A press release from Youth Fight for Jobs
Anti-zero-hours campaigners brand Miliband’s pledge ‘not good enough’
- Global Day of Action planned for 15 April
Campaigners from the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign have reacted to news that Miliband plans to put a ’12 week limit’ on the use of zero hours contracts.
Helen Pattison, spokesperson for the campaign and a former zero-hours contract worker said:
If Labour want young workers’ votes they need to do better than this. Clearly they’re feeling the pressure of campaigns like ours and the huge anger that exists at the scandal of zero-hour contracts.
But Miliband’s promise goes nowhere near far enough. This pledge does not ‘ban’ zero-hour contracts and could even lead to employers systematically firing and rehiring workers after a three month period – in reality adding to insecurity.
As someone who has experienced life on a zero-hour contract I know the feeling of stress and isolation these cause.
But this policy will not solve the problem. Workers deserve guaranteed hours, trade union representation and full employment rights from day one.
What’s more, we deserve a wage we can live on – I’d like to see Labour back the campaign to raise the minimum wage to £10 now – not £8 by 2020.
And it would be good to see them actually backing trade unions putting up a fight over zero-hour contracts. That’s why I’ll be joining protests on 15 April as part of the ‘join a union day’.
The day of action on 15 April is part of global protests taking place against low pay and casual work.
In Britain, Youth Fight for Jobs is working alongside the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) as part of the Fast Food Rights coalition.
On 15 April actions will take place across the country as part of a ‘join a union day’ aimed at helping to encourage unorganised workers to get organised to fight for a better deal.
Fast Food Rights demands the scrapping of zero-hour contracts, a £10 an hour minimum wage without youth exemptions and full trade union rights for all workers.
Helen Pattison is available for interview, call 07540 189 052
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-Fight-for-Jobs/293131194070357
