Two-Tier Workforce

My major focus in Westminster this week has been on the two-tier workforce in our public services.  The two-tier workforce refers to workers whose jobs have been outsourced to the private sector and who find their conditions of work to be inferior to those employed in the public sector.  This is a natural result of outsourcing as private sector companies will naturally try to cut their costs often starting with their biggest cost- their employees.  It is important that when services are contracted out, it is not done on the basis of poorer terms and conditions of employment for the staff.  The Government has been concerned about the issue for some time and as the Prime Minister said in 2001 “if the impact of contracting out is simply to undermine the terms and conditions of staff, it will usually not lead to a better service.”  As a result the Government, as part of the Warwick Agreement, sought to protect workers whose jobs had been outsourced by putting an end to the two-tier workforce.  Since this announcement I have been working closely with the trades unions to ensure that the Government honours this commitment.   Progress has certainly been made but the pace of change has often been frustratingly slow.  Part of the problem has been the complexity of monitoring and enforcing the Best Value Code in Workforce Matters which was put in place to protect workers whose jobs were outsourced.  I am determined however to see the end of the two tier workforce and have this week tabled a series of questions to each government department asking what progress has been made in its eradication.   I await the responses with interest. 

Another issue I have been involved with in Westminster recently is illegal logging and I have sponsored a private member’s bill, tabled by Barry Gardiner MP, into the issue.  Barry is the UK special envoy on forestry and has done great work in protecting the world’s forests.  The private member’s bill provides an opportunity to debate the best way to legislate against illegal logging in advance of the EU ruling on the issue later this month.  Illegal logging is doing great damage to the world’s forests which in turn destroys natural habitats and releases yet more carbon into the atmosphere.  There are a number of options currently sitting before the European Commission and it is important that effective legislation is brought to bear.

Finally, as I have mentioned in the last couple of columns I have been very concerned about the effects the abolition of the 10p tax rate will have upon people in our constituency.  I will be submitting written evidence to the Treasury Select Committee inquiry into possible compensation packages and it would be very useful to hear from people who have been adversely affected.  If you have lost out and would be willing to provide the full details of your case, in strict confidence, it will be helpful in making my case. Contact me here.