Unions furious as government intends to ditch promised new workers’ rights laws again
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng
MORNINGSTAR
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2022
UNIONS reacted with fury yesterday to reports that the government intends to ditch promised new workers’ rights laws.
Ministers are reportedly planning to drop the long-awaited employment Bill from next month’s Queen’s Speech.
Downing Street is understood to have overruled the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which had been pushing for the legislation.
If the Bill is not announced it will be the second year in succession that ministers would have shelved their promise to introduce legislation to enhance workplace protections.
And it comes in the wake of the scandal over 800 workers being sacked without notice by P&O Ferries via Zoom call.
In a letter to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady will warn the government that if it ditches the promised Bill “it will be sending a green light to rogue employers to treat staff like disposable labour.”
Ms O’Grady said: “After the scandalous events at P&O, which have exposed gaping holes in UK employment law, the need for new legislation has never been clearer or more urgent.
“There is no excuse for delay. If the government breaks its promise to enhance workers’ rights working people will have been conned and betrayed.
“It’s vital ministers come clean about their plans. In the wake of P&O the government can stand on the side of workers and legislate new protections. Or it can side with bad bosses and abandon its long overdue employment Bill.
“But let’s be crystal clear – without new laws to protect people at work there is nothing stopping P&O type scandals from happening again in the future.
“And the use of exploitative practices like fire and rehire and zero-hours contracts will continue to soar.
“Tinkering around the edges with feeble statutory codes is not going to rein in unscrupulous employers. We need proper legislation for that.”
Outlawing fire and rehire is a key target for trade unions. Last week transport unions RMT and Nautilus, whose members were brutally sacked by P&O, launched a Fair Ferries campaign which calls on the government to ban fire and rehire to stop “employers getting away with the most appalling employment practices.”
GMB union general secretary Gary Smith said: “To drop the Employment Bill after the disgraceful P&O sackings and widespread use of revolting fire and rehire tactics says everything about this government’s attitude to working people.
“In the face of spiralling energy bills, rampant inflation and a cost of living crisis, working people should be able to stand up for their rights at work and organise for better pay.”
Transport union TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “A leopard never changes its spots. Never trust the Tories to deliver for working people.”
Labour MP Andy McDonald, who introduced a ground-breaking Status of Workers Bill to the Commons in January, said: “Ministers wringing their hands when bullying companies threaten fire and rehire and berating P&O when they sack 800 workers illegally is utterly meaningless if they won’t legislate.”
Institute of Employment Rights director Ben Sellers told the Star: “We need a complete reassessment of how workers, especially those in precarious employment, are treated under the law.
“Any further delay in the employment Bill is a sure sign that the government is not serious.”
Business Minister Paul Scully has repeatedly given a commitment to an employment Bill.
He said: “Workers’ rights should be enhanced and protected, so we are absolutely committed to bringing forward an employment Bill that will help us to build back better and to protect vulnerable workers.”
A government spokesman said it is “committed to ensuring workers’ rights are robustly protected while also fostering a dynamic and flexible labour market.
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng
MORNINGSTAR
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2022
UNIONS reacted with fury yesterday to reports that the government intends to ditch promised new workers’ rights laws.
Ministers are reportedly planning to drop the long-awaited employment Bill from next month’s Queen’s Speech.
Downing Street is understood to have overruled the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which had been pushing for the legislation.
If the Bill is not announced it will be the second year in succession that ministers would have shelved their promise to introduce legislation to enhance workplace protections.
And it comes in the wake of the scandal over 800 workers being sacked without notice by P&O Ferries via Zoom call.
In a letter to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady will warn the government that if it ditches the promised Bill “it will be sending a green light to rogue employers to treat staff like disposable labour.”
Ms O’Grady said: “After the scandalous events at P&O, which have exposed gaping holes in UK employment law, the need for new legislation has never been clearer or more urgent.
“There is no excuse for delay. If the government breaks its promise to enhance workers’ rights working people will have been conned and betrayed.
“It’s vital ministers come clean about their plans. In the wake of P&O the government can stand on the side of workers and legislate new protections. Or it can side with bad bosses and abandon its long overdue employment Bill.
“But let’s be crystal clear – without new laws to protect people at work there is nothing stopping P&O type scandals from happening again in the future.
“And the use of exploitative practices like fire and rehire and zero-hours contracts will continue to soar.
“Tinkering around the edges with feeble statutory codes is not going to rein in unscrupulous employers. We need proper legislation for that.”
Outlawing fire and rehire is a key target for trade unions. Last week transport unions RMT and Nautilus, whose members were brutally sacked by P&O, launched a Fair Ferries campaign which calls on the government to ban fire and rehire to stop “employers getting away with the most appalling employment practices.”
GMB union general secretary Gary Smith said: “To drop the Employment Bill after the disgraceful P&O sackings and widespread use of revolting fire and rehire tactics says everything about this government’s attitude to working people.
“In the face of spiralling energy bills, rampant inflation and a cost of living crisis, working people should be able to stand up for their rights at work and organise for better pay.”
Transport union TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “A leopard never changes its spots. Never trust the Tories to deliver for working people.”
Labour MP Andy McDonald, who introduced a ground-breaking Status of Workers Bill to the Commons in January, said: “Ministers wringing their hands when bullying companies threaten fire and rehire and berating P&O when they sack 800 workers illegally is utterly meaningless if they won’t legislate.”
Institute of Employment Rights director Ben Sellers told the Star: “We need a complete reassessment of how workers, especially those in precarious employment, are treated under the law.
“Any further delay in the employment Bill is a sure sign that the government is not serious.”
Business Minister Paul Scully has repeatedly given a commitment to an employment Bill.
He said: “Workers’ rights should be enhanced and protected, so we are absolutely committed to bringing forward an employment Bill that will help us to build back better and to protect vulnerable workers.”
A government spokesman said it is “committed to ensuring workers’ rights are robustly protected while also fostering a dynamic and flexible labour market.
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