At its 6 December, Sheffield City Council passed a resolution opposing the Tories’ new Minimum Service Levels Act.
Sheffield joins other Labour-led local authorities, including Islington, in publicly opposing the law. None, however, have so far gone as far as the Scottish Government and made an explicit commitment not to issue work notices.
The text of Sheffield’s resolution is below, and online here (pp10-11).
That this Council:-
(a) notes:-
(i) the right to strike is a fundamental British freedom which is protected by international law; this can be seen in the Human Rights Act, Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 87 and Article 6(4) of the European Social Charter;
(ii) the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 sets out that when employees in relevant sectors democratically vote to strike they can be required to work and sacked if they don’t comply;
(iii) the Joint Committee on Human Rights has expressed concern that this legislation is not compatible with the UK’s commitments to human rights for workers and trade union members; and
(iv) the Regulatory Policy Committee has determined that the impact assessment for this Bill was ‘not fit for purpose’;
(b) believes:-
(i) the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 is a direct attack on the right to strike fundamental freedom;
(ii) that consecutive Conservative Governments have been carrying out brutal attacks on trade unions for decades, culminating with this most recent attack on the right to strike;
(iii) that this Government, instead of tackling the causes of the cost-of-living crisis, are attempting to cut through the recent wave of strikes by trying to shift the blame from profiteering bosses who have manufactured unsustainable levels of inflation, on to ordinary workers who are exercising their right to fight for dignity and fair pay at work and in their lives;
(iv) the regime initiated by the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 is draconian, unnecessary and unworkable;
(v) the Act undermines constructive industrial relations and is likely to inflame and prolong disputes; and
(vi) that this Act is a direct attack on the freedoms of the ordinary, hardworking residents of our city; and
(c) resolves:-
(i) to ask the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to consider how the Council will, if it can use provisions in the Act, continue to protect the rights of its workers to strike and how it should be reflected in our policies, such as the ethical procurement policy;
(ii) to raise these concerns with all relevant bodies – including the Fire and Rescue Authority, Health boards, and any other relevant bodies with employee status;
(iii) to work with local unions and our trades council to oppose this legislation together as effectively as possible; and
(iv) to write to the Rt. Hon. Sir Keir Starmer and demand he pledges an incoming Labour government to reverse fines and other measures taken against any union under the terms of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.
Free Our Unions 