TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak accused opponents of the workers rights’ reforms of trying to “side with bad bosses” and warned they were out of step with the public
Out of touch peers are defying voters’ wishes to “side with bad bosses” by trying to water down workers rights’ reforms, the head of the TUC has said.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak accused Lib Dem and Tory peers of delaying the Employment Rights Bill with amendments to water down protections for millions.
The Bill, which returns to the House of Lords on Tuesday, will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, give workers the right to compensation for cancelled shifts, and ban unfair dismissal from day one.
But it is being held up by amendments by Tory and Lib Dem peers, including one that would provide a loophole for workers to be denied a guaranteed hours contract.
Another would introduce a qualifying period of six months for protection from unfair sackings.
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More than 2 million workers would be denied protection from unfair dismissal if the proposed amendments pass, TUC analysis found.
Mr Nowak said: “Voting to keep workers on zero hours contracts and deny 2 million workers protection from unfair sackings shows Tory and Lib Dem Lords are siding with bad bosses.
“Banning zero-hours contracts and protecting workers from unfair dismissal are common-sense protections that the vast majority of the people, including Tory and Lib Dem voters, want to see become law.”
He added: “No one will be surprised that Tory peers are voting against the best interests of workers.
“But peers across the opposition benches should be wary of looking out of touch and actively defying their own supporters – and the public at large.
“It’s time for them to step aside so the government can deliver new rights for millions of workers.”
It comes after a mega-poll by Hope Not Hate found 71% support workers being protected from unfair dismissal from the first day in the job, including 64% of Tory supporters and 74% of Lib Dem backers.
Nearly 8 in 10 (78%) backed a move to force bosses to offer zero-hours contract workers a guaranteed-hours contract (based on the hours they usually work) after 12 weeks.
This includes 72% of Tory voters and 79% of Lib Dem supporters.