Tuesday 19 September 2017

UK ‘needs to protect against strikes on vital services’

The UK Government should consider amending trade union laws to protect the public from strikes on essential services, such as those provided by the energy sector.

That's according to Nicholas Finney OBE, Commissioner for the Independent Transport Commission, who says the most vulnerable are the most badly affected by strike action as they are less likely to be able to afford alternative solutions.

He warns failure to protect the general public from the social and economic damage this can cause could lead to calls for essential service strikes to be banned.

He suggests a number of changes should be implemented, including allowing agency workers to be used as a last resort, improving the channels of communication between all parties and stepping up the level of financial penalties for unlawful action.