MPs Must Not Overturn Ban On Agency Workers Replacing Those On Strike

The TUC has called on ministers to make a “clear commitment” they will not overturn the renewed ban on agency workers replacing those on strike. The call comes as the government’s strike-breaking agency worker regulations, which allowed agencies to supply employers with workers to fill in for those on strike, are quashed after the High […]

High Court Rules Temporary Workers Can’t Cover Strikes

The High Court has quashed a legal change that ministers made last year that allowed recruitment agencies to supply temporary workers to cover those taking strike action.  This was a very short-lived piece of legislation rushed through last year, and has now been ruled “unlawful, unfair and irrational” by a high court judge. The decision […]

Legal Action Launched Against Temps Covering Strikes

Eleven trade unions have now launched legal action against the government over plans to make it possible to replace striking workers with agency staff.   The unions previously wrote to then Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng outlining their concerns, giving him 14 days to respond prior to a judicial claim being filed.  Now the TUC is co-ordinating […]

New Legislation For Temps Covering Strikes Reported To UN

The integrity of new legislation which allows companies to use temporary workers to cover for striking staff, is being challenged at the highest possible level by the TUC.  The unions movement have reported the UK government to the International Labour Organization (ILO), an agency of the United Nations that sets standards for workers around the […]

Government Must Abandon ‘Unworkable’ Plan For Temps To Cover Strikes

Representatives of both the recruitment agency sector and workers unions have called on the government to abandon its “unworkable” plan to lift the ban on agency workers filling in during strikes. The full joint statement from the TUC and REC reads: The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and Trades Union Congress (TUC) are urging the government […]

6.2 Million People Trapped In Insecure Work

New in-depth analysis of UK job market data reveals women, disabled people, ethnic minorities and young workers have been consistently affected by insecure employment over the last twenty years. The Work Foundation, a leading think-tank dedicated to improving work in the UK, has launched its UK Insecure Work Index report which examines the prevalence of […]

Employment Bill Is Unlikely To Go Ahead

There are rumours that the much anticipated Employment Bill will likely be excluded from the Queen’s speech in May 2022, as indicated by an official government source.  This is the latest development in a long line of delays and broken promises on the planned legislation that would have particularly benefited gig workers and umbrella employees. […]

TUC Calls For Umbrellas To Be Banned

As reported in The Guardian, the TUC has reiterated it’s stance that umbrellas should be banned.  Their comments are in response to the government’s recent consultation on the umbrella market, and plans for umbrellas to be regulated by the Employment Standards Inspectorate within BEIS.  According to the article, the TUC is concerned that the proposals […]

Women Work For Free Two Months Every Year

The average woman effectively works for free for nearly two months of the year compared to the average man, according to analysis published by the TUC today (Friday).  The gender pay gap for all employees is 15.4%.  This pay gap means that women wait 56 days before they start to get paid at all during […]