GMB’s leadership rejected calls for a second Employment Rights Bill at its conference today.

London region delegate Dave Levy moved a motion calling for the Bill in order to introduce an “enforceable injunction banning fire and rehire; a statutory right to collective bargaining for all workers; and repealing of all anti-union laws.” 

It called for the creation of a single worker status and measures to promote sectoral bargaining throughout the economy.

Delegates in Blackpool passed the motion with amendments from the union’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).

Geraldine MacVicar, of the CEC, said that the introduction of a second Employment Rights Bill “is a matter for government’s legislative scheduling” and the GMB’s focus should be on building an argument for legislative changes instead.

She added that GMB’s priority remains the delivery of measures from the new deal for working people, but these should be subjected to “detailed legal and industrial” assessments.