A 'right to strike' protest will be held in Blackburn town centre in response to proposed legislation which looks to curtail industrial action.

Blackburn and District Trades Union Council is organising the demonstration at 12.30pm outside the town hall on Wednesday, February 1, the same day National Education Union members walk out over pay and conditions.

Speakers will include CWU Regional Secretary Carl Webb, Jenny Pollard from PCS and Andrew Pratt from the NEU.

Organisers say the Government is 'proposing legislation to undermine the impact of strikes in some sectors' and 'pass a law that will allow employers to dictate to individuals that they must work even when they are in dispute'.

Blackburn and District Trades Union Council President, Vikki Dugdale, said: “The timing and scope of this muddled idea shows it is really just a reaction to the current cost-of-living strikes by a Government that thinks it can solve anything by giving itself new powers.

"Strikes in transport and education can be inconvenient, but there are really no public safety issues at stake.

"Where public safety might be at risk, British trade unions have always provided emergency cover during industrial action – and they are the best people to do this, having an interest and investment in making that cover effective.

“We are workers, not conscripts or slaves. This is an affront to liberty and democracy, and nothing more than a blatant attempt to use the power of the state to frustrate workers' efforts simply not to continue getting poorer."

The Government says the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill would allow government to set minimum levels of service which must be met during strikes to ensure the safety of the public and their access to public services.

It added the bill would ensure crucial public services such as rail, ambulances, and fire services maintain a minimum service during industrial action, reducing risk to life and ensuring the public can still get to work.

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: "The first job of any government is to keep the public safe. 

"While we absolutely believe in the ability to strike, we are duty-bound to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British people.

"I am introducing a bill that will give government the power to ensure that vital public services will have to maintain a basic function, by delivering minimum safety levels ensuring that lives and livelihoods are not lost.

"We do not want to have to use this legislation unless we have to, but we must ensure the safety of the British public."