Wednesday 22 June 2022 10:59 PM New law to beat strike mayhem will keep the UK running with agency workers trends now
Ministers will rush forward new anti-strike laws today as militant rail unions inflict misery on millions of travellers again.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will unveil new legislation ending the ban on using agency workers to break strikes, which has been in place for almost 50 years.
Talks to end the rail strikes broke down acrimoniously last night, leaving commuters facing another day of major disruption as the RMT orders 40,000 rail workers to walk out again.
Travellers were warned they could face months of chaos on the railways after the negotiations descended into mudslinging.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps accused the RMT of lying after it claimed he had 'wrecked' negotiations by ordering Network Rail to push ahead with voluntary redundancies.
Ministers fear Britain could face a summer of strikes as unions flex their muscles in pursuit of inflation-busting pay rises.
The National Education Union yesterday warned that schools could be next in line for strike action unless ministers stump up 'inflation-plus pay increases for all teachers'.
Ministers fear Britain could face a summer of strikes as unions flex their muscles in pursuit of inflation-busting pay rises
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng (pictured) will unveil new legislation ending the ban on using agency workers to break strikes, which has been in place for almost 50 years.
Unions representing doctors, nurses, civil servants and postal workers are also threatening industrial action over pay.
Some have even demanded settlements 5 per cent above inflation – which yesterday hit 9.1 per cent.
The ban on using agency staff to fill in for striking workers has been in place since 1973, with even Margaret Thatcher baulking at its removal.
But ministers say lifting it could help 'mitigate' the impact of strikes by allowing employers to bring in trained staff to keep services running.
Mr Kwarteng told the Daily Mail: 'This week we've seen millions of people subjected to misery and disruption as the RMT decided to push ahead with one of the biggest rail walk-outs in decades.
'We cannot and will not tolerate trade unions holding the country to ransom by grinding crucial public services and businesses to a halt. By acting today and removing these 1970s-era restrictions, we're ensuring that those businesses most impacted by strike action across all sectors, not just rail, will have the freedom to fill vital roles with temporary, skilled staff.'
Labour vowed to oppose the move last night, with deputy leader Angela Rayner describing it as a 'recipe for disaster'.
Frances O'Grady, of the Trades Union Congress, also slammed the proposal as 'unworkable'.
She said: 'Bringing in less qualified agency staff to deliver important services will endanger public safety, worsen disputes and poison industrial relations.' RMT negotiators last night stormed out of talks to avert today's
