On May 14, 2024, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and Deputy Leader Angela Rayner will meet with union leaders to discuss the party’s commitments to enhancing workers' rights. This assembly will take place at the Labour Party's Southwark headquarters. The proposed rights overhaul includes day one protections against unfair dismissal, maternity and sick pay, bans on zero-hour contracts, and trade union access. However, some recent modifications to the proposals, which allow workers to remain on zero-hours contracts if they prefer, have raised concerns among unions about potential loopholes for exploitation.
Union representatives, including those from Unite, the Communication Workers Union, and the Fire Brigades Union, have expressed their worries about these changes. Additionally, the meeting is expected to address concerns about Natalie Elphicke’s recent defection to Labour, given her past anti-union positions. Labour MPs have also voiced their unease regarding Elphicke’s stance on union-related issues.
This meeting aims to finalize the policy proposals before transforming them into campaign documents for party candidates. The discussions follow internal debates within Labour about the extent and implementation timing of the proposed worker’s rights enhancements.