Tory plans to break strikes on the railways by hiring agency workers instead have been blasted by the recruitment industry, unions and Labour.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned the radical crackdown - designed to ensure there are enough workers to keep trains running during a walkout - would be unsafe.
And unions warned the move would be “reckless”, with PCS union general secretary Mark Serwotka said it would be an “outrageous act” that would “undermine” disputes and lead to “bitterness and division”.
Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the REC which represents UK recruitment agencies, said: “Repealing the ban on agency workers replacing workers who are on strike is the wrong policy. It puts agency staff and agencies in a completely unfair position.”
It came after reports Transport Secretary Grant Shapps could change the law - after a set of planned walkouts this month - to allow agency workers to fill the gaps left by striking workers.
Asked about the proposal, Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis said the government was "not taking anything off the table”.
But Shadow Chancellor Ms Reeves told Sky News: “Would you feel safe going on a train knowing there was an agency worker instead of a properly skilled and trained-up train signaller? I know I wouldn’t.
“Instead of fanning the flames and increasing tensions the government need to act like firefighters rather than arsonists and try to get some resolution to this.”
Strikes by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will cripple services in the week of June 20 over pay, conditions, 2,500 maintenance job cuts and ticket office closures.
Separately the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) is also balloting workers for industrial action that could happen later in the summer.
Ms Reeves twice declined to say if she would be going on strike if she were an RMT worker.
That contrasted with Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who said last week: “If I were a member of the RMT and my jobs were at risk like this, then I would be voting to go on strike”.
Tory Cabinet minister Mr Lewis told the BBC : "We've got a situation at the moment where, I think, the median salary in the railway sector is about £46,000 a year already, let alone what they're asking for as an increase, against an average wage in this country of closer to £26,000.
“So, it's a very well-rewarded sector anyway and I think it is important that we are looking at everything we can do to keep the railways working."
But TUC Deputy General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “This government is desperate to distract from its numerous failings by picking a fight with unions.
“Allowing agency staff to replace striking workers would undermine the right to strike and be extremely reckless.
“Bringing in less qualified and experienced staff to deliver important services would create genuine safety risks for the public and for the workforce.
“Using agency workers to try and break strikes would put these workers in an appalling situation, worsen disputes and poison industrial relations.
“Some may not realise until it is too late that they are being asked to break a strike.
“Having repeatedly promised a high-wage economy, ministers now seem determined to reduce workers’ bargaining power and to make it harder for working people to win fair pay and conditions.
“Let’s call this out for what it is. The PM is throwing red meat to his rebellious backbenchers to try and sure up his position.”
