Workers' unions representing Suffolk members have slammed the government's planned anti-strike laws, labelling them "authoritarian" and "undemocratic".
Under new legislation expected to be published next week, bosses in health, education, fire, ambulance, rail and nuclear commissioning would be able to sue unions and potentially sack employees if minimum levels are not met.
The ruling comes as Number 10 attempts to tackle a series of ongoing industrial disputes.
"Forcing people to work against their will is clearly against people's individual human rights," said Miles Hubbard, regional officer at Unite.
"I think there will be a lot of legal challenges to this.
"Rather than trying to deal with these issues by force, the government should be looking to solve them and resolve conflicts that lead to strikes.
"It's an unacceptable and abhorrent way of dealing with workers' grievances and it won't make any of them go away."
Tim Roberts, eastern regional secretary for UNISON, said: "Ministers should focus their time and energy on rebuilding trust and relationships with workers, not silencing and suppressing them.
"There is a much simpler way for Rishi Sunak to put a swift end to strikes in our public services: allow his ministers to begin direct pay negotiations immediately to boost wages, retain experienced staff and improve patient care.
"UNISON and other unions will be examining these proposals and considering how to respond, including any appropriate legal challenge."
Business Secretary Grant Shapps said the measures were being introduced to "restore the balance between those seeking to strike and protecting the public from disproportionate disruption".
When asked about the legislation, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he believed in union freedom to strike, but added this "should be balanced with the right of ordinary working people to go about their lives free from significant disruption."
Pat Cullen, general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "Curtailing workers’ freedom to participate in lawful industrial action is always undemocratic.
"Only negotiations on our dispute can avert the planned action this month.
"Safe staffing levels that are set in law are what we want to see year-round not just in these extreme circumstances."
University and College Union general secretary, Jo Grady, added: "Rather than help address over a decade of falling wages, this government wants to instead make withdrawing your labour a sackable offence, and force people to work even if they have a right to refuse.
"This government of millionaire ministers needs to wean itself off authoritarianism and get back to the negotiating table."
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