26 April 2023 , 16:10
582
0
Plans to change the law so public sector workers including nurses and rail workers can be sacked for going on strike could have "unintended consequences" of provoking further conflict, MPs have been told.
The Transport Select Committee questioned rail industry and union leaders about plans to legislate for minimum levels of service during rail strikes, which are currently going through Parliament.
Jamie Burles, managing director of Abellio Greater Anglia said the "overriding" objective of the industry was to avoid strikes and have good industrial relations.
He stressed the importance of having "absolute clarity" in the planned law about the requirements on employers and workers.
"If we do not have that, one of the unintended consequences would be further conflict or stress between the relationship."
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT union told the committee he believed the law would be a 'disaster'Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), told the committee he believed the law would be a "disaster."
Critical workers such as signallers and train drivers would be "conscripted" to work even if they voted legally to strike, he said.
"It will be a complete pig's ear. It is unsafe, it will not work and will not serve passengers."
Mr Lynch said the law would spark "novel" forms of industrial action as well as wildcat walkouts.
He said the government often pointed to legislation in European countries, but highlighted recent strikes in France, Italy and Sweden.
But Mr Lynch said ministers did not understand how the railways operated and were "making it up" in terms of the legislation.
Critical workers such as signallers and train drivers would be "conscripted" to work even if they voted legally to strike, MPs were told (PA)He warned that industrial relations would be "poisoned", with the prospect of large numbers of workers being sacked, with huge consequences for the rail industry.
The Strikes Bill, debated in the Lords today, could see public sector workers including nurses sacked for going on strike.
More than 100 politicians from around the world have called on the government to drop its “Sack the Nurses Bill”.
A joint statement signed by 121 politicians from 18 countries including Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain has condemned the attack on the right to strike.
Rail strikes to continue as RMT union members reject 'dreadful' pay offer
UK ministers have repeatedly named France, Italy and Spain as countries they are supposed to be emulating through the legislation.
But the joint statement – signed by politicians from these countries – dismissed the similarities. “We reject the UK government’s attempt to limit workers’ rights and its attempt to justify it with comparisons to international norms,” they wrote.
“The UK already has some of the most draconian restrictions on trade unions anywhere in the democratic world and workers in the UK are faced with disproportionate regulatory hurdles before participation in a strike can be considered legal.”
Follow Mirror Politics on , , and .