Berwick MP and Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan's plan to minimise the impact of train strikes has been criticised as 'unworkable' by trade unions.
Before her resignation, former Prime Minister Liz Truss announced the Government is pressing ahead with the new law to introduce minimum service levels during strikes.
Under the proposed law, a certain amount of train services would have to run during strike periods and a number of 'specified' staff would have to work. If unions flouted the law and allowed those specified staff to strike, they could lose their legal protection from sanctions like automatic dismissal.
The Government said economists have assessed that the first wave of rail strikes in June cost the UK economy nearly £100 million.
Read more: Three more days of train strikes planned for November
The former Prime Minister said: “Hardworking people and businesses should not be held to ransom by strike action which has repeatedly crippled our transport network this year.
“This legislation delivers on our 2019 manifesto and will not only limit the unions’ ability to paralyse our economy, but will ensure passengers across the country can rightly continue to get to work, school or hospital.”
Berwick MP Ms Trevelyan said: “Strikes have affected nearly all of us over this last year – whether that means losing out on a day’s pay at work, having to close your business, missing vital medical appointments or stopping our children from getting to school.
“It is vital that public transport users have some continuity of service to keep Britain moving and growing. This legislation will give everyone the certainty they need to carry on with their daily lives.”
The Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill will go through its first reading today. The leglislation could be in force next year.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef, said the Prime Minister doesn’t understand the way the railway works.
“The train companies don’t want to run minimum service levels because they know it’s a stupid idea. What happens when 100% of passengers try to get on 40% minimum service level trains?
“It will look like Japan where they cram people in like cattle, and the rolling stock will, next day, be in the wrong place, which will mess up the normal timetable.
“The government claims that similar legislation exists in other European countries, such as Germany, France, and Spain. Yes, it does, but what the government doesn’t know – or doesn’t choose to say – is that it is not enforced. Because they know it doesn’t work.
“The lack of full establishments – most of the companies don’t have enough drivers to run the services they promise passengers they will provide – will be another problem.”
Mr Whelan said he believed the legislation would lead to industrial strife lasting longer.
Rail, Maritime and Transport union general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This cynical piece of legislation outlaws effective legal industrial action on our railways.
“It is an autocratic move from an increasingly despotic Prime Minister trying to cling on to her fledging premiership.
“All democrats whether inside or outside parliament must oppose this draconian attempt to clamp down on the fundamental human right to strike.
“RMT and the entire trade union movement will not accept unjust anti union laws and I call upon all workers in Britain to mount the fiercest civil resistance possible, in the proud traditions of the chartists and suffragettes.”
Louise Haigh, shadow transport secretary, said: “This Prime Minister crashed the economy and hiked up mortgage rates for millions of working people, and now she is attempting to undermine their right to negotiate better pay and conditions.
“These unworkable plans are desperate attempt from the Tories to distract from the chaos engulfing their government.”
“Instead of attacking working people, ministers should finally do the job of a responsible government, get around the table and find a resolution to this dispute.”
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “These proposals will undermine the right to strike.
“This is a naked attempt to stop transport workers taking action for better pay and conditions.
“These changes are unfair, unworkable and incompatible with our international commitments.
“This is no more than a lame duck Prime Minister lashing out at working people and their unions.
“Trade unions will oppose these proposals every step of the way.”
Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said: “The Tories are reverting to type with this new legislation.
“Now they have sunk the economy and lost control of inflation, they have decided that their top priority is to kamikaze workers’ rights as well.
“This is an outright attack on working people who are organising against the loss of purchasing power engineered by the Tories in the first place.
“We will fight tooth and nail any attempt to stop our members from exercising their human rights.
“The difference between a slave and a worker is the ability of the latter to withdraw their labour.”
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