“The labour movement has the solutions – but what is missing is the political will from government to bring them into being.”
At TUC Congress 2025, the Institute of Employment Rights and Campaign for Trade Union Freedom held a fringe event highlighting the shortcomings of the Government’s Employment Rights Bill: ‘Finishing the job – Forward to Employment Rights #2 Bill’. Ben Hayes reports back.
TUC delegates gathered at the end of Brighton Pier on Sunday evening for the Institute of Employment Rights fringe, which this year took place at a crucial point as the Employment Rights Bill continues its journey through Parliament- and as recognition of the need to further strengthen the Bill gains traction and frustration at the weaknesses grows.
The meeting was held ahead of the composite motion at the TUC on grasping the opportunity to bolster the Bill, ensuring workers receive dignity and respect. Chair Carolyn Jones, welcoming delegates to the meeting, highlighted the campaign to ‘Finish the job’: encouraging people to lobby their MPs and the Cabinet not just to strengthen this Bill, but deliver the follow-up legislation that is required.
Eddie Dempsey, RMT General Secretary, outlined that the union was supportive, but feared proposals had been further and further watered down. Citing the example of P&O, he emphasised the need for a ‘real time’ mechanism that can bring an injunction against employers when they break employment law – stopping the injustice rather than having to seek redress later on. The importance of sectoral collective bargaining and its role in driving up improvements in working lives was also highlighted by Dempsey – making the point that trade unions need to be put “back where we belong”, as we see and feel the multiple social impacts of decline in trade union membership.
Ruth Dukes, IER Vice President, also noted that while the Bill does advance rights in some areas, it falls short on the enforcement of rights by workers and their trade unions – a huge amount is left to future legislation, with the Bill creating powers to address issues rather than actually doing the addressing.
Neil Todd from Thompsons Solicitors further underlined the need for enforcement mechanisms, and the need to not just punish but stop employers who break employment law. Later in the meeting Nicola Countouris, another IER Vice President, also pointed out that the labour movement has the solutions – but what is missing is the political will from government to bring them into being.
Fran Heathcote, PCS General Secretary, made the point that the Bill, whilst not everything that PCS wanted, did represent a significant step forwards- but pointed out that the delay in the Bill and its implementation are a real cause for concern for many.
Sarah Woolley, BFAWU General Secretary, was clear that for BFAWU workers employment rights represent the difference between dignity and exploitation- and that the Bill must be the beginning, not the end, of the process of strengthening workers’ rights.
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