Construction union UCATT has warned that the Government's changes to the Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment (TUPE) rules are the latest attack on workers' rights.

The TUPE laws protect employees' pay and conditions when they are transferred from one employer to another. Under the new regulations, which come into effect today, 31st January, it becomes far easier for employers to make staff redundant and to cut pay and conditions of employees.

A large number of construction workers, especially those working on housing maintenance projects, are affected by TUPE when their contracts are outsourced. Some UCATT members working on former local government maintenance contracts have gone through TUPE on three or four occasions.

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Under the new regulations the new employer will be able to re-negotiate changes to collective agreements just one year after taking over a business. Also after the transfer takes place employers will not be bound by changes to terms and conditions which occur through collective bargaining arrangements that they are not part of.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "This is the Government's latest attack on workers' rights. Reducing the TUPE regulations will make it easier for employers to cut pay and conditions and make workers redundant workers. Long serving and dedicated workers can be simply thrown to the wolves under the weakened regulations."

(CD/MH)