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‘Sacking nurses bill’ moves a step closer to becoming law

The bill, which could see nurses and other key workers sacked for failing to work during strikes, now faces scrutiny in the House of Lords
Strikers at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital in January

The bill, which could see nurses and other key workers sacked for failing to work during strikes, now faces scrutiny in the House of Lords

Strikers at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital in January
Strikers at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital in January Picture: John Houlihan

New measures to make it harder to strike are a step closer to becoming law after MPs voted through the ‘sacking nurses bill’ on its third reading in the House of Commons.

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill cleared its third reading in the Commons on 30 January with MPs voting 315 to 246 in favour, a majority of 69. It will now face scrutiny in the House of Lords later this month.

If it passes it could see striking workers sacked for failing to work during industrial action when asked by employers.

Minister could sack nurses and other key workers on a whim, says Labour

During the bill’s debate Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner branded it the ‘Conservatives sacking nurses bill’. She added: ‘The sacking key workers’ clause will give the secretary of state the power to threaten every nurse, firefighter, health worker, rail worker or paramedic with the sack on his whim.

‘These are the workers that got us through the pandemic. The workers who run towards the danger while the rest of us run away. Let’s look at what this is really all about: a government that is playing politics with key workers’ lives because they can’t stomach negotiation.’

The plans give the government power to set minimum service levels for health, fire, education, transport and other services during strikes.

The legislation does not set out what those minimum service levels should be, or what they should be based on, but will give employers the power to issue individuals with ‘work notices’ on strike days. If members breach these notices they could be dismissed or unions could be sued.

Labour tabled two amendments to the bill to preserve existing protections from unfair dismissal and provide an impact assessment on the workforce, but these were rejected.

Bill is about protecting people’s lives and livelihoods, says Shapps

Secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy Grant Shapps said the bill was about ‘protecting people’s lives and livelihoods.’

But Tory backbencher and former minister Jacob Rees Mogg said the legislation was badly written and more detail was needed on the powers the government is seeking.

It comes as thousands take to the streets across London, Preston, Birmingham, Newcastle, Cardiff and elsewhere today during the Trades Union Congress (TUC) ‘right to strike’ coordinated protests against the bill. The TUC has labelled the proposals ‘draconian’.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: ‘Instead of scheming up new ways to attack the right to strike, ministers should get pay rising across the economy – starting with a decent pay rise for public sector workers.’


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