Unite hails Easter round up of rogue employers

Monday, 17 March 2008 12:00 AM

Welcoming the latest strike against abusive employers in food and agriculture by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, Jack Dromey, Deputy General Secretary of the UK's biggest union, Unite, said:

"Providers of temporary labour, agencies and gangmasters, should be licensed and, if they seriously abuse workers, lose their licence and go out of business. These latest raids demonstrate, that with the GLA in agriculture, this is what happens - worker abuse is rooted out and reputable employers are protected from the undercutting rogues.

"But now we need to see workers in sectors beyond food and farming benefit from the same protection. Gangmasters do not respect business boundaries - from hotels to building sites, they operate wherever they can supply labour, and so must licensing. It is time that the GLA's reach and worker protection were extended across the economy."

The GLA-organised raids targeted labour providers in the flower, plant and bulb industry around Spalding and Boston, carried out by GLA officers in the run up to Mothers Day and Easter.

Ends

For further information contact Pauline Doyle, Unite, on 07976 832 861

For further information about the GLA raids contact 0115 900 8963/07825 797130

Pauline Doyle
T&G Head of Campaigns
020 7611 2560
07976 832 861

Andrew Dodgshon
Unite Press Office
020 7611 2550
07976 832156

andrew.dodgshon@unitetheunion.com

Demand equal rights for agency workers
British employment law fails to protect the country's 1.4 million agency workers. The Temporary and Agency Workers bill would outlaw discrimination against agency workers and is backed by Unite, other unions and the TUC. On 22nd February, 157 MPs backed the bill, a momentous vote to end undercutting and abuse. But with government yet to back the bill, the fight for workplace justice has not yet been won. Keep pledging your support. Find out more on how you can get involved in the campaign.

If you want to know more about the T&G, visit us at www.tgwu.org.uk or contact our head office on 0207 611 2500.

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