Find out how the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act, also known as the Right to Strike Act, may affect you and what action you can take
Please note: This page was written prior to the 2024 General Election. The Labour government has since committed to remove unnecessary restrictions on trade union activity as part of their Employment Rights Bill.
The Conservative government rapidly pushed through the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act, otherwise known as the ‘Right to Strike’ Act, in 2023.
This will mean that when workers lawfully vote to strike in health, education, fire, transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning, they could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t comply. This undemocratic new law could curtail the right to strike for one in five workers.
Regulations can be introduced to specify the minimum service level that applies to the services within any of the key sectors outlined above.
Once regulations are in place, employers that provide the services set out in the regulations can issue a work notice to specify the workforce required and the work to be done to secure the minimum service level.
If a person specified in the work notice took strike action, they could lose their protection from auto unfair dismissal.