Wave of strikes may be worse than misery of the winter of discontent, senior Tory warns 

Batten down the hatches: Wave of strikes may be worse than misery of the winter of discontent, senior Tory warns

  • Steve Brine chairman of the Commons health committee said these strikes are potentially ‘more concerning’
  • New anti-strike laws have made it harder to legally call strikes
  • NHS Christmas walkout on December 20 could bring the country to a standstill 
  • James Callaghan’s Labour administration was wrecked by similar action during the ‘winter of discontent’ of 1978-79

Strikes in the coming weeks could cause more chaos than the infamous ‘winter of discontent’ in the 1970s, a senior Tory MP warned yesterday.

And a co-ordinated NHS Christmas walkout on December 20 could bring the health service to a standstill, it was reported last night.

Steve Brine, chairman of the Commons health committee, said this winter’s planned action was potentially ‘more concerning’ as new anti-strike laws have made it harder to legally call strikes.

This suggested union barons were more determined than ever to shut down Britain, he said.

Steve Brine, chairman of the Commons health committee (pictured), said this winter’s planned action was potentially ‘more concerning’ as new anti-strike laws have made it harder to legally call strikes

Three unions – GMB, Unite and Unison – are discussing a co-ordinated strike date, says The Guardian, with talks between union bosses and ministers said to have taken place about how to ‘avoid loss of life’. The Royal College of Nursing has already confirmed members will strike on December 20, and on December 15

Three unions – GMB, Unite and Unison – are discussing a co-ordinated strike date, says The Guardian, with talks between union bosses and ministers said to have taken place about how to ‘avoid loss of life’. The Royal College of Nursing has already confirmed members will strike on December 20, and on December 15

Mr Brine told Sky News: ‘We keep hearing that this is a repeat of the winter of discontent of the 1970s. In some ways it is not, but in some ways actually it is possibly more concerning because of course different industrial dispute legislation since the 1970s has made it harder to reach a strike mechanism trigger ballot.

‘The fact that you have so much coordinated strike action now suggests that there is deep unhappiness with levels of pay and with some conditions within parts of the health service.’ Meanwhile, simultaneous walk-outs by nurses, ambulance drivers and hospital staff could see hospitals fight to keep even basic services running.

Three unions – GMB, Unite and Unison – are discussing a co-ordinated strike date, says The Guardian, with talks between union bosses and ministers said to have taken place about how to ‘avoid loss of life’. The Royal College of Nursing has already confirmed members will strike on December 20, and on December 15.

It came as The GMB’s Andy Prendergast warned Sky News: ‘We will be talking to other unions… we will be looking to make sure that this has the maximum impact. We will be making sure that emergencies are covered, but ultimately, the Government needs to listen.’

It has sparked fresh calls for new anti-strike laws to smash unions’ power, including bringing in minimum-service legislation – where workers are forced to ensure a certain level of services are maintained on strike days.

Tory MP and former chief secretary to the Treasury, Simon Clarke, said: ‘If the unions refuse to come to their senses, the Government should absolutely push ahead with minimum-service legislation.’

The country is braced for strikes on every day until Christmas in one sector or another. Rail workers, including Eurostar staff, nurses, ambulance staff, teachers, security guards handling cash, cleaners, porters, driving examiners, rural payments officers and civil servants are planning action that will affect every day over advent.

James Callaghan’s Labour administration was effectively wrecked by a similar wave of industrial action during the ‘winter of discontent’ of 1978-79.