Theresa May tells unions to 'think again' over illegal strike action against public sector pay limits

Unite boss prepared to break 'artificial threshold' requiring industrial action is approved by ballot of 50 per cent of members

Trade unions have repeatedly condemned law changes requiring the 50 per cent turnout, which has been seen by some as an ideological attack on the movement (Getty)

Trade union leaders planning illegal strikes in protest at public sector pay curbs should “think again” about the harm caused to the public, Theresa May said.

However, the Prime Minister stopped short of any fresh legislative clampdown to try to head off the threat of industrial action.

Leaders of three trade unions have raised the threat of illegal strike action, amid anger that pay rises are likely to remain below the rate of inflation – even after the 1 per cent cap is lifted.

Unite boss Len McCluskey said he would be prepared to break the “artificial threshold” requiring industrial action to be approved by a ballot of 50 per cent of members.

His call was echoed by Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) chief Mark Serwotka and Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary, who both said they would consider defying the rules.

Trade unions have repeatedly condemned law changes requiring the 50 per cent turnout, which has been seen by some as an ideological attack on the movement.

At last week’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) annual conference, around 50 unions backed a motion calling for a campaign of coordinated industrial action unless the cap is fully lifted.

Asked about the comments, Ms May told reporters: “I am concerned about this and I think, frankly, that those unions need to think again.

“They need to think again not only because if strikes are illegal then they are illegal and they shouldn’t be undertaking them.

“But also I’m concerned about the impact that such illegal strikes will have on members of the public.

“It's members of the public who will be prevented from getting into work and will be prevented from getting access public services like schools and hospitals.”

“It’s the people who suffer from strikes and illegal strikes, by the definition of being illegal, should not be held.”

Several unions are already balloting their members for strike action, including PCS, the largest civil servants union, and the Prison Officers Association, which will ask its control room staff to vote on industrial action.

The Government has announced that “flexibility” will replace the seven-year limit of 1 per cent rises from April, but has not set out what that will mean in practice.