PCS to attend special congress on campaign against the minimum service levels legislation

The meeting at Congress House in London will debate a TUC General Council statement, based on a campaign plan. The meeting will hear contributions from workers directly impacted by the government’s minimum service levels legislation, including Border Force workers.

In the king’s speech last week, the government promised to rush through anti-strike laws which would effectively criminalise strike action for thousands of our Home Office members in the Border Force and the Passport Office.

PCS is fully involved in efforts to resist and repeal this latest “blatant attack” on trade union rights meted out via the government’s new Strikes (Minimum Service Levels; MSLs) Act.

The law is an attempt to stop workers winning strikes, following 18 months of large-scale industrial unrest. It means that when workers lawfully vote to strike in certain sectors, including health, education, transport and border security, they could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they do not comply. Unions could also face substantial fines for any breaches.

At its special congress, the TUC will discuss what a legal challenge could entail, as well as options for disobedience of the law. PCS is also working closely with the FBU and RMT on ways forward. The RMT, which is likely to be an early target for the legislation, has made it clear it will not be cowed by it.

The special congress is also expected to set a date for a national demonstration. 

PCS spoke to a TUC Congress motion in September, which was carried, that called on its general council to oppose new anti-trade union legislation, campaign for the repeal of current anti-trade union legislation, campaign for any elected Labour government to repeal all anti-trade union laws within 12 months, and to devolve employment law to Scotland. The House of Lords had voted to exclude Scotland from the legislation, but were overturned by the Commons.