Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Mick Lynch calls on Labour Party to tackle outsourcing contracts

The general secretary of the RMT has said companies are ‘degrading’ workers by using outsourcing contracts and called on Labour to tackle them.

Alan Jones
Monday 09 October 2023 17:08 BST
Mick Lynch said people on low-paid outsourced contracts included black and migrant workers (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Mick Lynch said people on low-paid outsourced contracts included black and migrant workers (Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Companies exploiting workers through outsourcing contracts are among the visitors to the Labour Party’s annual conference, a union leader has claimed.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), called on an incoming Labour government to tackle outsourcing, which he said “degraded” workers.

He told a fringe meeting at the Liverpool conference that workers employed on contracts which had been outsourced to private firms were on the lowest wages in the country.

They included black workers and migrants working in jobs such as cleaners, he said.

“They are being exploited by people who are in this conference this week.

“They have to be called out.”

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in