Unions vow to fight on for agency staff

Unions have promised to continue fighting for more agency and temporary workers' rights, despite the recent defeat of draft legislation on the issue.

More than 100 MPs, mostly Labour, had backed a private members' bill that would have protected 1.4 million agency workers and temps by giving them the same rights to pay, overtime and sick leave as directly employed staff. The bill was brought by Paul Farrelly, a Labour MP and member of the Amicus skilled and professional union, but was "talked out" and denied a vote.

A joint statement by the unions Amicus, the T&G, the GMB, the CWU and UNISON welcomed the support that the bill had received. This, they said, demonstrated "the need and the urgency for legislation, and the fact that MPs across the country see this as an absolute priority".

They also urged the government to recognise the extent of the problem, and the "devastating impact it is having on many people's lives and those of their families."

Vowing to continue the campaign, they added: "Without the protection that only legislation can provide, workers will continue to be exploited by unscrupulous employers and this scourge in society will be allowed to continue."

As part of its Warwick commitment to the unions before the last election (see Labour Research, January 2005, page 9), the Labour Party promised legislation to improve agency workers' rights. But this has not happened - and, worse, the UK government has been responsible for halting the progress of a European directive on the issue.