Rishi Sunak invites all union leaders for crunch talks on strikes on Monday

The Government has invited “all union leaders” in for crunch strike talks on Monday next week, Rishi Sunak has announced. 

Speaking during a visit to a school in south west London this morning, the Prime Minister said he is hoping there will be a “grown up conversation” about how ongoing disputes over pay can be resolved. 

He said: “With regard to strikes, yesterday the Government wrote to all union leaders, inviting them in for talks on Monday. 

“We incredibly value the important work that our public sector workers do, especially our nurses, and we want to have an honest, grown up conversation about what is affordable, what is responsible for the country. 

“Those invitations have gone out and I am hopeful that those meetings can happen on Monday so we can have a productive conversation and find a way through this.”

The invitation comes after the Government yesterday confirmed the details of its new anti-strike laws. Under the “minimum service levels” blueprint, employers would be able to enforce a basic degree of coverage in key public sectors during strike action and dismiss staff who refuse to turn up to work when ordered to. 

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