Communities secretary Eric Pickles has announced plans to scrap local government's 'two tier code' which protects the terms and conditions for staff transferred to firms that operate outsourced contracts.
Sven Rufus, Brighton and Hove Green councilor, and the city’s Green Group pokesperson on Union Affairs, commented:
"This is devastating news at a time when people are facing real financial difficulties, and when this council is planning on outsourcing all its services.
"The change will open up a two-tier public sector workforce where employers will be allowed to treat newer employees worse than others doing the same job.
"This attack targets those on the lowest levels of the pay scale, as these services are often outsourced to private companies. We’ll be left with a race to the bottom by providers of public services as they compete for contracts by slashing pay and conditions of their staff. This is a recipe for disaster – both in terms of maintaining high standards and keeping good local jobs."