NI Good Jobs Bill: Usdaw condemns the DUP’s anti-trade union stance on employment rights legislation
Retail trade union Usdaw has condemned Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, for her stance on the Good Jobs Bill, which aims to overhaul employment laws. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said they won’t support the proposed legislation unless the new trade union rights are removed.
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “We fundamentally reject the DUP position, that workers’ rights can be improved by cutting off their voice through a trade union. Under current laws, too many employers are able to frustrate trade unions in their efforts to provide fair representation for workers and give them a say in their working lives. This legislation goes some way to addressing that problem by allowing union reps to access workplaces and engage with employees.
“Employers who want to treat their staff with decency and not exploit workers have nothing to fear from trade unions, and our reps should have a right to access workplaces and speak to employees. This is not a question of forcing people to join, but giving them the opportunity to have an open and honest conversation.
“Everyone deserves the improved security at work this legislation will help to provide, and the role of trade unions is crucial. We urge the DUP and employers to not stand in the way of this legislation and engage with trade unions to secure recognition agreements through positive and productive discussions.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For further information please contact Usdaw’s Media Office on: 0161 249 2469 or by e-mail to [email protected]
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news
and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social
and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion
The views expressed in this media release are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cision.
