As Firefighter went to press, the Minimum Service Levels Bill was on its way to becoming law
Under it, “minimum service regulations” in fire and rescue, health, education, transport, nuclear decommissioning and border security will enable employers to sack union members if they do not work on strike days. Unions will have to police members’ attendance at work.
The UK already has the most restrictive anti-union laws in Europe, and the new one would be a severe blow to democratic rights. The FBU has called for a mass campaign of non-compliance and on the TUC to initiate it.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack described the Bill as a “deliberate attempt to strengthen the position of employers and severely weaken the position of workers. They are doing this for one purpose,” he said, “to drive down wages.”
He continued: “A mass movement of non-compliance can defeat this attack on working people by making the legislation unworkable.
“The TUC can lead this movement of resistance, first by calling an emergency congress, followed by a national demonstration, and a sustained campaign of non-cooperation.”
