
Theresa May will promise a "new deal for workers" this week, with a pledge to offer protections for workers in the gig economy.
She will pledge to increase the 'National Living Wage' (which is simply a rebranded minimum wage and stands at £7.50 for those 25 and older, below the Living Wage foundation's calculated rate of £8.45) in line with average earnings until 2022.
She will pledge an expansion of workers rights in an attempt to sweep up Labour votes in the upcoming general election.
Longtime Labour MP (though not at present due to the dissolution of parliament until the election result) Yvette Cooper has tweeted about this policy pivot:
Tories & workers rights? Here's Theresa May voting for Trade Union Bill to cut workers rights… https://t.co/Pz0RO2f8jO— Yvette Cooper (@Yvette Cooper) 1494833434
The act introduced a 50 per cent turnout threshold for strike action and 40 per cent threshold of support for strike action by "important public services". It also included strict regulation on picketing and funding of political parties.
Cooper continued:
And here's Theresa May voting for employment tribunal fees - so workers can't afford to enforce their rights… https://t.co/AvsXYnaA2b— Yvette Cooper (@Yvette Cooper) 1494838770
Or this one, when Theresa May voted to make workers wait 2 years before getting employment rights… https://t.co/OrPjMXNbyX— Yvette Cooper (@Yvette Cooper) 1494841123
Tribunal fees could amount to as much as £1,200 per case to bring employers to tribunals. As a result 67 per cent less cases have gone to tribunal for obvious reasons - a claim for a £200 underpayment could cost £390 to bring to court.
During her brief leadership campaign May promised to place employee representative on boards - but the idea has been nixed and seen by many as a u-turn.
In a speech to business leaders in November she appeared to back peddling on the policy saying:
Some companies may find that these models work best for them – but there are other routes that use existing board structures, complemented or supplemented by advisory councils or panels, to ensure all those with a stake in the company are properly represented.
It will be a question of finding the model that works.
She will now also propose Child Bereavement Leave in her manifesto, alongside proposals to leave work to care for elderly relatives.
I am literally over the moon that @theresa_may is pledging to introduce Child Bereavement Leave. Such great news. https://t.co/7cJ2SQHF0R— Will Quince MP 🇬🇧 (@Will Quince MP 🇬🇧) 1494797876
indy100 has contacted Yvette Cooper for further comment.