Are Labour committed to reversing TUPE cuts? This fanfare-free EDM suggests so…

It looks like the Labour leadership have come out against the Coalition’s cuts to the TUPE regulations that came in on January 31^st. Without any fanfare, Ed Miliband has put forward an EDM that states:

“That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I., 2014, No. 16), dated 8 January 2014, a copy of which was laid before this House on 10 January, be annulled.”

The other sponsors of the EDM are Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment Ian Murray, Shadow DWP Secretary Rachel Reeves, Shadow BIS Secretary Chuka Umunna and Labour’s Chief Whip. That’s a pretty ringing and conclusive endorsement from the Labour leadership.

Speaking to LabourList this afternoon, Unison’s Head of Policy Sampson Low (who wrote for us on the TUPE changes when they were introduced) explained:

“The coalition changes to the TUPE regulations made it easier to cut pay and conditions for any worker transferred between employers. If Labour commits to a reversal  then it will provide practical and real help to local union reps negotiating new employment contracts on behalf of their colleagues. It is welcome that Ed Miliband and the shadow cabinet have signed up.”