Meeting of the Parliament 14 December 2023
Today, I seek the Parliament’s support for the Scottish Government’s continued opposition to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and any associated secondary legislation.
These are challenging times. In the aftermath of Brexit and Covid-19, and with the war in Ukraine and the cost crisis, topped off by the effects of Liz Truss’s and Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget last year, we now confront some of the most formidable economic conditions in living memory. These times call for us to share our vision of how we will face those challenges head on while providing clarity on how we will seek to build a better future.
This Government’s vision is of an economy that is fair, green and growing. It is of a country that provides a promising future for every worker, family and community, supported by a robust labour market. The Scottish Parliament is limited in what it can do, but we will continue to do all that we can to resist the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023. Today’s debate, in which we hope to secure the Parliament’s support for our position, is a testament to that.
Trade unions stand as a cornerstone of Scottish democracy. They play a pivotal role in realising our fair work ambitions as we successfully transition to net zero. Those ambitions, in turn, form the bedrock of a wellbeing economy, providing workers with better job quality, pay, economic security and work-life balance, and providing employers with an available workforce with the right skills that are aligned to the needs of businesses and our economy.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress represents about 540,000 trade unionists and members of 39 affiliated trade unions and 20 trades union councils. It can speak for the interests of female workers, black workers, young workers and those who suffer discrimination not just in the workplace but as part of civil society. It can genuinely foster an inclusive society that has wellbeing at its heart and a strong economy—a goal that I believe most members of this Parliament share. Those voices are invaluable in the development of economic and social policies.
The First Minister and I recently held the latest biannual meeting with the STUC and its affiliates, at which the issue of minimum service levels was raised. Alongside the First Minister, I made a commitment to do everything in our power to resist the implementation of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.