Employment Rights: The Case Of Mr Potts

EDM number 1997 in 1992-93, proposed by Janet Anderson on 11/05/1993.

That this House expresses serious concern about the growing practice of many employers who make workers redundant within days of their completing their two years' service; considers that this can only lead to speculation that such employers are seeking to negate the employment rights of these workers, who would have been entitled to claim unfair dismissal had they served a full two years; notes the case of Mr Jason Potts of Stacksteads, Bacup, Rossendale, Lancashire, who was made redundant by Courtesy Shoes Ltd of Park Road Industrial Estate, Bacup, on 23rd April, on the grounds that his college course 'does not fall harmoniously within the new weekly warehouse procedures' and that Mr Potts 'would naturally be looking to progress in other areas outside Courtesy Shoes Ltd', despite his exemplary employment record; further notes that the company had previously been happy with Mr Potts' arrangements to pursue a BTec course in business and finance at his own expense, funded from his remuneration from Courtesy Shoes, and that the company was unwilling to consider his offer to transfer his studies to an evening course; believes the fact that Mr Potts would have completed two years' service with the company on 20th May was a significant reason for his dismissal; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Employment to reinforce employment rights for workers like Mr Potts to ensure that they do not in future fall victim to the unsatisfactory employment practices of unscrupulous employers.

This motion has been signed by a total of 61 MPs.