Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Grant Shapps arrives in Downing Street this week. Photo: WIKTOR SZYMANOWICZ
Key British public services could be required to maintain minimum safety levels during strike action by workers, if new Tory party legislation passes.
The British Conservative government was to introduce the legislation to parliament on Tuesday (local time).
The UK has experienced a wave of industrial action as pay rises failed to keep up with double-digit inflation, now at close to 40-year highs.
Nurses, ambulance staff and rail workers were among those who staged walkouts.
Talks between government ministers and trade unions on Monday failed to produce a breakthrough to avert further planned strikes.
The government said it would consult on minimum safety levels to be set for fire, ambulance and rail services as part of the new law.
"We will never withdraw the right to strike from people but ... when there are strikes on, life and limb must come first and there has to be a minimum safety standard put in place for that," business minister Grant Shapps told GB News.
The bill could take months to become law and opponents argued it was likely to be challenged in the courts.
The opposition Labour Party said it would repeal the law if it came to power in a national election expected next year.
-Reuters
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The headline on a previous version was: British law stifling right to strike to be introduced to parliament
