Union vows to protect home workers’ pay

Unite has produced a blueprint to protect homeworkers from attacks on their pay and conditions from ‘unscrupulous employers’.

The union has vowed to support its members who face issues because they work from home

It has produced a framework agreement to assist Unite workplace representatives in their negotiations with employers.

A Tory Cabinet minister recently suggested civil servants who won’t return to the office could have a pay cut.

The suggestion threatens to open the floodgates for unscrupulous employers to attempt to cut workers’ pay despite evidence that homeworking can make workers happier and more productive if introduced fairly through negotiation not imposition.

Unite Executive Officer Sharon Graham said: “Covid-19 has changed the way we work but it is absolutely imperative that we stand up to bad bosses who try to attack workers’ pay and conditions.

"Unite has produced a framework agreement to assist Unite workplace representatives in their negotiations. The protection of pay and conditions is a cornerstone of the agreement.

“Home working can be good for some, but agreements need to be in place to protect workers, for example the right to disconnect.

"It is important to remember that home working done badly can lead to more work for the same pay. It can also lead to stress and depression, as well as health and safety risks from working in an unsuitable environment.

“It is vital that employers now recognise that home working is an issue for negotiation not imposition and that we will be demanding adequate protection.”