Scottish Greens blast Labour’s ‘slap in the face’ over zero-hour contract U-turn
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Scottish Green MSP, Maggie Chapman has called Labour’s decision to U-turn on their promise to scrap zero-hour contracts a ‘slap in the face’ to workers and voters.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto states:
“This [Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay] will include banning exploitative zero hours contracts; ending fire and rehire; and introducing basic rights from day one to parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal.”
Recent reports confirm that, instead of immediate protection against unfair dismissal from the first day of employment, Labour’s UK Government scaled back the commitment so that workers will only gain this protection after six months’ employment.
Additionally, the commitment to ban zero-hour contracts has been replaced with reforming them. This fundamentally weakens a core pledge in the Labour Party’s Employment Rights Act, removing a vital safeguard for the most vulnerable workers.
Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman said:
“Labour told people that zero-hour contracts would be scrapped. Instead, these precarious working conditions are being kept alive through delay and dilution. That is not what people voted for.
“Labour’s decision to reform rather than abolish exploitative zero-hour contracts is a slap in the face to working people and to the principle of democracy. Voters were told that a vote for Labour meant an end to insecure work, not a delay that leaves people exposed for months.
“Everyone deserves security and dignity at work from day one on the job. Forcing people to wait months before they are protected only hands more power to bad employers and puts all the risk on workers.
“While it’s not surprising to see Labour turn its back on workers, it is a disgrace that the party’s politicians tell voters one thing during an election, and once in power, do another.
“Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar should take a leaf from the Greens’ book and actually listen to workers and voters, not turn their backs on them once the election is over.
“The Scottish Greens have shown that when you vote for us, you get what you vote for, like free bus travel for under-22s and ending peak rail fares.
“We will always stand up for workers and our communities, ensuring not only fairer distribution of wealth but also generating money for our public services. We have used our influence in Parliament to ensure the Scottish Government makes provisions for a mansion tax, a private jet tax and an end to tax breaks for shooting estates.
“It is clear that the Scottish Greens, unlike Labour, actually stand up for workers and voters. We stick to our values, not just when we’re looking for votes during election campaigns.”