Demand a new deal for workers

RE the new figures published on April 23 by the Office for National Statistics, which show that UK firms used 1.8 million zero-hour contacts in 2017 and that 901,000 people have a zero-hour contract as their main employment (final quarter of 2017).

Most people are not on zero-hour contracts by choice. They want the same rights, security and guaranteed hours as other employees.

More than half of zero-hour contract workers have had jobs cancelled with less than a day’s notice. Zero-hour contracts are a licence to treat people like disposable labour and the government should ban them.

A TUC commissioned poll of workers on zero-hour contracts published in December 2017 found that:

More than half (51%) of zerohours workers have had shifts cancelled at less than 24 hours’ notice;

Nearly three-quarters (73%) have been offered work at less than 24 hours’ notice;

Only 25% say they prefer being on zero-hours contracts; Only 12% say they get sick pay; Only 7% would get redundancy pay

Two-fifths (43%) say they don’t get holiday pay.

The TUC is holding a march and rally in London on Saturday May 12 demanding a new deal for working people.

For more details, visit www.tuc. org.uk/new-deal-working-peopletuc-march-and-rally.

Frances O’Grady TUC General Secretary