Dear Prime Minister, deliver the Employment Rights Bill in full!

Despite hailing from different regions, industries, and unions, they all had one thing in common: they stand to benefit from the government’s Employment Rights Bill. 

They came together to speak up for themselves and the millions of workers who would benefit from stronger rights at work. 

Their trip marked the culmination of the latest wave of the campaign, focusing on protecting the Bill from amendments put forward by Tory and Lib Dem Peers. 

Over 40,000 people have taken part in actions including an online petition, writing a letter to their local paper's letters page, and signing an open letter to the Prime Minister, penned by Finnola Tsagkaraki. 

Finnola’s Open Letter 

Finnola is a supermarket worker and USDAW rep from London who experienced third party harassment from a customer. 

When she wanted to take time off to recover after the ordeal, she was told she wasn't eligible for sick pay. 

At the start of August, Finnola penned an open letter to the Prime Minister sharing her experience and asking his government to stand firm against the Peers and pass the Bill in full. 

The letter gathered pace, with tens of thousands of people adding their names to amplify her story. 

This campaign came to a head in the announcement that Finnola was heading to Parliament to deliver the open letter. 

TUC Parliamentary Reception 

Then the workers headed over to the TUC's parliamentary reception. Here, they spoke with MPs and Peers, hammering home the need for the Government to stand firm against the Lords' attempts to water down the Bill. They also received support and encouragement from the General Secretaries gathered in the room. 

Meeting the Prime Minister 

And then came the big moment. The Prime Minister was escorted into the event, and the speeches began. 

Finnola, flanked by Bella, Ruweida and Sam, delivered a powerful and emotional speech, with the Prime Minister listening attentively in the front row of the audience. 

Finnola told the Prime Minister about how she was harassed and racially abused at work by a customer and how she couldn't afford to take time off work to recover afterwards.  

She told him about how workers still face fire and rehire, exploitative zero hours contracts, and a three day wait for sick pay. 

And she told him that this is why millions of workers need the Bill to be passed in full. 

The Prime Minister’s Response 

The Prime Minister took to the lectern and spoke from the heart, addressing Finnola directly. 

It was clear that her message had moved him, and he reiterated the Government's commitment to the Employment Rights Bill. 

He said that Finnola's story will be in his “mind's eye” as the Government takes decisions affecting working people. 

The Bill is now set to enter the “ping pong” stage between the Commons and Lords. 

Finnola, Bella, Ruweida and Sam were excellent ambassadors for trade unions, lifting up the voices of workers from across the country in the place where our laws are made. 

Their message will remind MPs of the millions of workers they must stand up for against Tory, Lib Dem, Reform and business lobby attempts to curtail workers' rights in these final votes.