TUC: Welcome words on workers’ rights must be followed by action

4 Oct 2016 12:10 PM

Commenting on the recent (Sunday) speeches by Theresa May and David Davis on the government’s approach to Brexit, which included a commitment to protect and improve workers’ rights, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

”We welcome Theresa May’s commitment to guarantee workers’ rights for as long as she is Prime Minister. But we need stronger protection that can span across future governments. We need May’s government to ensure that any future trade deal between the UK and EU includes a commitment not to fall behind the EU on improvements to employment rights.

“The Prime Minister must follow her words on improving workers‘ rights with action. Britain's job market has proved to be a magnet for the wrong kind of bosses. There must be tougher rules to stop them using zero-hours contracts to keep the whip hand over workers, and to undercut decent employers. And the hefty employment tribunal fees that are pricing hard working people out of justice must be scrapped.

“The Prime Minister must listen to Britain's trade unions who represent millions of workers at the hard end of an unfair labour market. The TUC stands ready to work with the government to give working people the new rights they need for fairness and security at work.”