Government Moves to Repeal Minimum Service Level Legislation, Marking a New Era for Workers’ Rights in the UK

The UK government is set to roll back anti-trade union legislation as part of a broader reform of industrial relations. A key first step in this overhaul is the decision to disregard a law passed last year by the Conservative government, which aimed to enforce minimum service levels during strikes in certain sectors such as border security, ambulance services, and rail services. The legislation, criticized by many as a “pointless gimmick,” has not been used to resolve any disputes and has been deemed ineffective by Labour ministers.

Ministers are now being instructed to ignore the controversial “minimum service levels” (MSL) rules, which had the potential to severely restrict the right to strike in critical sectors. These measures are seen by Labour as inflammatory and counterproductive to effective negotiation and dispute resolution. The law will be formally repealed later this year as part of Labour’s planned legislative changes.

Labour’s new approach is intended to reset industrial relations, moving away from what the government calls a “scorched-earth” strategy that has exacerbated conflicts. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasized that the legislation had only worsened industrial relations and failed to resolve disputes. She called for a new era of collaboration between business, trade unions, and workers to drive economic growth and enhance public services.

This move follows a broader effort by Labour to address workers’ rights, including recent pay deals for junior doctors and public sector workers, aimed at fostering a more cooperative environment for resolving industrial issues.