Striking NHS workers could be targeted as part of Rishi Sunak’s promised “tough” new measures to curb a wave of industrial action, Downing Street has suggested.
No 10 said the government had not ruled out plans to stop industrial action by nurses and ambulance workers – a significant escalation from previous threats to clamp down on striking rail workers.
However, it appears unlikely that such moves will come into force this winter to avert imminent walkouts.
Sunak promised “new, tough laws to protect people” from chaos unfurling across the public sector, given the increasing number of workers planning to stage strikes in the coming weeks.
Speaking at prime minister’s questions, he accused unions of making “unreasonable” requests for pay rises.
No 10 repeatedly refused to rule out that the promised new laws would be used to stem strikes across the NHS.
The day after it was announced that ambulance staff across most of England and Wales would strike on 21 December in a dispute over pay, Sunak’s press secretary was asked whether emergency service workers would be banned from striking.
She said: “I can’t rule anything in or out. Policy is still being developed and it would be wrong for me to comment or speculate on what that policy might be.”
Sunak’s spokesperson also said they were “not getting into what may or may not” be in future anti-strike legislation.
The Royal College of Nursing, whose members are going on strike on 15 and 20 December in parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, accused the government of playing “cheap and divisive political games” and urged ministers to focus on negotiations.
Pat Cullen, the union’s general secretary, said: “Hundreds of thousands of hard-working, decent people should not be cast aside as ‘unreasonable’ for expecting better for themselves, their families and their patients. The prime minister appears out of touch with the public if he is intent on attacking nursing staff like this.”
Labour cast doubt on the idea that the government would bring forward anti-strike laws in time to avert some of this winter’s industrial action.
A spokesperson for Keir Starmer said: “The government is not serious about avoiding these strikes. Barely a day goes by when we don’t pick up the newspaper and read that the government has briefed out a new policy that is going to get tough on this issue. It is not a serious government working in a serious way for the people of this country.”
The spokesperson could not give any concrete details on how Labour might handle the negotiations differently, however. They refused to call on the government to provide more money to departments, and would not say if the party would introduce any new legislation should they win the next election.
Labour opposes some proposed new rules, which would force public transport workers to provide set minimum levels of service. But Starmer’s spokesperson would not commit to repealing them if elected.
“The next Labour government will tackle the cost of living crisis, which is the reason these strikes are taking place,” they said.
• This article was amended on 9 December 2022 to correctly refer to ambulance workers rather than “ambulance drivers”.
