The proposals drew criticism from Paul Nowak, the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, who said that it would "prolong disputes and poison industrial relations – leading to more frequent strikes", while unions threatened to take legal action against the government if the legislation is signed into law.

[18] The following minimum service regulations have been made under the act: After the bill gained royal assent, Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said that the law represented "an appropriate balance between the ability to strike, and protecting lives and livelihoods".

[17] Rail Minister Huw Merriman said that the act would "help give passengers certainty that they will be able to make important journeys on a strike day".

[20] The Socialist Party called the legislation "a serious attack on the right to strike" which would "[force] unions to organise their own strike-breaking operations".

[24] Matt Wrack, general secretary of the FBU, wrote in a Tribune article that the bill would "effectively abolish the right to strike", compared it to the anti-union Industrial Relations Act 1971, and called for "a cross-union campaign of non-compliance" to defeat the legislation.

[25] In September 2023, TUC delegates voted unanimously to oppose the legislation "up to and including a strategy of non-compliance".

[27] Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, called the legislation "a spiteful attack on workers everywhere".