Clause 21 - Dismissal where employees taking protected industrial action locked out
Employment Relations Bill
10:15 am
Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers), Department of Trade and Industry; Bradford South, Labour)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for reminding me where I was. The culture has changed tremendously.
My hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn asked me about temporary workers, and employers' ability to use them. That would not be unacceptable. The code of practice relating to employment agencies means that people could not be supplied to take the place of workers in that situation. I accept what he says about needing to monitor the clause in light of the experience of one case so far, Friction Dynamics. There are, however, issues of principle. I give the undertaking that we will monitor and review the situation as it progresses, and the Bill is the result of that commitment. The workers at Friction Dynamics were unfairly treated. The way in which the company acted was a disgrace. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's remarks about Friction Dynamics are on the record.
The clause moves us in the right direction. It creates the opportunity to ensure that employers and employees have to try to resolve the dispute. I hope that members of the Committee, albeit with reservations, will support the clause.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 21 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 22 ordered to stand part of the Bill.