Ministers start to roll back Conservative strike restrictions

Police officers, members of the armed forces and some prison officers are banned from striking, whilst industrial action by health unions is limited by separate legislation preventing them from endangering human life.

However, the last government significantly extended anti-strike laws as it grappled with waves of industrial disputes in the wake of rising inflation.

It passed legislation enabling ministers to set minimum service levels for fire, education and transport services, as well as border security and nuclear decommissioning, in England, Scotland and Wales.

It also applied to health services, where Tory ministers argued the existing system to guarantee “life and limb” cover through individual deals with unions had only guaranteed patchy levels of service during walkouts.

Labour opposed the legislation at the time, and has promised to abolish it as part of a wider bill to boost employment rights.

The bill is set to begin its journey through Parliament by mid-October, but it could be well into next year before it becomes law.

In the meantime, ministers in affected departments have been asked to “encourage employers” to avoid imposing minimum service levels until they are formally abolished, according to a policy document.