So let’s discuss something other than the “B” word….Brexit.
There has been talk about a general election, and if Labour get in, they have proposed a creation of a Ministry for Employment Rights. This will be quite a shake up of employment and trade union law.
What they are proposing is giving all workers the right to seek flexible working and placing a duty on the employer to accommodate the request; banning unpaid internships; banning zero hours contracts; creating a single status of worker for everyone apart from those who are genuinely self employed individuals; introducing a civil enforcement system to ensure compliance with gender pay auditing and by 2020 giving all workers aged 16 or over a statutory real living wage of £10 per hour.
The other proposals are to do with collective rights, they wish to repeal the Trade Union Act in its entirety, give trade unions the right of entry to work places to organise members and to meet and represent their members, make it easier for workers to have their say at work allowing electronic and workplace ballots, and banning anti-union practice and strengthening protection of trade union representatives against unfair dismissal.
Mr Corbyn and Ms Pidcock wish to “put power in the hands of the workers.”
Interesting times ahead.
However, let’s not mention the “B word” …