Chancellor George Osborne has indicated that he is "prepared to consider changes to the law around strikes" as a measure of "last resort" in order to help force through his proposed package of economic austerity measures.
In an interview with the BBC, Osborne explained: "We are prepared to consider changes to the law around strikes – as a last resort – but I hope we never get there, because I hope we can have a mature, grown-up conversation.
"I completely understand that trade unions want to represent the needs of their members, but the interest of their members is that jobs are created and prosperity returns to our country."
He also stated that he was determined to fight "the forces of stagnation" – under which he included the trade unions – in order to combat the UK's budget deficit.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) had suggested similar measures six months ago, describing them as "the nuclear option". However, this month John Philpott, the CIPD's chief economic adviser, stated that any "watering down of employment rights [...] should be resisted".
The CIPD is the leading organisation for managers and employers in the UK, and it appears that they have no clear position as yet on the very drastic moves that the Chancellor has indicated he is willing to consider.
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