Ministers have approved controversial plans to allow agency workers to replace striking workers, with regulations voting Monday night by 289 votes in favor and 202.
While business minister Jane Hunt said the change, which was accelerated as a result of ongoing rail strikes, was necessary to remove the “outdated general ban” on using agency workers to cover official industrial action, critics say the measure is similar. to a “ladder chart.”
Hunt told the Commons: “Some unions seem to us to be looking to create maximum disruption to stay relevant rather than seek constructive agreement with employers and avoid conflict.”
The TUC had urged MPs to vote against the “pernicious anti-union measures”, which were deplored as “anti-business and anti-worker” by Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner.
“They will put public safety at risk, break workers’ rights and encourage worst practices. And above all, they will not prevent strikes, they will provoke them,” Rayner said.
Hunt denied security concerns and said those changes will not affect the right to strike.
Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke voted against the plans, arguing they diminish the expected impact of industrial action.
“If people lose their ability to have an effect when they retire from work, then I fear they have effectively lost the ability to withdraw their job,” said Elmet and Rothwell MP.
This was the first time Shelbrooke had voted against the government since his 2010 election.
Labor MP Ian Byrne said the government should vote to protect workers’ rights, instead of introducing a “rubbish letter for bad employers”.
This change comes hours after a new strike was confirmed, this time involving drivers from eight train companies preparing to get out of pay.
While agency workers can now replace strikers, there are still questions about the number of spare teachers, nurses and train drivers who can step in as replacements.
With the National Education Union and NASUWT threatening a strike during the fall term, Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis offered to return to the classroom if those threats materialized.
Separately, a labor motion to overturn regulations to increase the level of damages a court can award in the event of an illegal strike action was defeated by 290 votes in favor and 201.