The UK government will introduce legislation on Tuesday to enforce “minimum service levels” in key sectors during strikes, according to an announcement made on Monday. This has sparked anger from unions who have criticized the plans. The new legislation, which builds upon a law passed in July, will require striking rail workers, ambulance staff, and border security staff to maintain certain levels of service. The government aims to implement these measures before the end of the year in order to mitigate disruption and ensure vital public services continue. These actions come after months of disruptive strikes across both the private and public sectors, fueled by high inflation and demands for higher wages. The government argues that the legislation brings Britain in line with other European countries and the US where public services still operate during strikes. However, unions view the imposition of minimum service levels as unworkable and a threat to the right to strike. This move is also seen as politically motivated, as the opposition Labour party, which has historical ties to trade unions, is expected to challenge the governing party in next year’s general election. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that the aim of the law is to prevent unions from disrupting Christmas for millions of people and ensure that people can travel and receive emergency care. The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which represents over 5.5 million members across 48 unions, opposed the legislation and claimed it violates international law. In September, the TUC lodged a case with the International Labour Organization (ILO) arguing that the earlier minimum service levels legislation falls short of international legal standards.