I will give more details later, but we will look at all the modernizations that are needed, Transport Minister Grant Shapps said in an interview with the Sunday edition of The Telegrpah newspaper.

The Right to Strike Act, which prevents the hiring of temps to fill in for unemployed workers was passed in Tony Blair’s Labour government (1997-2007), but as early as 2015, the Conservatives announced they would reject “absurd restrictions” that prohibit employers from seeking substitutes to maintain essential services.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union announced that it will paralyze the national train service starting next week, unless the employers agree to its demand to bring wages in line with the cost of living, and guarantee job security and an end to forced layoffs.

If no agreement is reached, some 50,000 railroad employees would be absent from their jobs on June 21, 23 and 25, and subway employees would join the protest on the first of those three days.

Shapps assured, however, that the sector’s workers are led by ‘Marxist’ leaders who seek to turn the protest into a confrontation with the Conservative government.

These strikes are too premature, and we will resort to any means available to ensure the protection of the public in the future, the official stressed, who accused the union leaders of seeking to blackmail the country.

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