• THIS week Kentish Town Labour Party convened a meeting to address the issue of the so called “gig economy”.

We know there are many workers in Camden doing jobs that could be terminated at very short notice and we heard how difficult it is to get by in precarious employment.

One-fifth of self-employed workers have their incomes topped up by tax credits and families supported by self-employed workers are more likely to live in poverty.

While it is important to recognise that self-employment can offer flexible working and more varied career opportunities, our meeting felt future employment policy must ensure workers in this area are protected with full employment rights and a basic income.

Indeed one of our speakers, Adrian Weir, Unite assistant chief of staff said: “Exploitative contracts in the ‘gig’ economy and the general decline in the value of working people’s salaries and wages can both be addressed by the restoration of union-led collective bargaining at the sectoral level.”

MARCUS BOYLAND
Chair
Kentish Town Labour Party