Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, has warned that industrial action will continue. Until May unless the union receives a realistic offer. The parties are scheduled to meet again the following week to discuss a resolution.
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged, should the Labour Party win the next general election, to abolish any new anti-strike measures imposed by Rishi Sunak.
The Prime Minister is expected to introduce laws mandating “minimum service levels” in specific industries in the coming days.
The legislation will force a certain percentage of union members to continue working to maintain a “minimum level” of service. And strikes might be declared illegal if unions fail to comply.
It is believed that the six sectors engaged are the health service, railways, education, fire services, border security, and nuclear energy.
In his first major address of the year, the Labour leader stated in Stratford: “I don’t believe this law will be effective. And I’m rather certain they’ve had an evaluation indicating as much. It is likely to exacerbate the problem.”
Sir Keir stated that his party will evaluate the government’s proposals, adding: “But if it imposes additional limits, we will abolish it.
“The reason for this is that I do not believe legislation is the method to resolve workplace problems. You must enter the room and reach a compromise.
“Thirty years and thirteen years of failure cannot be legislated away.
“As I’ve already stated, the government is omnipresent.
“Will it be repealed? Yes, we will.”
Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, added that the measures are “offensive, unserious, and impractical.”
A rail union spokesman warned earlier today that the new anti-strike laws could result in “longer conflict and a different form of action.”
As the CEO of Aslef, Mick Whelan told, “there will be a ripple effect” from any new laws implemented by ministers about strikes.
Mr. Whelan said, “We are now taking legal action against the last set of laws they enacted. And we would consider doing so in the future as well.”
And if the government gets away with what it’s doing. I believe we’ll be left with an inherently unsafe train system.
Mr. Whelan stated that the minimum strike levels that have been implemented in European nations are “unworkable”. And that it is “difficult to see” how people who can “legitimately, legally” go on strike can be prevented from engaging in industrial action.
new anti-strike rules
Mr. Whelan continued, “However, we will examine the specifics of this legislation if we are required to comply with them.”
Yesterday, the prime minister reiterated that his door is always open, adding, “You will hear more from the administration in the coming days regarding our strategy.”
And while Mr. Sunak argued that individuals should have the right to strike, he cautioned. “This must be balanced with the British public’s right to live their lives without undue disturbance. We’ve seen in recent years.”
There will be no trains in some areas of the United Kingdom. As a result of today’s fresh wave of train driver walkouts.
Although the RMT union’s 48-hour strike has ended. The Aslef union’s members are currently on strike in a long-running pay dispute.
Fifteen rail firms are participating, and it is predicted that only twenty percent of usual services will operate.
The RMT will conduct a 48-hour strike on Friday and Saturday, bringing the total number of planned strikes to five.
However, Steve Montgomery, chair of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents railway firms, told that “we’re closer to an agreement with the RMT than we’ve been in a long time.”
