PM will ban ambulance drivers and firefighters from striking under ‘tough’ new laws
AMBULANCE drivers and firefighters will be banned from striking under “tough” new laws coming in January, The Sun can reveal.
Rishi Sunak put the unions on notice that he had a “duty to to action” after a winter of crippling industrial action.
The PM plans to put new legislation before MPs in the second week of January that will toughen up the rules around walk outs and outlaw striking for all blue light services.
Cops and prison guards are currently banned from downing tools in protest – with the other emergency services to be brought in line.
Trains and buses will have to provide a minimum service level on strike days – with ministers able to add other sectors by a flick of the pen in a massive new power grab.
Any credible pay offer made by employers will have to be put to union membership by law, and the threshold for strike votes is to be raised.
And notice of action will be upped from 14 to 28 days under the new proposed a trade union reform bill.
Speaking at PMQs yesterday, Mr Sunak warned: “If the union leaders continue to be unreasonable, then it is my duty to take action to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British public.
“That’s why, since I became PM, I have been working for new tough laws to protect people from this disruption.”
But last night the unions hit back. warning they are in for the long haul when it comes to strikes.
Unite boss Sharon Graham said: “We will not be intimidated by anti-trade union attacks. If they put more hurdles in our way, then we will jump over them.
“We are ready industrially and financially.”