Workers’ wage war will pay off
I’m delighted to report that construction worker Russ Blakely has finally won his two-year struggle for fair pay.
The pipefitter worked for 20 weeks at Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire but, as I reported earlier this year, he was caught in the umbrella system, being employed via a contractor and a recruitment agency with his wages coming through a separate payroll company.
He went to an employment tribunal after employers’ national insurance contributions were unlawfully deducted from his wages, and he was charged a “management company margin” and denied holiday pay.
The tribunal in Reading rejected his claim after ruling that he was self-employed but he went on to win an appeal with a ruling that sets a legal precedent.
On-Site Recruitment Solutions Limited admitted liability the day before another hearing was due to decide how much he was owed and agreed to pay him £2,500.
Throughout the battle he has been supported by the union Unite.
“Unite will now be ensuring that the decisions contained within this case will be applied to other similar cases and the rip-offs inherent in the employment agency, umbrella company and payroll company model are tackled and stamped out,” said assistant general secretary Howard Beckett.
CRANK’S CORNER
The British Homeopathic Association has lost its legal battle against NHS England.
It was trying to overturn guidance issued to family doctors against prescribing homeopathic products.
These are often so diluted that they contain no active ingredients.
The charity Good Thinking Society has led challenges against the NHS spending on homeopathy.
Project director Michael Marshall said: “The NHS should not be funding treatments that have not been shown to work. Homeopathy has no place in modern healthcare.”
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