Commenting on the announcement by Eric Pickles, that he is planning to
scrap the two-tier workforce code in local government, Dave Prentis, UNISON
General Secretary, said:
Abolishing the two-tier code is a recipe for exploitation. By scrapping it, Eric
Pickles is getting rid of vital protection for mainly low paid, women workers
particularly cleaners, home carers, and catering workers. Private firms taking
over public contracts will now be free to start a race to the bottom on pay and
terms and conditions, in these already low-wage occupations.
The Tories plan is to privatise whole swathes of the public sector, this move
means they have sweetened the deal for their friends in big business. At the
same time, it will leave millions of workers vulnerable to the ravages of the
open market.
You only have to leaf back through the history books for a glimpse of the
future. When the Tories introduced Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT),
workers suffered huge cuts to pay and conditions. Staff turnover shot through
the roof, and ultimately, standards dropped.
It is clear just whose side this government is on and it not low paid workers.
We are not all in this together.
ENDS
