Embattled Liz Truss is teeing up a fierce clash with unions with a legal bid to prevent transport services grinding to a halt.
New legislation will be tabled today to ensure "minimum service levels" on rail and buses to prevent shutdowns during industrial action.
The Prime Minister said the bill would prevent Brits from being "held to ransom by strike action" in a move that has enraged unions already gunning for the largest bout of walkouts in more than a decade.
The legislation, which would come into force in 2023, would strip unions of legal protections from damages if they fail to maintain adequate staffing levels.
It comes as the RMT rail union announced further walkouts over pay at 14 train companies next month, coinciding with separate industrial action at Network Rail, London Underground and London Overground.
Ms Truss 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."
But RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch branded the new legislation an "autocratic move from an increasingly despotic Prime Minister" and demanded the "fiercest civil resistance".
He 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 fledgling premiership.
"All democrats whether inside or outside parliament must oppose this draconian attempt to clamp down on the fundamental human right to strike."
Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef, accused the Prime Minister of failing to understand how 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."
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."
Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh 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 a 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.”
