Tag: Warwick Agreement
Warwick II: "Bastards! Bastards! Bastards!"
ReneLavanchy Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 08:21:18 PM GMT 
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The words of a union insider to me this week, reacting to Tory suggestions that next week's National Policy Forum will involve a 'dodgy deal' as part of the second Warwick Agreement. I report for Tribune magazine, and on my blog I've posted some thoughts on the atmosphere I've encountered this week. Comments welcome.
Cathy comes Home to... "demoralised, underpaid and threatened staff" ?
grayee Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 09:36:59 PM GMT
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Above is a quote from a Shelter trade union member who contacted me following the overwhelming vote by Shelter staff to strike. Last month I posted on my own site the dispute between the Housing Charity Shelter and its employees over its plans to cut terms and conditions and to make staff work longer for no extra pay. I really hoped that this dispute could be resolved quickly since Shelter does marvellous work for its many vulnerable clients.
However, this is not to be and members have voted by a majority of 71% (on a very relatively very high turnout of 65.8%) to strike. Shelter has threatened to sack staff who do not accept these cuts.
The first strike is on 5 March 2008. Must find out the nearest picket line?
However, this is not to be and members have voted by a majority of 71% (on a very relatively very high turnout of 65.8%) to strike. Shelter has threatened to sack staff who do not accept these cuts.
The first strike is on 5 March 2008. Must find out the nearest picket line?
Tony Woodley is right...
Mike Ion Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 10:43:44 AM GMT
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Tony Woodley offers a cogent and impassioned plea for equal treatment for agency workers in an article for the Guardian's CiF.
He argues:
'The Warwick Agreement between trade unions and ministers in 2004 promised domestic legislation for equal treatment of agency workers if the EU route failed to deliver, a pledge repeated by ministers in the Commons this year - as the government shamefully manoeuvered to face down this essential equality bill, despite the backing of 125 Labour MPs.'
There are more than one million agency workers in the UK, many paid less than the minimum wage, they have less holiday and sick pay entitlement than directly employed staff and there is nothing in UK law that can protect them. As well as being an affront to a decent and progressive politics, it is an affront to a decent society. The ability of unscrupulous employers to employ people on lesser terms is undermining hard won standards of employment as well as creating a two-tier workforce. Apart from the moral imperative, the ability of unscrupulous employers to create a working underclass will prevent the UK economy becoming the dynamic knowledge-based economy that Gordon Brown highlighted in his speech on Monday.
He argues:
'The Warwick Agreement between trade unions and ministers in 2004 promised domestic legislation for equal treatment of agency workers if the EU route failed to deliver, a pledge repeated by ministers in the Commons this year - as the government shamefully manoeuvered to face down this essential equality bill, despite the backing of 125 Labour MPs.'
There are more than one million agency workers in the UK, many paid less than the minimum wage, they have less holiday and sick pay entitlement than directly employed staff and there is nothing in UK law that can protect them. As well as being an affront to a decent and progressive politics, it is an affront to a decent society. The ability of unscrupulous employers to employ people on lesser terms is undermining hard won standards of employment as well as creating a two-tier workforce. Apart from the moral imperative, the ability of unscrupulous employers to create a working underclass will prevent the UK economy becoming the dynamic knowledge-based economy that Gordon Brown highlighted in his speech on Monday.
