The British government will negotiate wage increases in the public sector next year, in an attempt to end the announced strikes, while threatening to legislate to impose minimum services, branded by the press as “anti-strike”.
The Economy Ministry announced in a statement that it would invite union leaders to “sincere and constructive negotiations” on “fair and reasonable” salary levels in 2023-24, pledging a “spirit of cooperation.”
In parallel, he revealed that he intends to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to make it more difficult for civil servants to strike in essential services.
The executive will establish “minimum security levels” in terms of the number of firefighters, ambulance services and railways that must be maintained during a strike.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Grant Shapps, argued that the new law “will restore the balance between those who want to strike and protect the population from disproportionate disruption.”
The trade union confederation Trade Union Congress (TUC) described the initiative as “an attack on the right to strike” and warned that the measure will not help unblock the ongoing labor dispute.
“It means that when workers democratically vote to strike, they can be forced to work and fired if they don’t. That is wrong, impractical and almost certainly illegal,” said general secretary Paul Nowak.
The government has said it hopes to sit down with union leaders to discuss facts about wages and working conditions that will be submitted to the independent review bodies that regulate wages in parts of the public sector.
The announcement coincides with a strike by train drivers in the UK today, which has paralyzed much of the country’s services, followed by another 48-hour stoppage by other railway workers on Friday and Saturday.
The unions denounce, like others in the public sector, that wages have not kept pace with the growth of the cost of living, taking into account that inflation currently stands at 10.7%, driven by the high cost of energy and food.
Nurses, ambulance and bus drivers, postal workers and airport ground staff went on strike in December and teachers’ unions are currently consulting members on possible action.
Meanwhile, ambulance workers will stop again on January 11 and 23 and nurses will do the same on January 18 and 19.
Source: TSF
