Novara Live Labour’s Compromise With the Employment Rights Bill
Dec 4, 2025
Meg De Meo, a hospitality worker and Unite the Union member, shares her passion for workers' rights and critiques Labour's Employment Rights Bill. She argues that Labour is compromising by prioritizing business interests over precarious workers. Meg discusses the challenges of the gig economy, advocating for stronger day-one protections and collective bargaining rights. She emphasizes the importance of holding Labour accountable through electoral pressure and union activism. Her insights illuminate the struggles faced by those in the hospitality industry and the need for meaningful change.
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Labour U-Turns On Day-One Rights
- Labour abandoned day-one unfair dismissal rights and moved to a six-month threshold instead of the manifesto promise.
- This represents a clear rollback on a core pledge that weakens protections for precarious workers.
Bill Diluted On Fire-And-Rehire
- The Employment Rights Bill was further weakened on fire-and-rehire and zero-hours protections, drawing union ire.
- Unions like Unite called the bill a "burned-out shell" after permitted exceptions for public sector and financial necessity.
Hospitality Worker On Precarity
- Meg De Meo describes precarious hospitality work, long shifts, and unaffordable housing as everyday realities.
- She says rollbacks on workers' rights feel like repeated reminders that the Labour Party doesn't value these workers.
