Trade unions have urged the government not to scale back its flagship Employment Rights Bill, warning that any attempt to water down the legislation would trigger a fierce backlash. The concerns were raised at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton, where union leaders said recent cabinet changes had cast doubt on the government’s commitment to delivering the bill in full.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea described the proposals as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to strengthen protections for workers, but said she feared momentum had been lost following Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister and the sacking of employment minister Justin Madders. The bill, expected to pass into law in the coming weeks, promises new protections against unfair dismissal and a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts.
A “Huge Mistake” to Pull Back, Say Unions
Unison, the UK’s largest trade union representing more than one million members, has traditionally been supportive of Labour governments. But McAnea told the BBC she was worried key figures who had championed the bill were no longer in post.
“It doesn’t send out a very good message that the people who were absolutely committed to driving through the Employment Rights Bill are no longer doing those jobs,” she said. “No names are coming forward that fill me with confidence that the party and the government are still committed to taking this through.”
She warned that any attempt to soften the bill would be a “huge mistake,” pledging that unions would campaign “furiously” to resist any weakening of protections.
Union Fears After Reshuffle
The anxieties come after Jonathan Reynolds was moved from business secretary to chief whip and Angela Rayner, a vocal supporter of stronger employment protections, resigned last week. McAnea said Rayner’s absence represented the loss of a “fierce champion for workers’ rights” inside government.
Other union leaders echoed the concern, saying the changes risked creating space for ministers to delay or dilute reforms. A senior Labour MP warned the BBC that the bill risked being “slow walked,” with ministers tempted to offer concessions to businesses struggling in a strained economy.
Calls for Government to Stay on Course
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak urged ministers to deliver the legislation in full, describing it as a measure that would “give a massive boost to rights for millions of working people,” especially those in insecure and low-paid jobs.
“My message to the government is, stay on course, deliver the Employment Rights Bill, and deliver it in full,” he said. Nowak rejected suggestions the government could water down provisions as a compromise with business. “Having people in well-paid, secure employment is good for everybody. It’s good for workers, but it’s also good for the good employers who are being undercut by cowboys, and it’s good for the UK economy.”
Business Pushes for Concessions
Not all voices are aligned. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said the reshuffle offered an opportunity to “fix the issues” within the legislation. Craig Beaumont, the FSB’s director of policy, told the BBC that 92% of small firms surveyed had expressed concern about the bill.
“They are overwhelmed by the changes that are coming. They don’t have HR teams. All these different measures scare them, and this is a chance to fix the issues,” he said.
The USDAW union, representing over 300,000 workers in retail and warehousing, has also raised concerns over an amendment added by the House of Lords in July. The change would water down the right to guaranteed working hours, replacing it with a weaker right to request them — a move unions say would erode protections for vulnerable workers.
What Happens Next
Despite union unease, the government insists it remains committed to its promises. But with the economy under strain and businesses lobbying hard for concessions, the scope of the bill’s final version is now uncertain.
For unions, the legislation represents a defining test of Labour’s willingness to deliver on promises made before the election. As McAnea warned: “We will do everything we can to make sure this is not watered down. We’re expecting a clear timetable, and if that doesn’t happen, there will be some very, very unhappy trade union leaders around — including me.”
