CWU Campaigns

Labour MPs vote for Agency Rights

25 February 2008

Justice for Agency Workers logo

On Friday, 22 February 2008, after four hours of debate at the House of Commons and an attempt by the Tories to talk out Andrew Millers's PMB - 147 voted in favour (11 against) - a margin of 136 MP's - to back proposals to give agency workers equal treatment and to progress the Bill to the crucial Committee stage.

Among the 136 MPs who voted for the Bill's second reading were former Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain and former Labour Chairman, Ian McCartney. This is indicative of the size of the depth of support throughout the Labour Party for the measure that its Cabinet members showed up in the Commons to signal their concern that the Government is dragging its feet on the issue. Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott voted for the 'closure motion', without rebelling directly against the government.

Watching from the gallery were: Jeannie Drake, DGST; Andy Kerr, Vice President; Sally Bridge, Assistant Secretary; Carol Alcock and Graham Colk, NEC members.

Billy Hayes, General Secretary said: "This is a real minimum wage moment. The working lives and welfare of 1.4 million agency workers and their families are one step closer to the fair and equal treatment they deserve and need.

"It is unacceptable in our successful economy to discriminate against workers in the same employment on grounds of whether they are permanent or temporary or agency employees. This division of the workforce provides unwelcome opportunities for discrimination and leaves these vulnerable employees unable to access financial services which their permanent colleagues enjoy. Andrew Miller's Bill provides a legal recognition of this and will guarantee fairness and justice for all workers in all sectors.
"When we get this Bill through, we won't find any MPs who'll admit to having been opposed to it. It is a quintessential piece of Labour legislation which we look forward to implementing and enforcing for the good health of British employment".

Union General Secretaries are meeting with the Prime Minister to open discussions on the way forward and in particular the government proposal to set up a Commission with trade unions and the CBI. The CWU welcomes the opportunity to discuss this matter with the Prime Minister.