UK Government’s employment Bill ‘doesn’t go far enough’, says union body

The UK Government’s Employment Right’s Bill is “not enough”, the STUC has said.

Ahead of the second day of its congress in Dundee, the union body has urged the UK Government to “up the ante” on its flagship workers’ rights policy by including rights on sectoral bargaining and the access that unions get to workplaces.

The Bill, if passed, will crack down on zero hours contracts and so-called “fire and rehire” practices.

While the STUC’s general secretary Roz Foyer welcomed the proposals as “the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights for a generation”, she urged ministers to do more.

“Our congress is unequivocal that a Labour UK Government should represent the interests of working people, not the corporates nor the elites,” she said.

“Their Employment Rights Bill, if delivered in full, will be the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights for a generation. But the Bill by itself is not enough.

“They must go further to include rights on sectoral bargaining and for union access to workplaces right across our economy.

“For too long have vested business interests influenced the policy making of government.

“Far from caving to further pressure from business, this Labour Government must up the ante and deliver in full what they promised to our movement, which should include new rights of employment law devolved to Scotland.

“Our movement and our STUC congress can’t accept anything less.”

Ms Foyer will address the body’s congress on Tuesday afternoon.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “Our Employment Rights Bill will make work pay in Scotland and tackle the insecurity, inequality and low incomes that have held back workers and businesses for too long.

“This is a government on the side of Scottish workers and in order for the labour market to work effectively across Great Britain, we need one framework with consistent workplace rights and responsibilities.”