Joanne Leach, Senior Associate in the Employment team, comments on the news that the UK government will repeal controversial laws enforcing minimum service levels during industrial action, in City A.M.

Joanne’s comments were published in City A.M., 7 August 2024, and can be found here.

“With the proposed plans to ignore minimum services levels legislation, the government can secure an easy early win in terms of following through on the employment commitments of their election manifesto.

“Repealing this controversial and ineffective legislation, which had already been subject to challenge via judicial review, will take up minimal legislative time in contrast to the scrutiny that will inevitably be required of the implementation of the rest of its New Deal for Working People. A direction to ignore its provisions in advance of that repeal will effect an even more immediate impact – the strengthening of the fundamental right of any worker to withdraw their services to protect their contractual terms.”

If you would like further advice on these legislative changes and the impact they may have on you, please contact a member of the Employment team.