Trade union leaders are set to meet with senior government ministers on Saturday for crucial talks regarding the government’s workers’ rights package, as ministers aim to avoid a contentious dispute at the upcoming Labour conference.
General secretaries from the 11 unions affiliated with Labour will convene with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to finalize the details of the proposals. With only weeks left before the publication of the package, both sides hope to resolve key disagreements and present a united front.
While there remain several areas of contention, ministers are optimistic about reaching a final agreement, with one source describing their goal as delivering a message of “peace in our time.” The discussions follow a promise from Labour to introduce the workers’ rights proposals within their first 100 days in office, focusing on better pay and job security.
Among the proposed reforms are restrictions on zero-hours contracts, granting workers full rights from day one, and ending the controversial practice of “fire and rehire.” However, some unions have expressed concerns that Labour has diluted its original plans under pressure from employers and the Treasury.
One of the sticking points has been zero-hours contracts, with unions worried that the pledge to ban only “exploitative” contracts could allow companies to claim their contracts are non-exploitative. Additionally, there is disagreement over the length of probationary periods before workers are granted full rights. Ministers appear to have settled on a six-month probation period, but some unions argue this undermines collective bargaining.
The final dispute centers on whether companies facing bankruptcy should be allowed to “fire and rehire” workers at lower pay. While ministers believe this could save jobs, unions fear employers could exploit the loophole.
Despite ongoing disagreements, both sides are working toward an agreement to avoid disrupting the Labour conference and present a strong unified message on workers’ rights.
