The government’s confirmation that it will repeal controversial anti-strike laws has been welcomed by a prominent union representative in Cumbria.

Labour’s repeal of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act, enacted by the previous Conservative government to ensure a minimum level of service during strikes, comes after strong and long-lasting opposition from unions that it threatened workers’ rights to strike.

The new Labour Party government has now fulfilled its election promise by repealing the act which gave employers in ambulance, fire and rescue and border services, and transport new powers to force people to work on strike days by issuing controversial 'work notices'.

“Attempt­ing to clamp down on the fun­da­mental free­dom of work­ing people has got us nowhere,” said Angela Rayner, deputy prime min­is­ter, adding that repeal­ing the law was ‘the first part of our plan to reset indus­trial rela­tions so they are fit for a mod­ern economy’.

Ministers said industrial action in the NHS alone cost the taxpayer £1.7billion last year with many other sectors also seeing costs and impacts to public services, adding that it proved ‘strong but fair’ negotiation was key to tackling issues between workers and employers.

Ms Rayner and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds wrote to government departments with sectors most impacted by strikes: Education, Health, Transport, the Home Office and Energy, and Welsh and Scottish governments, to give a ‘clear message that legislation will be repealed.

They have also written to all 12 metro mayors nationwide to start engaging with local employers on the change.

Craig Johnston, RMT Relief Regional Organiser for the North, said the initial minimum service levels were ‘unworkable’ which is why many railway employers didn’t use them.

READ MORE: RMT regional boss says rail strikes could continue until Christmas

“They were pulled together by Grant Shapps to attack trade unions in a long-running industrial dispute – on the railways that dispute could have been resolved months earlier if the government hadn’t told the train companies to keep fighting us all the time,” he said.

He said this week’s announcement is ‘very welcome’ as it brings a ‘more level playing field to industrial relations’.

He said other announcements such as removing both the three-day waiting period and the lower earnings limit for eligibility of statutory sick pay, and having the right to an employment tribunal from day one of an unfair dismissal, are ‘meaningful changes that will benefit working people’.

“That’s the reason I voted for them, that’s the reason I knocked on doors for them,” Mr Johnston added.

He said there are positive steps towards better pay and an end to the strikes.

“There’s a completely different set of conditions in the rail industry wherein the most senior Department for Transport figures are meeting with the general secretary and members of my executive to sort this issue out.”

He said this comes after a long-standing ‘battle’ with the group under the Tory government which saw aggressive counter-offers to pay demands, job cut threats, and ticket office closure proposals.

“There are disputes that could have been resolved months and months ago but the Tories decided that among numerous industries their tactic was to smash unions in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“They won’t be forgiven.”