Work-Shy Civil Service Union Boss Says Rayner’s Employment Rights Bill Will Be ‘Transformational’ – Guido Fawkes

Work-Shy Civil Service Union Boss Says Rayner’s Employment Rights Bill Will Be ‘Transformational’

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Civil Service union PCS’ general secretary Fran Heathcote is already rattling the sabre despite Labour handing out inflation-busting pay rises of 3.25% for senior civil servants. In an interview with Civil Service World, Heathcote moaned that Labour is “not better” than the “abhorrent, right-wing Tory rule”, making it clear that the unions will keep asking for more:

“The big issues for us are pay, jobs and job security and, to some extent, hybrid working and flexible working. All of those will be high on our agenda.”

As of this month Heathcote’s allies have secured a majority on the union’s National Executive Committee allowing them to push through more extreme positions. She said she is “hopeful” that Labour will fold under pressure to their demands once again:

“They can meet us as much as they like, but if at the same time they’re then making announcements attacking our members or announcing large-scale cuts, then that’s not so helpful.”

Less surprising is that Heathcote is along with other union bosses frothing at the mouth for Rayner’s “transformational” Employment Rights Bill – essentially a union wish list wrapped in parliamentary paper. Exactly what small businesses have warned about…

She said:

“On the face of it, the employment rights bill is transformational. We want to put pressure on them now to implement what, if fully implemented, will be a transformational situation for our members, whether it’s minimum service levels bills, anti-trade union legislation, bereavement leave, or maternity pay. All of that’s good, but it’s got to now come in and not get watered down.”

Now wonder Labour accidentally called it the Employment Rights ‘Union’ Bill. Expect a summer of strike ballots come cuts in the June spending review…