Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “It cannot be overstated how big a leap forward the Employment Rights Act will be for working people, so we find it incredible that Reform UK has committed to repealing it in full. Having stood shoulder to shoulder with the Tories in opposing these important new rights at every opportunity in Parliament, they have now made it a clear choice at the next general election. A Reform victory in the polls will be a green light to Britain’s most unscrupulous employers to exploit workers with low-paid and insecure jobs. It couldn’t be clearer – only Labour stands with working people.
“There’s so much in the Employment Rights Act that will make a real difference to the lives of working people. The right for everyone to have a contract that reflects the hours they actually work; access to Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of illness; fairness for unions to give workers an effective voice in their workplace so we can negotiate and bargain for better pay and conditions for workers; and draconian Tory laws, designed to tie trade unions up in knots, will be scrapped. Together, these changes will rebalance the world of work, putting power back into the hands of working people, where it belongs.”
The Employment Rights Act:
- Contracts: Ban exploitative zero-hours contracts and give right to a regular-hours contract.
- Sick Pay available from day one of absence for all workers.
- Harassment from customers: Employers required to protect staff.
- Unfair dismissal can be challenged after 6 months in a job, instead of 24.
- Leave: Paternity, parental and bereavement available from day one.
- Redundancy consultation improved.
- Flexible working the default for all, unless the employer proves it is unreasonable.
- Shift changes and cancellations: Employers required to give reasonable notice.
- Trade unions to have fair and reasonable access to workplaces.
- Recognition process for trade unions simplified to give workers an effective voice.
- Equalities workplace representatives given statutory rights.
- Fire and rehire banned in all but the most extreme circumstances.
- Fair work agency to put enforcement of employment rights into a single body.
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion