Making sacking workers easier a sop to Euro-sceptic right-wing,
says Unite
26 October 2011
Proposals to make it easier to sack workers have been criticised
by Unite, the largest union in the country, today (26 October).
The recommendations to scrap the concept of unfair dismissal are
made by venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft in a report commissioned
by David Cameron.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: ”It can’t be any
coincidence that this sop to the right wing of the Tory party comes
just 24 hours after the prime minister faced a massive revolt by
his backbenchers demanding a referendum on Europe.
”It is despicable that this government seeks to appease its
voracious right wing by promising to crush any powers to defend
themselves that workers in this country may have left.
”UK workers are already the cheapest and easiest to sack in the
European Union. Now David Cameron plans to take the nation further
back to the dark days of ‘hire-and-fire.’ That is not in any way a
plan for growth – it’s a pathway to workplace misery and a
demoralised and less productive workforce.
”This is a government in thrall to its vested interests - a
rabid business lobby and an-out of-control right wing of the Tory
party. With every day they remain in office, this country becomes a
more unhappy and unequal place.
”As those who study the evidence on industrial tribunals know,
the system works extremely well to root out so-called vexatious
claims. The continuous peddling of poisonous myths by the likes of
Mr Beecroft does not make these distortions true.”
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information please contact Unite communications
officer Shaun Noble on 07768 693940
