MINISTERS will introduce minimum service levels during strikes by transport workers – as railway workers stage fresh strikes to cripple the country.
Legislation will be introduced after months of chaos with rail staff who are battling pay and conditions disputes with bosses despite the widespread disruption.
Ministers are to take on the rail unions by enforcing minimum service levels during strikes by transport workers
It comes as members of the RMT at 14 train companies will walk out on November 3 and 5 after no new offer came forward.
The union announced on Tuesday that they would strike on Network Rail on those dates and also on November 7.
RMT boss Mick Lynch yesterday accused rail negotiators of “dishonesty” that had reached a new low.
Rail strikes back in June are believed to have cost the economy £100 million, economists have estimated.
On minimum service levels, Liz Truss last night said: “Hardworking people and businesses should not be held to ransom by strike action which has repeatedly crippled our transport network this year.
“This legislation delivers on our 2019 manifesto and will not only limit the unions’ ability to paralyse our economy, but will ensure passengers across the country can rightly continue to get to work, school or hospital.”
Unions hit out at the plans saying they would be unworkable.
A motion at the Trades Union Congress passed yesterday at their rally in Brighton calling on “joint union action on the cost-of-living crisis and jobs”.
It means there could effectively be co-ordinated walk-outs and deliver the first general strike since 1926.
A spokesperson for the organisation last night said: “The TUC has always existed to help coordinate strike action between unions.
“If there is large-scale strike action over the months ahead the government only has itself to blame.
“Rather than getting around the table, it is picking a fight with unions and working people.”
