The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain has filed a test case against the University of London that could broaden the trade union rights of outsourced workers. The IWGB argue in its application to the Central Arbitration Committee that outsourced workers, e.g. receptionists, security officers and porters, working at the University of London, but employed through Cordant Security, have the right to collectively bargain over pay and conditions directly with the University as the University is in effect the employer because it “call the shots” on pay, and terms and conditions for the outsourced workers. IWGB say the law to date has been interpreted as only allowing workers to collectively bargain with their direct employer, but, if successful, the test case could open the doors for workers throughout the UK to collectively bargain with their de-facto employer as well as their direct employer.

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