Labour was elected with a mandate to deliver the New Deal for Working People, including removing unnecessary restrictions on trade unions and ending the Conservatives’ scorched earth approach to industrial relations. We are concerned by reports that senior Government officials have discussed banning resident doctors from taking strike action. Even considering such a proposal conflicts with Labour’s manifesto and the values of the labour movement.
The right to strike is protected by international law, and the Conservative record shows that imposing restrictions does not resolve disputes. That is why Labour repealed the Tories’ Minimum Service Levels legislation and most of the Trade Union Act, and are due to scrap the final restrictions soon.
Ministers’ failure to rule out such a move leaves it implicitly on the table. We urge the Secretary of State to make clear that any limits on the right to strike are categorically ruled out.
Labour’s affiliated unions will always stand with workers taking action to secure a fairer deal at work.