"We are doing it - the Employment Rights Bill Clears the Commons!"

 

Dear John,   This is a huge moment. Tonight, the Employment Rights Bill passed the Commons - a major step toward stronger rights for working people. This is the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, and it’s happening because of trade unionists and activists like you. From day one, our movement has led the charge, putting working people at the heart of Labour’s plan to raise wages, strengthen rights, and make work pay. In opposition, we worked in partnership with Labour to develop the New Deal for Working People. In Government, unions are pushing hard to ensure that the legislation delivers on that shared agenda. Trade unions, representing millions of working people, helped secure key new protections: Stopping union-busting – blocking bad bosses from undermining worker organising and winning recognition. Closing loopholes – so agency workers will benefit from the new provisions on zero and guaranteed hours contracts. Introducing new rules so social care workers in Scotland and Wales they can also benefit from Fair Pay Agreements, bringing unions and employers together to agree pay and conditions. Strengthening the new union access rights, to make it easier for unions to recruit, organise and win a better deal. Removing laws designed to tie unions in knots – so they can concentrate on doing their job and winning better pay and conditions. These build on bold changes already in the Bill – stronger unfair dismissal protections, action plans to close the gender pay gap, a Fair Work Agency to enforce rights, repealing anti-union laws, and tackling workplace harassment. This isn’t just an upgrade in rights – it’s a shift in power back to where it belongs: with working people.

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But let’s be clear - the Tories and Reform Party tried to derail the Bill at every turn. Tonight, Tory and Reform MPs voted to stop the Bill in its tracks. The Tories even tabled what they admitted was a “wrecking amendment”, taking a sledgehammer to new protections from harassment, the day 1 right to not be unfairly dismissed, provisions on zero hours and guaranteed hours contracts and so much more. When it mattered most, they didn’t just oppose the Bill – they fought to block it every step of the way. They voted to keep wages low and let bad bosses off the hook. But the fight isn’t over. The naysayers and doom-mongers haven’t gone away. They’re the same tired voices who fought against the minimum wage, claiming it would crash the economy. They were wrong then, and they are wrong now. Stronger rights at work don’t threaten growth – they drive it, and they make sure it delivers money in workers’ pockets. This Bill still needs to get through the House of Lords. After it’s been written into law, there’s work to do to get every detail right to make sure it works in practice and delivers the change working people have been promised. And let’s not forget, the Employment Rights Bill is only the start of delivering the New Deal for Working People. We’ve come this far by standing together. We won’t let them hold us back. Add your name. Show your support for delivering the New Deal in full: https://labourunions.org.uk/winnewdeal/

In solidarity,  Helen Pearce, Director Labour Unions

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Demand better

Dear John,

On Saturday 18 June, our movement will come together and take to the streets to demand action on the cost of living, a new deal for working people and a proper pay rise. It’s clearer every day that this Government have nothing to offer working people and their families.    They promised higher wages, levelling up and an Employment Bill to extend rights at work.  They’ve promised the Employment Bill at least 20 times, over 3 years. But when it came to the recent Queen's Speech it was nowhere to be found. They've conned working people long enough.      Join us on the TUC march on Saturday 18th June in Central London, and share our social media graphics below to spread the word and encourage your friends to join the march and rally.

This cost of living crisis is a WAGES crisis. Help with bills is essential, but it’s not enough. We need to fix our economy so that it works in the interests of working people.    At Labour Party Conference last year, Angela Rayner launched the Party’s New Deal for Working People. Drawn up in partnership with the affiliated unions, it’s a comprehensive plan to improve the lives of working people by strengthening individual and collective rights – repealing anti-trade union laws, including the Trade Union Act, and introducing new rights to help unions bargain, recruit, organise and win a better deal for their members. Keir Starmer has promised Labour will write it into law within 100 days of being elected.      We’ll be marching for union rights, a proper payrise, dignity and respect at work – and for real help with the cost of living.    Everything is going up but our wages. So on 18 June, let's come together and demand better.

Solidarity,  Helen Pearce, Director, Labour Unions  Robbie Scott, Campaigns and Political Officer, Labour Unions    PS. For more information about the march and rally check out the TUC's website.