Usdaw calls on peers to end opposition to Employment Rights Bill
Among the Lords’ amendments, peers sought to limit or delay some of these reforms. These included a proposal to reduce the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from day one to six months, impose stricter conditions on who can bring grievances, and adjust the application of whistleblowing protections
Register to get 1 free article
Reveal the article below by registering for our email newsletter.
Want unlimited access? View Plans
Already have an account? Sign in
Retail union Usdaw has urged Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers to drop their opposition to the Employment Rights Bill after the government rejected all amendments proposed in the House of Lords.
It said the Employment Rights Bill would enact “major” changes to UK employment law. Key proposals include banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, strengthening protections for unfair dismissal (including raising whether day-one dismissal rights apply), improving statutory sick pay, expanding whistleblowing safeguards, and adding greater rights for parental leave.
Among the Lords’ amendments, peers sought to limit or delay some of these reforms. These included a proposal to reduce the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from day one to six months, impose stricter conditions on who can bring grievances, and adjust the application of whistleblowing protections.
Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary, said: “It is now time for Lib Dem and Tory Peers to end their attempts to undermine the Government’s efforts to deliver a new deal for workers through the historic Employment Rights Bill. Making work pay and jobs more secure was clearly a key part of Labour’s manifesto, which was overwhelmingly supported by voters in last year’s landslide general election win. It ill becomes the Tories and Lib Dems to go against the expressed will of the people.
“Across the UK economy, insecure work is a major issue and there is clearly a need to legislate. One in eight workers are in precarious employment and that has risen by one million since 2011. Living standards have fallen quite significantly and the impact on our members is significant. This Bill helps level the playing field on employment rights to stop rogue employers undercutting those who treat staff properly.”
She added: “We hope that Lib Dem and Tory peers will hear our members’ concerns, recognise that the Government is not going to accept their amendments, do the right thing and stop undermining the vital changes in the Bill that will help bring fairness and security for workers, particularly for those currently on zero and short hours contracts.”
Usdaw is the UK’s fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members with the majority in the retail sector.
