The British government set out planned changes to the law on Thursday that would make it easier for businesses to use temporary staff to minimise the impact of strike action.

Britain's rail network stood on Tuesday as 40,000 workers walked out in a dispute over pay. Trade unions have warned the country faces a summer of disruption as workers struggling with the mounting cost of living threaten industrial action.

Rail workers are set to walk out again on Thursday after talks to resolve the dispute broke down without an agreement. The third day of action is planned for Saturday.

The government said it would remove restrictions on supplying skilled temporary agency workers to cover essential roles during a strike.
 

"Once again, trade unions are holding the country to ransom by grinding essential public services and businesses to a halt. The situation we are in is not sustainable," Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said.

"Repealing these 1970s-era restrictions will give businesses the freedom to access fully skilled staff at speed, allowing people to get on with their lives uninterrupted to help keep the economy ticking."
 

The government said that businesses would need to ensure they hire temporary workers with the necessary skills and qualifications for the roles they are covering.

The government said that the change in law, subject to parliamentary approval, would apply across all sectors across England, Scotland and Wales and come into force in the coming weeks.

It also said it would raise the maximum damages courts can award against a union when strike action is unlawful. For the biggest unions, the total damages would rise to 1 million pounds ($1.23 million) from 250,000 pounds. - reuters

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