Part timers exploited

Exploitation of part-time workers in local government and schools is increasing as a result of government cuts, a survey by the UNISON public services union suggests.

UNISON claims that part-time workers in local councils and school support roles are being undervalued and overworked as a result of government cuts. Most of these workers are women.

The survey of more than 2,600 part-time workers reveals unpaid overtime among part-time workers in schools and councils is now common. Over 60% said they were doing unpaid overtime every week, and a fifth said that they are covering the work of a redundant or vacant post as well as their own.

Part-time workers make up 60% of all employees in these sectors. And the vast majority — 91% — are women.

UNISON head of local government Heather Wakefield said: “Part-time workers are the lifeblood of local government and schools, and local services would collapse without them. Yet they are facing an all-out assault on their pay, conditions and hours of work.”

Not only were part-time workers being routinely used to plug full-time gaps left by redundancies, but often they had “no security of contract, hours or income, and no overtime pay,” she added.

Half a million local government jobs have been lost since the government came to power in 2010. The study also shows that a high proportion of staff who previously worked more than 31 hours have seen their hours slashed.

www.unison.org.uk/news/part-time-council-and-school-support-workers-exploited-by-government-cuts