Strikes Act 2023 to be repealed in upcoming Employment Rights Bill

Laws which came into force in 2023 to enforce minimum service levels during public service strikes are to be repealed in a new bill aimed at strengthening employment rights.

The Government has announced it plans to reverse the previous administration’s requirements for minimum service levels to be delivered when strike action affects public services as part of an upcoming bill. Since the laws were introduced last year, no employer has used minimum service levels to resolve strike action, with introduction of the rules having worsened tensions between government departments and unions during negotiations.

The Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds have written to the Government departments most affected by strike action in recent years, including Education, Health, Transport, the Home Office, Energy, as well as Metro Mayors and devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to set out their intention to repeal the leglislation.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

“Attempting to clamp down on the fundamental freedom of working people has got us nowhere and this was targeted at sectors who dedicate their lives to serving us all. 

“That’s why we’re scrapping this pointless law and creating a new partnership between business, trade unions and working people through our New Deal. 

“Repealing this legislation is the first part of our plan to reset industrial relations so they are fit for a modern economy.” 

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:  

“We need to get Britain’s economy moving again, deliver growth and the public services which taxpayers deserve.  

“The Strikes Act has not worked- unbelievably the UK has lost more days due to strike action than France, costing the taxpayer billions of pounds, and these divisive laws haven’t resolved a single strike since they were introduced.   

“By removing minimum service levels, we will reset industrial relations, so they are based on good faith negotiation and bargaining, ending the chaos and restoring trust in public services. This is about restoring politics as public service ensuring government acts to fix problems not cause them.”  

The formal repeal of the previous administration’s legislation will form part of the upcoming Employment Rights Bill which will be introduced within the first 100 days of the new Government. Government departments are also being asked not to use Minimum Service Level legislation in currently ongoing negotiations.