Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.2.3
Object Name
poster
Title
âThe People's Assembly. Defend the Right to Strike'
Place
UK
People
Conservative Party, People's Assembly
Events
Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023
Description
A black poster with white text which reads: âThe People's Assembly. Defend the Right to Strike. Join the People's Assembly Today'.
This poster was created by the People's Assembly, a political protest group which protested against austerity, and a number of Conservative Party policies during the 2010s and early 2020s. This poster protested the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act - legislation brought in by the Conservative government in 2023 restricting the rights of some professions to strike. This law meant that during strikes, workers in education, health care, fire and rescue, border security, transport, and nuclear decommissioning industries would have an obligation to provide a minimum level of service. This law was introduced after a series of long running disputes over pay between the government and teachers, railway workers, and health care workers. Strikes are by nature supposed to be disruptive, and curbing their effectiveness through legislation weakened the power of unions to use strikes as an effective option to resolve employment disputes.
Following the July 2024 General Election, the Labour government committed to repealing this legislation, and restoring the full right to strike to all industries.
**ON DISPLAY**
Multimedia