BAKERS' INDUSTRIAL ACTION OVER ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS

That this House expresses grave concern over the rise in the number of UK workers employed on zero hours contracts and the growth of casualisation across the labour market; notes the serious and detrimental impact of zero hours contracts on many people who lack the ability to plan their lives or budget effectively; resolves to support workers at Hovis (Premier Foods) in Wigan who have rejected the employment of agency labour on zero hours contracts following recent redundancies and have been left with no choice other than to take industrial action over these concerns; believes that the company's failure to withdraw agency labour from the site sets a damaging precedent, undermines current terms and conditions, creates a two-tier workforce and leaves a poor legacy for subsequent generations of people who may be employed at Hovis in the future; further notes the outstanding messages of solidarity from members of the public; and urges the company to re-enter negotiations with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union to resolve this dispute fairly, amicably and in accordance with the strength of feeling among the workforce and the general public.