Minimum service level regulations for Border Force

The government has announced regulations to be laid in parliament to require minimum service levels for rail workers, ambulance staff and border security staff in an attempt to "mitigate disruption and ensure vital public services continue if strikes are called".

The government stated that "the minimum service levels are designed to be effective and proportionate by balancing the ability to take strike action with ensuring we can keep our borders secure, supporting people to make important journeys including accessing work, education, and healthcare, and allowing people to get the emergency care they need".

For border security, the regulations will apply to employees of Border Force and selected HM Passport Office staff where passport services are required for the purposes of national security. It will be stated that border security services should be provided at a level that means that they are no less effective than if there was not a strike.

Employers will be able to issue work notices to identify people who are reasonably required to work to ensure minimum service levels are met.

Unions will be required to take reasonable steps and ensure their members who are identified with a work notice comply and if a union fails to do this, they will lose their legal protection from damages claims.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "We are doing everything in our power to stop unions de-railing Christmas for millions of people. This legislation will ensure more people will be able to travel to see their friends and family and get the emergency care they need.

"We cannot go on relying on short term fixes - including calling on our Armed Forces or civil servants - to mitigate the disruption caused by strike action.

"That’s why we’re taking the right long-term decision to bring in minimum service levels, in line with other countries, to keep people safe and continue delivering the vital public services that hard-working people rely on."

Home secretary Suella Braverman said: "We must never allow strike action to compromise our border security or cause significant disruption to passengers and goods at our borders.

"The Armed Forces have commendably stepped up to fill vital roles during recent industrial action, but it would be irresponsible to rely on such short-term solutions to protect our national security.

"The minimum service levels announced today will ensure a fair balance between delivering the best possible service to the travelling public, maintaining a secure border and the ability of workers to strike."