Posted 24 January 2024 - 14:52
Posted 24 January 2024 - 14:52
News
‘Agency nurse cover during strikes only inflames conflict’
Unions and body representing temp agencies unite in calling on ministers to back away from fresh bid to allow outside agency cover during nurses’ strikes
Unions and body representing temp agencies unite in calling on ministers to back away from fresh bid to allow outside agency cover during nurses’ strikes
Unions and staffing agencies are calling on the government to abandon plans to attempt to override the ban on the use of agency workers who fill in during strikes.
The TUC and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation urged ministers to reconsider the ‘ill-judged proposal’ that could be used to lessen the impact of future nurses’ strikes.
Government wants to lift prohibition on agency staff providing strike cover
The government was defeated in the High Court in June 2023 over it move to allow agencies to supply staff to cover for striking workers. The court criticised ministers’ actions as ‘unfair, unlawful and irrational’, and reinstated the ban.
However, in November the government began a fresh consultation on removing regulations that prevent agency workers from covering for strikers
‘Agency recruitment bodies have repeatedly made clear they don’t want their staff to be put in the position where they have to cover strikes’
Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary
In a joint statement on 24 January the TUC and the agencies’ confederation said: ‘We both believe that using agency staff to cover strikes only prolongs and inflames the conflict between employers and their permanent staff.
‘It also risks placing agency staff and recruitment businesses in the centre of often complicated and contentious disputes over which they have no control. Where a dispute occurs, the focus should instead be on negotiation and resolution to return to a normal service.’
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: ‘The humiliating High Court defeat should have been the final nail in the coffin for these unworkable, shoddy plans to overturn the long-standing ban on agency workers filling in for striking workers. Agency recruitment bodies have repeatedly made clear they don’t want their staff to be put in the position where they have to cover strikes. It’s time for ministers to listen and drop these plans for good.’
‘Strong case for supporting employers to manage disruption’
A government spokesperson said it wants to make balance the right to strike and the needs of the public.
They added: ‘We believe there is a strong case for this change to help employers to manage any disruption, and people expect the government to act in circumstances where their rights and freedoms are being disproportionately impacted.’
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