Introducing legal guidelines to ban emergency service employees from happening strike could be “the wrong solution to a very serious problem”, says Labour’s Rachel Reeves.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has not dominated out bringing within the laws, having warned he was engaged on “new tough laws” to deal with disruption amid a winter of business motion.
But the shadow chancellor pointed to remarks by transport secretary Mark Harper that any legislation would not be in place in time to curb walkouts over the approaching weeks, nor take care of “the underlying issues” for public sector employees.
Politics dwell: Ministers have ‘torpedoed’ strike talks
Ms Reeves advised Sky News: “This is the mistaken answer to a really major problem.
“Instead of trying to stop industrial action through legislation, the government should be trying to resolve these issues that are causing key workers to take this action in the first place.”
Asked what Labour would do in regards to the strike motion that’s dominating the times and weeks forward, the shadow chancellor insisted her get together would have “a different approach”.
But she pointed to the larger image of the financial system, saying they might “invest in public services”.
Ms Reeves added: “We did not have this form of industrial motion beneath the final Labour authorities as a result of the final Labour authorities handled key employees with the respect and the dignity that they deserved and acquired around the desk and negotiated.
“That’s what we need to see from this government and the sooner that happens, the better for the people who work in those services, the people who rely on those services and, of course, the small businesses who rely on the trains to get them there.”
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‘Looking for scapegoats’
Earlier, shadow well being secretary Wes Streeting stated he thought ministers had “deliberately spoilt for a fight” with well being employees taking strike motion, saying at an Institute for Public Policy Research occasion the federal government “don’t have a plan for the NHS this winter”.
He added: “I think they are looking for scapegoats, and I think they are choosing nurses and paramedics. I think it is dangerous, irresponsible and I think it will backfire on the government.”
Mr Streeting appeared to go additional than his colleague when it got here to what Labour would do to finish the economic motion, hinting they might be prepared to lift the pay provides on the desk.
“We have got inflation running at record levels and there are cost of living pressures, particularly among lower paid staff,” he stated, “and I think it is potentially self-defeating for ministers to rule out discussions and negotiations around certain issues before talks have even begun.
“I recognize the strain the general public funds are beneath, I recognize the federal government is now dealing with motion on just about each entrance, however we’ve got acquired to see, notably, pay within the NHS and social care, as retention points as a lot as anything.
“And when we are losing staff not just from social care, but from the NHS to other employers because of pay, I think the government should be sensitive to that and be willing to talk.”
The shadow well being secretary did say Labour would not be capable to match what nurses have been demanding on pay – inflation plus 5% – including: “We are not making promises we can’t keep.
“But we might be prepared to speak and negotiate and I believe that is the least the federal government ought to do.”
Source: information.sky.com”