Commenting today (Tuesday) on amendments to the employment rights bill, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“This comprehensive package of measures is what working people and decent employers have been waiting for.
“Insecure work has blighted the lives of many for years, caused immense financial hardship, driven down standards in public services, given a green light to cowboy employers and harmed the UK’s chances of growth.
“Good employers know that treating staff fairly is more than repaid in enhanced productivity and greater goodwill. Now everyone will need to up their game.
“Under Conservative governments, working people lost out, unscrupulous bosses were the winners and the economy suffered. These new laws promise a reset on all that and make sound economic sense too.
“Bringing agencies within the zero-hours remit means there’ll be no getting around the law. Decent employers won’t be undercut, nor the quality of public services affected.
“Better sick pay will put a stop to poorly workers traipsing into care homes full of germs, spreading them to elderly residents, because they can’t afford to stop home without a wage. The law will ensure everyone gets sick pay from the first day they’re ill, including workers previously excluded because they earned too little.
“Making work more secure will help lift families out of poverty so they can contribute to economic growth with increased spending power on the high street.
“Fairly-treated workers are more likely to stay in their jobs for longer boosting the performance of the companies they work for. None of this is bad for business, it’s a win for everyone.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
The article New workplace rights will improve people’s lives at work dramatically and boost economic growth first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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