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Reposted by TUC Policy

Tim Sharp @timsharp.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Dynamic pay turns work into a gamble. Different workers are offered different rates for the same job with just seconds to decide whether to accept it. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

theguardian.com

Dynamic pay on platforms such as Uber should be banned, says TUC

Exclusive: Union body finds workers describing themselves as ‘gambling’ because wages felt like the outcome of chance rather than work

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Tim Sharp @timsharp.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

So-called talent platforms undermine workers' rights. You might have seen the weekend news story www.theguardian.com/business/202... You can now read @pwielt.bsky.social's blog here: www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/flexib... The full @tuceconomics.bsky.social report is here: www.tuc.org.uk/research-ana...

tuc.org.uk

Flexibility or fiction? Why the rise of talent platforms shows we need action on worker status

What do upmarket hotel Claridge’s, retailer Urban Outfitters and café chain Colicci’s have in common? They have all used so-called talent platforms: agencies that supply ostensibly self-employed worke...

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

For decades unions have fought bad employers industrially, politically and in the courts when they have sought to undermine workers' collective voice. Great that this latest attempt to bypass unions has been roundly condemned in parliament.

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

The TUC is urging the government to ensure that workers receive the lower of their earnings or statutory sick pay. At the very least they should receive 95 per cent of pay to reflect the payments received by the lowest-earning workers who currently qualify for SSP.

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Tim Sharp @timsharp.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Good to see retailers backtrack on these absurd arrangements. Uniqlo, Gymshark and Lush stop hiring UK workers via gig economy apps www.theguardian.com/business/202...

theguardian.com

Uniqlo, Gymshark and Lush stop hiring UK workers via gig economy apps

TUC criticise retailers for endangering workers’ rights by using apps such as YoungOnes and Temper

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Trades Union Congress @tuc.org.uk · 06/01/2025

The rise in retailers using gig apps to hire workers as freelancers rather than staff is extremely worrying. Shop workers end up losing out on significant employment rights. It's good to see these firms listening to our advice and ending their use of the practice.

theguardian.com

Uniqlo, Gymshark and Lush stop hiring UK workers via gig economy apps

TUC criticise retailers for endangering workers’ rights by using apps such as YoungOnes and Temper

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

@steveakehurst.bsky.social tells #TUCdecentwork conference: "Once you get beyond the lobbyists who make a lot of noise in Westminster, you find a lot of support for these changes [in Employment Rights Bill]... across both large and small businesses."

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

@jrf-uk.bsky.social's @paulkissack.bsky.social says people with caring responsibilities are more likely to be in poverty. "These have to be part of a wider debate about making work pay." #TUCdecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Jeni Tennison of @connectedbydata.org tells the #TUCdecentwork conference that there needs to be more co-creation with tech at work so that workers are involved in the adoption of technology at an early stage.

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

He warns these could be used more after employment rights bill gives workers more rights. He wants worker status - and the protections that come with it - based on a test of whether someone is running a genuinely independent business - "if they aren't, then they are a worker".

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Michael Ford KC of Old Square Chambers tells the #TUCdecentwork conference that substitution clauses, use of intermediaries such as umbrella companies, and use of agency workers are deployed by employers to take those they hire out of the employment relationship.

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Tim Sharp @timsharp.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Michele O'Neil l, president of the Australian unions, tells #TUCdecentwork event that labour law reforms Down Under has been followed by a 20 per cent growth in collective bargaining coverage. Have also seen a strong growth in wages and accelerated closing of gender pay growth.

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Michele O'Neil of the Australian Council of Trade Unions highlights the introduction of multi-employer bargaining in Australia and the effective prohibition on employers cancelling collective agreements. #TUCdecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

GMB union organiser Amanda Gearing says you can only change conditions in places like Amazon once you get reps on the inside. Union is calling for changes to union recognition process to stop union busting. Took GMB 142 days to get a 12-page access agreement agreed at Amazon Coventry. #TUCdecentwork

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Tim Sharp @timsharp.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Prof @melaniesimms.bsky.social of @uofglasgow.bsky.social tells #TUCdecentwork session that the Scottish experience is that disorganisation of employer voices is major challenge. This could be an issue for UK govt's labour rights reforms. Need recollectivisation, so employer bodies have legitimacy.

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Karen Barker @karenmbarker.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Margaret Beels OBE says transparency and constant reporting from the Fair Work Agency will be key to ensuring to delivers strong enforcement - of workers’ rights- panel discussion @tuceconomics.bsky.social chaired by @financialfairness.bsky.social CEO Mubin Haq.

Panel of people talking in session ‘Ensuring the Fair Work Agency’ delivers stronger enforcement

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

.@unison.org.uk officer Gavin Edwards says the proposed Fair Pay Agreement in social care could stop a race to the bottom in pay and conditions in the sector. #TUCdecentwork

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Tim Sharp @timsharp.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Prof Alan Bogg of @bristoluni.bsky.social says: "I don't think the employment rights bill would lead to a revolution. But it would lead to a critical rebalancing of the UK labour market." Argues that more collective bargaining could lead to less reliance on individual legal rights. #TUCDecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Danny Sriskandarajah of @neweconomics.bsky.social says: "Let's not ask what decent work can do for the economy and the tax base but think about what the economy can do for decent work." "The economy should be in service of human flourishing," he adds. #TUCdecentwork

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Karen Barker @karenmbarker.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Our Trustee, Kate Bell, says when considering trade offs between improving employment rights and costs to employers, we can’t just focus on short term adjustment costs. We need to take a long view of how we want our labour market to grow and evolve.

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

TUC's @kategobell.bsky.social says UK employers invest half of European counterparts in skills. "If your workers are too cheap, you are much less likely to invest in their skills." So employment reforms are a "key part" of addressing that challenge. #TUCDecentwork

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Heejung Chung @heejungchung.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Stephen Phipson also talks about how the most important thing employers are worried about is recruitment/retention of skilled staff& skill shortages are one of the key challenges. In addition to training/upskilling we need to address workers leaving the labour market due to bad working conditions

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Stephen Phipson, of manufacturers' trade body Make UK, tells #TUCdecentwork event 85 per cent of members fully support government employment rights changes. Big challenge for them is shortage of skilled workers. "We are seeing lots of big projects disappearing from this country because of that."

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Heejung Chung @heejungchung.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Sasha Romanovitch-commission for healthier working lives- discusses the need to not think of disability as a binary state, as there can be fluctuations, but also the need for employers to focus on what workers can do rather than what they cannot do. #TUCdecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Darren Jones condemns zero hours contracts: "It is impossible for you to have security at work or home if you've no idea what money is coming through the door. This is something we thought we banished decades ago. People who do regular work have the right to a regular contract." #TUCdecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Darren Jones, Treasury minister, tells the #TUCdecentwork conference that "it is time to recognise the contributions unions make to the economy". Labour is repealing anti-union laws of last government and extending new rights.

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Tim Sharp @timsharp.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Treasury minister Darren Jones says quality of work matters. "Too often work is low paid, insecure and of poor quality, failing to keep pace with a changing economy." #TUCdecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Tayra Lopes-Lister of Unite union tells #TUCdecentwork conference that hospitality workers often told of shifts the day before and are forced to accept them. "They are told if you don't turn up, then don't turn up again."

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Chris Morris of @usdawunion.bsky.social trade union says that workers with contracts guaranteeing only low numbers of hours struggle to get mortgages or rental properties, suddenly lose hours and find shifts rearranged at short notice. #TUCDecentwork

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Tim Sharp @timsharp.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

This is such an important point. Sarah also made a crucial point about state enforcement agencies acting swiftly. "You need to be able to call out a business model... rather than wait 7/8 years down the line for an employment tribunal to say the same thing."

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

.@sarahoconnorft.bsky.social says that employment rights enforcement needs both more resources and "a better attitude". "We need to bang heads together and say we are going to sort this out." #TUCdecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Enforcement of employment rights can be hugely improved by a trade union presence in workplaces, says Prof Damian Grimshaw of @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social . "We have a bunch of exploitative employers and it is the job of trade unions to root them out." #TUCdecentwork

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Heejung Chung @heejungchung.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

At the #TUCdecentwork conference @sarahoconnorft.bsky.social discusses where employers don't actually know what is good for business and also good for workers, using the example of schedule predictability of retail workers

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Reposted by TUC Policy

Tim Sharp @timsharp.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

In the first panel session at the #TUCDecentwork conference, FT's @sarahoconnorft.bsky.social says: "Sometimes businesses don't always know what is good for them." Executives often unaware of conditions on shop floor. Says there is a problem with poor quality work in the UK.

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

FT's @sarahoconnorft.bsky.social tells #TUCDecentwork conference that the UK has a problem with poor quality work and something must be done about it. "The one lever policymakers has used is the national minimum wage." But employers have turned to zero hours contracts to offset labour costs

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Prof Damian Grimshaw says that employment stability and job security is fundamental to having the right type of technology adoption in the workplace. #TUCDecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Cazes says that systems of collective bargaining between workers and employers that combine broad coverage with some flexibility have lower inequality, greater inclusiveness of women and young people, better job quality and better resilience to economic conditions. #TUCdecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

OECD economist Sandrine Cazes says that labour market performance should be assessed according to job quality. "Job quality is an end in itself. People spend a lot of time at work." #TUCDecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

@paulnowaktuc.bsky.social says that: "At home and abroad decent work matters. The core human need for decent work is greater than ever. The economic dividend for work is greater than ever." #TUCdecentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

TUC General Secretary opens the TUC Decent Work conference telling delegates that the Employment Rights Bill will be the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation. #Decentwork

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TUC Policy @tuceconomics.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

The agenda for the @tuceconomics.bsky.social and abrdn Financial Fairness Trust Decent Work conference has now been published, complete with fancy icons to click on: tuc.zohobackstage.com/DecentWorkCo... This will be a fantastic event for anyone involved in workers' rights and labour market policy.

tuc.zohobackstage.com

TUC and abrdn Decent Work Conference 2024: Making the case for fair work

Decent Work is a major policy conference on fair work from the TUC, supported by abrdn financial fairness trust.

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