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Introduction of the 40% Support Threshold for Industrial Action Affecting Important Public Services - What are your views?

on Friday, 31 July 2015.

The Government intends to make it law that workers involved in providing important public services may only take part in official industrial action if:

  • at least 50% of those entitled to vote in the ballot turn out to vote and then
  • at least 40% of those entitled to vote support the industrial action proposed by voting in favour

The 40% threshold will apply to the following sectors: fire, health, education, transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning.

The purpose of the consultation is to determine which roles within these sectors should be classed as performing an important public service. The Government intends this to be focused on the roles which are the most important in avoiding the adverse social, safety and economic impacts that strike action in these public services can create.

These adverse impacts could include closures to schools and A&E departments, travel disruption, significantly reduced emergency response times for ambulance and fire services and a cessation in energy supply.

The consultation document contains a list of proposed occupations which would be caught by the 40% important public services threshold.

What are your views?

Do you think that this list contains all of the occupations key to avoiding the adverse impacts potentially created by industrial action? Are there occupations that should be removed or added? Let us know your thoughts.


We will be participating in the above consultation which closes on 9 September, so if you any strong views, please contact Jo Oliver in our Employment Law team on 0117 314 5361 by Friday 7 August 2015.