The Labour government has published its new Employment Rights Bill and MPs got to debate the new legislation earlier this week.

Introduced within 100 days of the General Election, the bill is a big moment for GMB members as it begins to bring into law key policies that our union has long campaigned for. It also repeals anti-trade union legislation that has been used against our movement and working people.

GMB has fought hard to ensure issues of importance to our members are included in the bill, such as –

• For our members in schools, reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB), including for those working in academies.
• In care, creating a new Adult Social Care Negotiating Body (ASCNB), to deliver a fair pay agreement for care workers.
• Protections for outsourced public sector workers so that their terms and conditions should match those doing the same in-house.
• Establishing a new Fair Work Agency, to ensure the world of work is overseen by a single enforcement body.
• New rights of access to workplaces for unions
• Repealing the dreadful Minimum Service Levels Act introduced by the last government
• Individual rights at ‘Day One’ of employment, including Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), and changes to unfair dismissal
• Action on Fire and Rehire, Zero Hour contracts, redundancy rights, paternity and parental leave, maternity protection and many other areas

To see the entire Employment Rights Bill, please click here: Employment Rights Bill: Factsheets

It will take time to bring all of the contents of the bill into law and consultations and further scrutiny are starting now, which our union will be contributing to. There are also some items of real importance to GMB members – such as equal pay reform and procurement and insourcing – that will be subject to other processes and legislation. We will be fully involved in making sure commitments made on these issues are kept.

This legislation is the most significant step forward in workers’ rights in over 50 years and we have a responsibility to make it as good as it can be to make work better.

GMB is proud that our members have helped to make these changes a reality and we will keep you updated as matters progress.

Posted: 27^th October 2024

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