I have received a number of emails from constituents regarding the ongoing rail strikes, as well as those by NHS and ambulance staff.
I have heard from many of you as to how these strikes have had a personal impact. More on the NHS and ambulance staff strikes can be read in my post here. I will, however, note here that NHS England allocated an additional £150 million to address ambulance service pressures in 2022/23 and support improvements to response times through call handler recruitment and retention.
Rail strikes started back in June over disputes between the Government and rail companies over pay, job cuts and changes to workers’ terms and conditions. The background of negotiations has been complex, but ultimately Network Rail and the Train Operating Companies have both made offers of pay increases to rail workers. Claims from the rail unions that pay is being frozen are incorrect.
The offers are a step towards the modern, reliable and resilient railway the Government wants to deliver which grows revenue and puts the industry on a sustainable financial footing. However, pay rises can only be afforded if the industry modernises and reforms its outdated working practices.
The government has proposed a new Bill, titled ‘Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill’. This Bill will introduce measures to deliver the 2019 Conservative Party Manifesto commitment to require that a minimum service operates during transport strikes. The Bill itself is a framework to establish Minimum Service Agreements for industrial action in relevant transport services in Great Britain. This Bill will not negate the responsibility employers have to their employees in negotiating with unions on the rights of workers to a fair wage and improved terms and conditions. It also outlines clear consequences should the employer and trade unions be unable to reach agreement on minimum service levels. The Bill provides a role for the independent Central Arbitration Committee to make a determination and a power for the Secretary of State to set an interim minimum service level through regulations to apply where an agreement has not been reached I hope you will agree this proposal strikes the balance between protecting our workers’ right to strike and the right of the public to travel and access public services.
