Minimum service levels during strikes

Implementation date: In stages from December 2023

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, which received Royal Assent on 20 July 2023, provides for minimum service levels to be in place during any period of industrial action in certain services, including health, fire and rescue, and transport. 

The Government has held a series of consultations on minimum levels to apply in different sectors and has published draft regulations for some sectors. 

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: Passenger Railway Services) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/1335) and The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: NHS Ambulance Services and the NHS Patient Transport Service) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/1343) came into force on 8 December 2023.

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: Border Security) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/1353) came into force on 12 December 2023.

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels: Fire and Rescue Services) (England) Regulations 2024 came into force on 21 March 2024.

It is anticipated that regulations applying to the other sectors will be introduced in stages.