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NEW - Government’s own impact assessment warns
strike-breaking agency worker laws will poison industrial
relations and prolong strikes
Ministers will try again to overturn the ban on the use of agency
workers during strikes, as the government launches a consultation on
the law change.
In June the government was
defeated in the High Court after it rushed through new laws that
allowed agencies to supply employers with workers to fill in for
those on strike.
The presiding judge criticised ministers for acting in a way that
was “unfair, unlawful and irrational” and reinstated the ban on
agency staff being used to break strikes.
But despite this rebuke – and strong opposition from unions and
employers – ministers are resurrecting the plans with a new
consultation.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which
represents suppliers of agency workers, called the announcement of the
consultation “a disappointment, given the scale of opposition
from employers and workers to the previous proposal”.
The body also warned the change could see inflamed tensions and longer
disputes.
Poison relations and prolong strikes
The government’s own impact assessment says
the law change will poison industrial relations and prolong
strikes.
The new impact assessment, which has been published today, says
the change will result in “worsening in the relationship between
employers and workers – which could lead to more prolonged strike
action in the short-term".
The impact assessment also suggests it could hit workers’ pay and
conditions.
The proposed change comes as the government seeks to impose new
rules forcing some workers to work during strikes.
In September the TUC reported the government to the International
Labour Organization (ILO) – the UN workers’ rights watchdog –
over the Strikes Act.
Commenting on the announcement on agency workers, TUC General
Secretary Paul Nowak said:
“The Conservatives’ humiliating High Court defeat should have
spelled the end of this cynical law.
“But now they are resurrecting the same irrational plans.
“Allowing unscrupulous employers to bring in agency staff to
deliver important services risks endangering public safety and
escalating disputes.
“Agency recruitment bodies have repeatedly made clear they don’t
want their staff to be put in the position where they have to
cover strikes. But ministers are not listening.
“The government’s own impact assessment is clear – this change
will poison industrial relations and drag out disputes.
"This is the act of a desperate government looking to distract
from its appalling record.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
-Special Congress: The TUC will hold a special Congress
to discuss the next stage of campaigning against the
Conservatives’ anti-strike laws.
