Joint Committee scrutinizes the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill for potential human rights violations.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights began its legislative scrutiny of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill on 8 February 2023. This bill would grant the government new powers to impose minimum service levels on services such as transport, education, and the NHS, requiring employees to work during strikes to maintain those levels.

Under the proposed legislation, unions would lose statutory protections for legal claims if found failing to ensure compliance with these minimum service levels. Additionally, workers would no longer be protected from unfair dismissal if they refuse to work during strikes.

The Joint Committee will evaluate the current legal protections for striking workers, the potential human rights implications of the Bill, and whether it aligns with the European Convention on Human Rights. In particular, they will examine the balance between the rights of individuals and the needs of the community, and how the changes would affect unions’ ability to protect their members’ interests.