Labour block move to end zero hours contracts.

Oldham’s Labour Council, backed by their coalition partners, have blocked a move to end zero hours contracts for staff at the same time as putting through a motion condemning zero hours contracts [11/09/24].   

A Labour motion to full Council supporting the new Employments Rights Bill said that “fair pay and decent working conditions are fundamental rights for all workers”, and endorsed a ban on zero hours contracts.

However, when the Liberal Democrats proposed that the Council should practice what it preaches and stop using zero hours contracts, it was immediately blocked by the Labour party and its coalition partners.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who proposed the amendment, said: “Labour is very good at saying the right thing. However, they don’t seem to be interested in doing the right thing. 

“This was a classic Labour motion, which asks other people to ‘do the right thing’. We added one simple step – one which protects workers in our borough by the Council by taking a simple action. Sadly, it was voted down immediately.

“In short order, we have seen Oldham’s Labour MPs vote to remove Winter Fuel Payments from 85% of local pensioners, and the Council refuse to back an end to the two child benefit cap, and refuse to end zero hours contracts. You have to ask yourself, who are Labour representing, if it’s not local pensioners, people struggling to make ends meet, and even their own staff?”