“The labor movement will use any means necessary to defeat and repeal these malicious laws. » This Saturday, British unions promised to fight against the law now in force which establishes a minimum service in the event of a strike in certain sectors deemed vital.
Gathered for an exceptional conference organized by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which brings together dozens of trade union organizations in the United Kingdom, the leaders of these unions showed their determination to fight a “malicious, useless and inapplicable” law.
“Pay us right, treat us right, invest in our public services”
“I say to this Conservative government: if you don’t want a strike, you know what to do. Pay us well, treat us well, invest in our public services,” said Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC.
Rishi Sunak’s government announced on Friday that minimum service conditions were now in force in rail transport, border police and ambulances.
Adopted in July, the creation of a minimum service is denounced as an attack on the right to strike by the unions, while the country has experienced numerous social movements for more than a year in health, transport and even the education, for salary increases and better working conditions.
The Labor opposition will return to the law if it comes to power
“We are making the right long-term decision (…) in line with other countries, to ensure the safety of the population and continue to provide the vital public services that hard-working people need”, notably defended the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
He notably mentioned the public denunciation (“name and shame”) of companies that use the law against their striking employees, as well as “new and effective forms of collective action”.
The Labor opposition has promised to revise this law if it comes to power after the next legislative elections expected by January 2025.