Labour opens door to shorter work-week as London tube drivers get special deal
Public sector workers might soon get shorter work-weeks while keeping full pay‚ as Labour makes unexpected policy shift. London tube drivers already secured a ground-breaking four-day arrangement
Labourʼs stance on work-hours is changing fast as Angela Rayner removes restrictions on four-day work-week trials in local government (which was previously blocked by conservatives)
The shift comes as Sadiq Khan made a ground-breaking offer to Londonʼs tube drivers: theyʼll get a four-day schedule while keeping their £70‚000 yearly pay. The deal includes a 3.8% pay-rise and needs workers to stop planned strikes on 11/7 and 11/12
In terms of the four-day working week it goes back to flexible working. If you can deliver within a four-day working week then why not
South Cambridgeshireʼs council data shows mixed results from its trial:
- Call center wait times went up 14.5%
- Only 4 of 12 key targets were met
- Agency staff costs increased £180‚000
This comes right after Rachel Reeves new budget which puts £25-billion tax burden on private companies‚ while public sector gets protection from these costs. Lord Rose from Asda says its very-very damaging and might affect how many workers they can keep
The unions are happy with these changes. PCS unionʼs boss Fran Heathcote thinks more employers should try shorter weeks. But Kevin Hollinrake shadow business secretary says its just Labour giving in to union demands
Nigel Farage isnt happy either: “They talk about four-day weeks work from home life-work balance. Oh were so much more productive at home darling – its all nonsense‚“ he told people at Reform meeting in Wales
A govt person says they want better worker rights but four-day weeks arent part of their plans – though theyʼre making flexible work the default through new laws
