The Act became law on 20 July.
Neil Todd, a partner in Thompsons Solicitors’ Trade Union Law Group, outlines its provisions
New rules give the secretary of state for business powers to introduce regulations specifying minimum service levels (MSLs) in public services including fire and rescue.
The MSLs do not have to be agreed with a trade union. The regulations have not yet been published.
What else does the Act provide?
● Fire and rescue employers will be able to serve a “work notice” on the FBU if the union has given them notice of strike action.
● In a work notice, employers can (i) identify individuals required to work on each strike day to maintain MSLs, and (ii) specify the work to be carried out by those individuals.
● Strike action will not be protected if the FBU fails to take “reasonable steps” to ensure that all its members, who are identified in the work notice, do not take part in the strike.
The government has said it will introduce a code of practice to clarify the obligations of unions under the new law, including the “reasonable steps” they must take to ensure that workers comply with a work notice.
It has also stated that there will be a public consultation on this code of practice over the summer
