- Written by Peter Coulter
- BBC News NI
Thousands of workers plan to strike across Northern Ireland on January 18th
Conservative MPs have said they believe legislation should be introduced in Northern Ireland to provide a minimum level of service during strikes.
Robert Buckland, chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, said the bill would help people in “urgent need” access services.
Labor said the introduction of this type of legislation would be an “insult to democracy”.
The law means that during strikes, “minimum services” must be provided in a number of sectors, including health care, education and transportation.
Some employees are required to work during industrial action and could be fired if they refuse.
This law does not apply to Northern Ireland.
The Chair of the Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs said: “My personal view is that a minimum level of service should be sufficient to support those most in need, whether in a health emergency or other pressing need.” “This is to ensure that people receive the services they deserve.”
“I think this is not only in the interest of the people we serve, but also in the interest of the union itself.
“It will be an empowered issue for politicians in Northern Ireland.”
Transport workers in Northern Ireland went on a four-day strike in December, bringing the transport system to a standstill and causing widespread disruption.
Unions claim this is the biggest strike in Northern Ireland’s history.
The Ministry of Health said it was extremely concerned about the impact on services, with hospitals, community care and ambulances affected, and some services suspended completely.
Carmel Gates said the union would oppose any attempt to introduce this bill.
Carmel Gates, general secretary of the Northern Ireland Public Service Union (Nipsa), said Labor would oppose the introduction of such legislation.
“Suppressing trade unions is an affront to democracy and the anti-union laws that already exist in the UK are the worst of any country in the world that calls itself a democracy,” she said.
Gates added that on the day of a strike, workers are often already providing needed services.
But she stressed that Northern Ireland’s public services were “on their knees”.
“The current wave of action by trade unions is a response to the sanctions imposed by the Conservative Secretary of State and is meant to protect public services,” she said.
“The Tories and their ilk are destroying public services because they want them to be privatized for profit.
“Strikes are becoming more common, which means services are under more attack. Rather than saying that trade unions should be restricted in their ability to strike, we are not saying that governments should We should object to the forced placement of people on picket lines.”
Unite’s deputy regional secretary Davey Thompson said the minimum service level was “the most egregious example of inadvertent legislation this country has seen in a long time”.
“They don’t work, they don’t resolve conflicts, they harden attitudes, and they’re likely to be illegal,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland office said: “Trade union relations and labor relations are devolved matters.
“Facilitating the return of the Northern Ireland Executive and a fully functioning Parliament remains a top priority for the Government so that elected officials can tackle these important issues. .”