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Representatives of both agency sector and unions say
this plan is counter-productive, impractical and puts workers
at risk
The TUC and REC have today (Monday) 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 to abandon
its proposal to repeal the ban on agency workers filling in for
employees who are on strike.
The two organisations, representing both the agency sector
and unions, think the plan is unworkable and oppose it in the
strongest possible terms. They urge the government to leave the
current ban in place as a key element of a sustainable national
employment relations framework.
Using agency staff to cover strikes will only prolong the
conflict between employers and their staff. Strikes are
industrial disputes within a single industry or firm.
Government needs to step up and do the work around resolving
industrial disputes rather than inserting a third party in the
form of agency workers into a dispute. That does nothing to solve
the underlying issues between the company and their staff. This
will only prolong the dispute and inflame tensions.
Negotiations should be the obvious priority – rather than
potentially putting the safety of agency workers and company
employees at risk
The proposal is not practical. There are currently 1.3
million vacancies in the UK, a record high. REC data shows that
the number of candidates available to fill roles has been falling
at record pace for months. In this tight labour market, agency
workers are in high demand and can pick and choose the jobs they
take.
Agency staff are very unlikely to choose a role that requires
them to cross a picket line versus one that doesn’t.
Additionally, many roles that may be on strike require technical
skills or training. Training agency workers to do these jobs
would be expensive and time-consuming.
Only recently government ministers came out to condemn what
P&O Ferries did. Surely that example cannot have been
forgotten so soon? That case showed how unfair these situations
can be for agency workers, as well as the negative attention they
and the agencies would receive.
Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the REC, said:
“The government’s proposal will not work. Agency staff have a
choice of roles and are highly unlikely to choose to cross picket
lines. Agencies want the ban to stay to avoid them being
pressured by clients into supplying staff in hostile and
potentially dangerous situations. Earlier this year, we saw the
effect on agencies who inadvertently got drawn into the P&O
dispute. That offers a salutary lesson.
“In all disputes, our aim should be to resolve conflict, not to
prolong it. Inserting a different firm’s workers into the middle
of a dispute can only ever inflame tensions.
“We urge ministers to re-consider this wrong-headed approach,
which runs counter to the standards adopted by the employment
industry globally. Business is best served by negotiations, not
showdowns.”
Paul Nowak, TUC deputy general secretary, said:
“Just a few months ago slammed P&O for replacing
experienced workers with agency staff. But now he’s proposing to
do the same on railways.
“Allowing agency staff to replace striking workers would
undermine the right to strike and create genuine safety risks for
the public and for the workforce.
“It would put these workers in an appalling situation, worsen
disputes and poison industrial relations.
“Having repeatedly promised a high-wage economy, ministers now
seem determined to reduce workers’ bargaining power and to make
it harder for working people to win fair pay and conditions.
“This government has the power to play an active role in helping
to end disputes. But it would rather escalate tensions and pick a
fight with unions.”
On international law, Paul Nowak added:
“Once again, this government is showing its disregard for
international law, which these proposals almost certainly
breach.”
