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Network Journal 2008 Issue 3 May/June |
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ADM 2008: Rights at work
The Government should introduce a more co-ordinated system to enforce the protection for employees from exploitative employers, Gail Marchant (Fallowfield) told conference.
"The agencies which police the minimum wage, health and safety law, and working time regulations work in isolation from each other and cannot pass on information when abuses are found," she said. "These agencies should link in and work together so that all employment rights can be protected."
Shaun O'Rourke (NW Somerfield Distribution) wants to protect staff by pressing the Government to reduce the qualifying period for tribunal applications from its current 12 months. "Too many employers are sacking people just before they reach the 12 month mark," he said.
Peter Millward (Andover Twinings) wants the union to campaign to have the European Working Time opt-out removed. "The British worker averages seven hours unpaid overtime a week," he said. "We work the longest hours in the EU. No-one should be working more than 48 hours a week."
Conference backed all three propositions. Other delegates who joined the debate were; Hayley Pickles, Terry Adair, Mary Gibson, Shaun Griffith, Zoltan Hamvas, Jon-Paul McEwan, and Michele Mellor.
Closing the debate John Hannett said: "Since Labour came to power the national minimum wage, equal rights for part-time staff, and statutory holiday leave have been introduced. When the Tories were in power we used to call for these rights. Furthermore maternity, paternity and anti-discrimination rights have been introduced.
"But it is important we build on what we have and these three proposals are important contributions to the employment rights debate."
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