Douglas Alexander MP has welcomed new polling data which shows residents in the Lothian East constituency are overwhelmingly supportive of the Government’s Employment Rights Bill, which will introduce a range of new legal rights for workers.
The poll found that 74 percent of Lothian East constituents support the Bill’s provision to ensure all workers have the right to sick pay, paid from the first day of sickness, while 75 per cent support the move to ban zero hours contracts by offering all workers a contract that reflects their normal hours of work and compensation for cancelled shifts.
The Lothian East figures are part of a recent MRP mega poll of over 21k voters – conducted by Hope Not Hate and the TUC – the biggest ever poll conducted on workers’ rights across Great Britain.
The results were published to coincide with the start of Heart Unions Week (10-16 February) which promotes the value of trade union membership and the positive difference being in a union can make at work.
Douglas Alexander MP said:
“The Employment Rights Bill is the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation. It will ensure our laws are fit for modern life, raise living standards and provide opportunity and security for businesses, workers and communities across the country.
“The legislation will end exploitative zero hours contacts, introduce quicker access to sick pay, better flexible working rights and deliver stronger employment rights from day one. The legislation also establishes a Fair Work Agency to improve enforcement of rights at work.
“I’m delighted that this opinion polling has found such strong public support here in the Lothian East constituency for action to address exploitation and look forward to working people here and across the UK benefiting from their enhanced rights at work.”
Find out more about Heart Unions Week and why you should join a trade union at www.tuc.org.uk/Heartunions.
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