Angela Rayner introduced a new deal for workers at the 2021 TUC congress, but unions have since said the party has backed down. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Labour has watered down key promises to strengthen workers' rights, leaked documents show, prompting anger from trade unions.
Documents sent by the party to union leaders show it has abandoned plans to ban companies from sacking workers who refuse pay cuts.
They also show Sir Keir Starmer has weakened his commitment to give employees the right to switch off after work hours.
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Documents obtained The Guardian, have sparked anger among union leaders ahead of a crunch meeting with Sir Keir next Tuesday.
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Labour's biggest union supporter Unite issued a blistering statement saying it described the new package of workers' rights as “totally unrecognisable”.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “This new “Labour's new deal document released to unions on Monday is a scandal.” back a row back.
“The workers will see this and call this retreat after retreat betrayal.
“This new document is not worthy of discussion. Now all unions must demand that Labor reverse course and bring back the original new deal for workers.”
She said that, among other things, newspapers showed Labor was softening its plans to ban the companies. from using fire and rehire tactics.
A controversial practice refers to firms that fire employees and then immediately offer them a new contract, usually at a reduced salary.
Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, vowed after Tuesday's speech that her party would push for its use to be outlawed.
But union bosses fear the vague language used in the documents sent to them means Labor is creating loopholes in the commitments. .
They suggest that the Labor Party has quietly abandoned a previous promise to introduce legislation that would prevent companies from laying off staff who refuse pay cuts.
The papers say that “it is important that businesses can restructure to remain viable … when there really is no alternative,” reports The Guardian.
Meanwhile, plans to introduce a legal right to switch off appear to have been implemented. reduced to providing companies with best practice recommendations.
Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labor Party, first unveiled plans for a new deal for workers at the party conference in autumn 2021.
Steady down far
Initial proposals have since been steadily rejected, angering trade unions and left-wing MPs who fear that the party had succumbed to business pressure.
Any further relaxation of the plans would lead to further discord between Sir Keir and members of his ranks already worried about his position on Gaza.
The Labor leader also faced internal controversy in February when he abandoned his commitment to spend £28 billion a year to achieve net zero.
Labour rejected suggestions that it had abandoned its plans to ban layoffs and re-hiring, and insisted that they would act as promised.
A party spokesman said: “Labour's new working deal is a core part of our mission to grow the British economy and improve living standards across the country.
“A Labor government will need to hit the ground running, which is why we are strengthening the proposals to fulfill our obligations.”
“If elected, we will introduce a bill within 100 days after joining the government.”
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