A
consultation


has
started
on
the
government’s
controversial
proposals
to
make
minimum
service
levels
a
legal
requirement
during
industrial
disputes
affecting
railways.

The
idea
is
being
opposed
by
rail
unions,
who
have
condemned
plans
to
restrict
the
ability
to
stage
a
strike. 

When
the Strikes
(Minimum
Service
Levels)
Bill was
unveiled
last
month,
RMT
general
secretary
Mick
Lynch
had
said:
‘This
is
an
attack
on
human
rights
and
civil
liberties
which
we
will
oppose
in
the
courts,
Parliament
and
the
workplace.
One
of
the
most
important
things
in
any
democratic
society
is
to
have
free
trade
unions.’

However,
in
a
Commons
statement
yesterday,
rail
minister
Huw
Merriman
said:
‘Passengers,
through
no
fault
of
their
own,
have
been
subject
to
severe
disruption
on
the
railways
due
to
sustained
industrial
action.
This
has
had
a
nationwide
impact.
It
has
stopped
key
workers
getting
to
work,
children
going
to
school,
and
restricted
people’s
access
to
essential
services
such
as
hospital
care.

‘The
government
recognises
the
importance
of
workers’
ability
to
take
strike
action,
and
this
will
be
protected.’

The
Department
for
Transport
said
it
is
seeking
views
from
the
‘public,
rail
sector,
trade
unions
and
wider
industries’
on
how
minimum
service
levels
might
apply
to
passenger
railways
to
reduce
disruption
caused
by
strikes.

The
consultation
will
run
until
15
May.