The Scottish Trade Union Congress' (STUC) Better than Zero campaign was highlighted at SIPTU's Services Division Biennial Conference in Portlaoise, Co Laois, last week, 01 November.

The campaign supports trade union action for better wages, proper sick pay and leave, safety and respect at work, and a secure contract for every worker. It is focused at changing the culture of zero hours.

The successes of the campaign against precarious work practices was outlined to SIPTU delegates.

STUC Policy Officer, Sarah Collins, said: "The campaign developed a dual strategy of public brand damage and legal action. The effect is to sear the black and white Better than Zero symbol onto companies' public image – symbolised by the stickers that appear on doors, tables, and menus. Once the company has been Better than Zeroed it often gives way to demands.

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"Numerous bars and restaurant owners have been in touch, capitulating to pay wages or give holidays or un-sack people, once they've been 'called out' on the Better than Zero Facebook or twitter pages."

She added: "Better than Zero forced the issue of bad work into Scottish politics and media –and the Scottish Government has agreed, through our shared 'fair work' agenda, that public grants and investment will now be conditional on companies paying the Living Wage and not using zero hour contracts.

"Despite the successes of the campaign, we are not an advice centre or a lobbying group. The only way to build capacity of those in precarious work is to tool people up directly to organise in their workplaces and be able to collectively challenge their own employer. Public image, external mobilisation and the law are tools which become much heavier with the weight of the workers."

(CM)