Received from: FBU
Merged into composite 01
Congress reiterates its opposition to the Minimum Service Levels (MSLs) legislation, which attempts to outlaw effective strike action in key unionised sectors of the workforce.
Congress deplores the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: Fire and Rescue Services) (England) Regulations 2024, which came into force on 21 March 2024.
Congress condemns these regulations, which state that fire and rescue control rooms and other firefighters must function during industrial action “as if it were a non-strike day”.
Congress further condemns these regulations, which state that 73 per cent of fire appliances usually deployable on a non-strike day must be deployable on days when industrial action is taking place.
Congress applauds the FBU’s campaign to persuade the devolved administrations, local fire authorities and the fire employers to refuse to issue work notices for MSLs.
Congress notes the Labour Party’s 2024 general election manifesto committed to implementing ‘Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay: Delivering a New Deal for Working People’ in full – introducing legislation within 100 days.
Congress further notes that Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay committed to repealing the Trade Union Act 2016, the Minimum Service Levels (Strikes) Act and other anti-union legislation.
Congress recommits to the TUC’s longstanding policy for the repeal of all anti-union laws and for positive legal rights for trade unions.
Congress demands that the new Westminster government immediately repeal MSLs, the Trade Union Act 2016 and take urgent action to remove other anti-union laws.
Fire Brigades Union
AMENDMENT
Add to final paragraph after “other anti-union laws,”:
“including closing existing legal loopholes in the TULRA 1992 (identified in Mercer v Alternative Future Group) that allow employers to punish workers for strike action with sanctions short of dismissal, which was ruled incompatible with ECHR Article 11 and creates a detriment for those taking part in strike action.”
Communication Workers Union
AMENDMENT
In the second paragraph after “21 March 2024.”, insert:
“The fourth set of regulations to come into force after the first two were introduced on 7 December 2023 which included Passenger Railway Services Regulations.”
In the fifth paragraph after “repeal MSLs.”, insert:
“Further, Congress applauds ASLEF in successfully dissuading employers from using the Act after the threat of further strike action was tabled.”
ASLEF