Hard on the heels of the current government’s efforts to bring in new family-friendly employment laws – which include the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023, the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023, the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023 and the Carers Leave Act 2023, along with the Miscarriage Leave Bill and the Fertility Treatment (Employment Rights) Bill – The Times reported on 13 September a very interesting perspective on possible Labour government employment policy.
Angela Rayner, speaking from the TUC conference in Liverpool on 12 September, gave a “cast iron” guarantee that a Labour government would bring forward legislation to improve workers’ rights within 100 days of winning the next election. The proposed legislation would include Day 1 basic rights, a ban on zero-hour contracts, and an end to fire and rehire.
In a nod to the Jeremy Corbyn-era Labour manifesto on employment legislation, she pledged to introduce a new form of collective bargaining that would allow trade unions to negotiate pay and conditions across entire sectors of the economy such as social care.
The proposed legislation would also repeal some existing union laws, including the requirement that more than 50% of a workforce needs to vote for strike action.
Rayner said, “Work will finally pay, rights will be properly enforced, and crucially it will strengthen the role of trade unions in our society. We’ll bring in a proper living wage that people can actually live on.”
Rayner also promised to simplify and strengthen laws to allow trade unions to achieve formal recognition from employers and to allow gig economy and remote workers to “meaningfully organise through trade unions.” She said, “The country desperately needs a fresh start. Make no mistake – implementing the new deal would be the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.”
In addition to these pledges, the shadow deputy prime minister also mentioned strengthening sick pay which follows on from the Labour Party policy forum setting out plans for Day 1 rights to sick pay and parental leave.
The Guardian reported that the speech delivered by Rayner was “strongly welcomed by the TUC” who commented that any such legislation would be the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.
Watch this space. As Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham commented, “we need to see the detail”. We shall report when a full manifesto is published.