Britain’s workplaces are under strain and after a short summer lull, those tensions may break out into open conflict. New laws prioritised by the Labour government will come into force in the autumn giving unions additional powers, making it easier for them to secure recognition and take strike action where negotiations fail.
Binmen and teachers are already withdrawing their labour; junior doctors and nurses may follow. NHS facilities staff at two hospitals in Surrey are voting to strike for the first time, frustrated by their contract terms.
Unite, the largest private sector-focused union with 1.2 million members, says the Labour government is not representing “workers”. It believes Britain’s workplaces are in crisis, recently calling out what it sees as “endemic sexual harassment”.
The union polled its members on whether they had experienced sexual harassment while at work, travelling to work or from a colleague, within or out of work hours. Disturbingly, the survey found a quarter had been sexually assaulted, while 8 per cent had been a victim of sexual coercion. The worst offending sectors were construction, transport, food, drink, agriculture and logistics.
Companies, for their part, are also suffering. Many are restructuring their operations, not least Jaguar Land Rover, which is cutting 500 management jobs. The 25 billion a year rise in national insurance that took effect for all but the smallest employers in April is biting. Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality,...
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