“Exploited” zero-hour contract workers across Sheffield will be offered guaranteed hours and reasonable notice of shifts as Sheffield City Council puts it support behind the Labour’s new Employment Rights Bill.
Cllr Karen McGowan: “There are thousands of workers in Sheffield that are on a zero-hour contract and this will be a big help to many of them. It will give Sheffield workers the prosperity, security and dignity they deserve.”
On Wednesday evening, the Sheffield City Council voted to pass a motion supporting the bill.
Grace Laing, 20, who spent a year working on a zero-hour contract said: “I found it difficult to plan a life around a work schedule where nothing was guaranteed. I didn’t have the same rights as someone on a fixed contract with regular hours. I didn’t feel in control of my own hours.
“I would be called at 7am and told I was expected to be there at 8:30 which meant I felt constantly on call.”
However, Cllr Kurtis Crossland defended zero-hour contracts.
“We see an attack on zero hour contracts in this budget. Some people want zero-hour contracts so let’s make them work fairly for people and not villanise them for a quick soundbite.”
Trade unions will be given greater access to the workplace to intervene in exploitative practices.
Sam Morecroft, President of Sheffield Trades Union Council said: “Every zero hour contract is exploitative. All the flexibility is with the employers and never with the worker.
“When you’re on a zero-hour contract you can’t think very far ahead. You dread the Christmas holidays where you might not have any hours and you don’t know how much you’re going to get paid or how you’re going to get through it.”
The bill requires employers to justify the refusal of flexible working requests and payment for shifts that are cancelled at short notice. It also introduces statutory sick pay.
Cllr Terry Fox: “How is it right that in the 21st century that we are still fighting for sick pay for people who give labour eight hours a day? How can it be right that we are still fighting for statutory holidays for workers?
“It is about time that workers got a chance to shout.”
Despite the proposed reforms, Mr Morecroft was “disappointed” that Labour didn’t completely ban zero hour contracts.
Fellow member of the Sheffield TUC, Bob Jeffrey said: “I think there is promise in new legislation, but it could have gone further. Workers also need to collectively organise to be able to assert their employment rights on the ground.”
