet’.
Peers also voted to compel the government to consult further and conduct an impact assessment on the changes during a debate in the House of Lords on 8 June.
If it becomes law, the bill would allow ministers to impose minimum levels of service during industrial action by nurses, doctors, ambulance staff, firefighters, railway workers and those in other sectors deemed ‘essential’.
Labour’s Baroness Frances O’Grady, a former TUC general secretary, said: ‘Ministers are trying to sweep the issue of sacking under the carpet. This amendment seeks to uphold a principle long-established in British law that workers on strike are protected against the sack.
‘Remember this legislation would unilaterally change the employment contracts potentially of millions of people and all through secondary legislation with no proper parliamentary scrutiny.’
Baroness O’Grady added that Labour is ‘100% committed to repealing this bad bill’ if the party takes office at the next election.
‘Vague’ bill would put ‘huge burdens on unions and employers,’ says Lord Collins
The Lords voted 180 to 150 – a majority of 30 – in favour of an amendment seeking to ensure workers cannot be sacked if they fail to comply with a work notice on strike days.
Peers voted 182 to 150 – a majority of 32 – in favour of measures which would only allow minimum service regulations to be introduced once ministers have met a series of conditions, including conducting an impact assessment and holding further consultations.
Introducing his amendment to restore protections for trade unions, Lord Collins, a former Labour MP and trade unionist told the chamber that the legislation was vague and its lack of details put ‘huge burdens on both unions and employers’.
He said: ‘What this bill does is undermine cooperation and voluntary agreements. The fact is this bill will place trade unions in the unacceptable position of having to ensure they ask members who vote for industrial action do not take part in that action. It is a complete contradiction of their roles.’
TUC prepared to fight the legislation
The TUC has vowed to campaign against the legislation and is expected to mount a legal challenge.
Meanwhile, government minister Lord Callanan rejected the concerns as ‘a ridiculous exaggeration’.
The bill will return to the Commons at a later stage for further consideration.
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