Clause 107
Equality Bill
9:30 am
David Drew (Stroud, Labour)
I rise to support my hon. Friend’s case. The new clause is important and I hope that my hon. and learned Friend the Minister will look on it favourably. Many of our constituents face real discrimination on this route, and it is psychological more than anything else, which means that people show sheer guts in taking up an issue.
Many people are not that articulate or worldly wise about the system, so they have to rely on others to support them. We all have excellent examples from the advice agencies operating in our constituencies. In my case it is Citizens Advice, but there are other advice agencies that are also helpful. However, I want to make a plea on behalf of the trade unions.
I do not understand how anyone, certainly in a larger work force or a larger employment base, does not belong to a trade union. If nothing else, it is a form of self-preservation because of how trade unions can use their expertise and knowledge to provide collective redress in cases where people face individual problems. I often refer people—usually those who are not in a union—to trade union officers to pick up and use their expertise. They are the people who know about the real injustices in the workplace and the way that those injustices should be taken up. However, they can only be taken up, even though the case may only involve an individual, where a form of collective redress exists.
I hope that the new clause is looked at sympathetically by the Government. It is a plea to be more proactive in respect of references—clause 107 refers to references—to secure collective redress where injustices are seen to take place. That is more likely to lead to the individual in a difficult position feeling confident that their position is being properly defended. That is why I come back to the role of trade unions, which provide the best advice on injustices in the workplace. I hope that we can make some positive progress on the matter. If this is not the appropriate place to do so, perhaps on Report the Government will look to strengthen the clause and consider how new clause 10 could add to it.