Dear Brother / Sister
Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: latest developments
FBU members will be watching closely the developments around the anti-strike proposals in the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) bill, currently under parliamentary scrutiny. As you will see from the attached TUC report, the Westminster government suffered several defeats by amendment during debate in the House of Lords. While these defeats are welcome, the briefing makes clear that this is not the end of the matter. With a significant majority in the House of Commons, the government is likely to return to the issues on which it was defeated and seek to overturn the amendments. The FBU has been closely involved in the discussion and lobbying with the TUC, with MPs and with members of the House of Lords, to challenge this undemocratic proposed legislation.
In circular 2023HOC0169MW, we published the statement from the Executive Council calling for the building of a mass movement against this bill, including the consideration of mass non-compliance. At the recent annual congress of the Scottish Trades Union Congress in Dundee, the new first minister, Humza Yousaf, set out his opposition to the bill, saying, “Be in no doubt, the Scottish Government will never issue or enforce a single work notice, we will continue to do everything we can to oppose this disgraceful legislation.”
A ‘work notice’ is the proposed mechanism under the bill by which workers would be required to work despite a vote for a strike. So, the comments of Mr. Yousaf are very welcome. They suggest that serious opposition to this legislation (if passed) could involve workers, trade unions, governments, and employers.
As a result of this, we have written to Mr Yousaf and to Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales, seeking discussions about how such opposition might be developed. I attach the two letters. This campaign and the latest developments will be subject to discussion at our annual conference In Blackpool in May. We shall keep you informed of further developments.
Yours in Unity.
Matt Wrack
General Secretary
