Workers’ battle to negotiate with University of London rather than contractor could have implications for other outsourced staffA union is launching a legal challenge over the rights of 75 university support staff to negotiate their pay and conditions, in a landmark case that could improve rights for outsourced workers. The receptionists, security officers, postroom staff and porters working at the University of London are employed through the facilities management company Cordant Security, but are seeking the right to agree their pay and conditions directly with the university. The TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said the practice of using outsourced workers hit those in the lowest-paid sectors the hardest. Unions and businesses negotiate fair pay rates for the whole sector, which means outsourcing can’t drive down pay and conditions.”• This article was amended on 21 November 2017. An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to agency workers, rather than outsourced workers.

Source: The Guardian November 21, 2017 06:00 UTC