Don't let employers use agency temps to break strikes!

One of the most harmful proposals in the Government’s trade union reform plan is removing the longstanding ban on using agency temp workers to break strikes. Using agency workers in this way would undermine all workers. The right to withdraw your labour, agreed across the democratic world, becomes almost meaningless if protesting workers can be replaced at the drop of a hat.

Agency temps, often young workers, may feel pressured or misled into entering a stressful situation, taking on jobs of striking workers. Using less qualified temps to cover jobs from lorry driving or working heavy machinery to essential public services could risk their safety and that of the public. And there could be an impact on quality of services.

If bad employers draft in low paid temps to break strikes, it will drag down pay and conditions across the economy. Fewer workers will be willing to stand up against injustice at work if they know they can simply be replaced.

Strikes aren't common (they're historically low) but they're an important last resort for workers if an employer acts unfairly and won't negotiate. This puts all power in the hands of the employer. In the long term nobody wins.

Let's show Sajid Javid we value our right to strike, and don't want it undermined.