‘The Trades Union Congress has lodged a complaint with the UN’s labour standards body claiming the UK government flouted the watchdog’s orders over its newly enforced “undemocratic” anti-strike law.’
The Guardian, 10th September 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Businesses affected by strike action in Britain this year have an opportunity to help the government find a way to ensure services in six important areas impacting the economy continue to be delivered while such action is underway.’
OUT-LAW.com, 5th September 2023
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
‘Arbitrators’ common law duty to disclose any reason for doubts as to their impartiality could be codified under proposals from the Law Commission of England and Wales today. The recommendation is among proposed updates to the Arbitration Act 1996 which the independent reform body has published along with draft legislation.’
Law Society's Gazette, 6th September 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘On 13 July 2023, the High Court quashed the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2022, which attempted to render lawful the supply of agency workers to break a strike. In this judicial review brought by 11 trade unions, the High Court held that the government had acted unlawfully and irrationally by introducing the Regulations, by failing in its duty to consult on the Regulations, and instead relying on a 7-year old consultation (from 2015) where the majority of stakeholders had opposed earlier proposals of a similar set of legislations (§28). The Court found that the then business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng had proceeded ‘at exceptional speed’ in introducing the Regulations before the summer recess of 2022 (§175), an approach described by the Court as one which ‘frustrated the aim of informed decision-making’ (§180). Although this judgment has several interesting public law implications, specifically on the extent and nature of the government’s duty to consult, it is also significant for labour law, and was hailed by the unions as a significant victory in preserving the right to strike in the UK.’
Cloisters, July 2023
Source: www.cloisters.com
‘British employers facing industrial action have been urged to review their contingency plans after a High Court decision struck down rules allowing agency staff to perform the roles of striking workers.’
OUT-LAW.com, 28th July 2023
Source: www.pinsentmasons.com
2023 c. 37 – Illegal Migration Act 2023
2023 c. 35 – Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023
2023 c. 34 – Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023
2023 c. 39 – Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023
2023 c. 36 – Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023
2023 c. 33 – Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023
Source: www.legislation.gov.uk
‘A judge has paused a multi-million-pound student group action claim against a London university over Covid and strike disruption and encouraged parties to resolve their dispute away from court.’
Law Society's Gazette, 18th July 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Legal changes brought by the government to let agency staff fill in for striking workers have been quashed by the high court, with ministers’ approach to the policy being labelled “irrational”.’
The Guardian, 13th July 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Feminist campaign groups have raised the alarm about the government’s anti-strike bill, which will enforce minimum service levels, saying women’s rights will be disproportionately affected by the restrictions.’
The Guardian, 21st February 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘MPs have backed plans aimed at enforcing minimum service levels for some sectors during strikes.’
BBC News, 31st January 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘It seems that with each week there is news of a new sector or profession announcing a strike. Julie Bann, Christian Grierson and Beth Edwards consider fundamental employment law principles, answer FAQs and explore the practical and legal risks of strike action impacting the public sector.’
Local Government Lawyer, 13th January 2023
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
‘Business Secretary Grant Shapps has set out plans to enforce minimum service levels during strike action, including for ambulance staff, firefighters and railway workers.’
BBC News, 10th January 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The government will introduce a bill to Parliament on Tuesday which would ensure public sector services maintain minimum service levels during strike action.’
BBC News, 10th January 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, currently passing through the UK Parliament, seeks to establish minimum service levels for transport provision following widespread industrial action on the country’s railways. The UK government describes the Bill as necessary ‘to keep Britain moving during transport strikes’. While the legislation’s effectiveness has been questioned elsewhere, the Bill also raises several issues in relation to international human rights law, some of which will be the focus of this blog post.’
Oxford Human Rights Hub, 9th January 2023
Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk
‘Anti-strike legislation is expected to be brought forward later this week, as Rishi Sunak’s government scrambles to get a grip of the ongoing industrial disputes.’
The Guardian, 4th January 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Ten trade unions are taking legal action against the government’s new regulations that allow agency workers to fill in for workers on strike. ‘
Each Other, 12th October 2022
Source: eachother.org.uk
© Inner Temple Library 2023