END THE TWO-TIER WORKFORCE!

Today sees the second reading of a Private Members ' Bill demanding equal rights for
Britain's 1.4 million agency workers.
Andrew Miller's Bill would give temporary workers the same employment rights as those enjoyed by permanent, directly employed staff. It's predictably opposed by the CBI and, shamefully , many in the Government. Yesterday I spoke to the very moderate General Secretary of USDAW, who are backing the Bill 100 per cent.
The problem is, as ever, will there be enough Labour MPs willing to support these very modest measures which are on the statute book elsewehere in Europe .
As TULO - Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation chairman Tony Dubbins points out "threats by the CBI about job cuts should hold no sway with the government, as their dire warnings about job losses as a result of the minimum wage or equal pay for part-time workers have never come to pass."
Dubbins predicts in the Morning Star that that the 100 Labour MPs needed to move the Bill forward will be in the Commons today to send a "clear message" that there is widespread abuse of agency workers. If they are not , it absolutely undermined the credibility of the Labour Party when it comes to fighting low pay.
As UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis says: "Temporary and agency workers are not currently equal under the law. They routinely put up with less pay - the TUC put this figure at £110 per week. They also receive only statutory sick pay and holidays, no pension or training,"