The PDA Union is a proud affiliate of the ICTU, and as International Women’s Day approaches on 8th March, the ICTU has written to every MLA to urge them to get behind a bill which will benefit workers in Northern Ireland, particularly women workers.
The Good Jobs Bill will introduce important rights such as getting rid of exploitative zero and low hour contracts in all but limited circumstances as well as ensuring that every worker can access the support of a trade union in their workplace. The Bill will also regulate for basic work life balance measures such as carers leave, more flexibility for fathers and parents when taking paternity leave, introducing neonatal leave and pay and making the right to request flexible working a ‘day one right’.
ICTU’s Equality Officer Clare Moore said
Good Jobs are good for everyone. Good for workers, good for employers and good for the economy. Good jobs particularly matter for women workers. Women are more likely to be in low paid and precarious employment and are more likely to bear the brunt of responsibility for caring for children, elderly parents and other dependents
All workers need security of employment and a wage on which they can rely as well as flexibility within their job for work life balance reasons; however for decades now, workers in Northern Ireland have been left behind compared to their counterparts in other parts of the UK when it comes to workers rights.
A poll conducted by LucidTalk shows that most people in Northern Ireland support improving employment rights, with women even more likely than men to agree to improvements.
When asked whether they agreed that workers on a zero-hours contract should have the right to be offered a contract that reflects the hours they actually work, 89% of women agreed against 78% men. Women were also more likely to agree that workers should be compensated if their employer cancels a shift without reasonable notice (87% Female, 82%) male.
When asked if they agreed whether everyone should be able to access a trade union in their workplace for help with employment issues such as requesting flexible working?, women were unequivocal – with 88% of women agreeing.
Clare continued: ‘The results of this poll show how much these rights matter. All parties and all MLAs need to listen to the people and recognise that this Employment Bill offers the best chance to start delivering much needed employment improvements to their constituents. The Assembly has an opportunity to show the people of Northern Ireland that they can pass important legislation, we know the mandate for the Executive is tight so this will only be done if parties cooperate and work together to get this through’
Paul Day, PDA Union Director added: ‘Pharmacists, and all other workers in Northern Ireland, need employment law that supports “good work” being normalised, where individuals can exercise employment rights that provide secure and rewarding work and that support modern living. Just as other parts of the UK are benefitting from improved rights due to the Employment Rights Act, so our members and the entire workforce in Northern Ireland need the Good Jobs bill to become law there.’
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