Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack has responded to the government moving ahead with plans to undermine transport workers’ strikes with minimum service requirements. The requirements will aim to ensure that transport services cannot be completely shut down when workers strike.
The move has implications for the wider trade union movement, with workers in other sectors including firefighters having previously been mentioned as candidates for this sort of restriction.
Legislation is to be introduced, following Prime Minister Liz Truss’s commitment to bring in such a bill within her first 30 days of Parliament sitting.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said:
“These proposals are an undemocratic attack on workers' rights. This government is trying to further weaken the ability of workers to stand up for themselves in the face of the cost of living crisis.
“We have heard a lot of empty talk about 'levelling up'. In reality, trade unions and workers' rights are a real way to level-up. But the government wants workers to shut up and tighten their belts while wages are squeezed. This in an undemocratic and unacceptable attack on workers’ rights.”
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