Morecambe Bay cockling disaster 20 years on: Union warns exploitation still rife

05 February 2024 , 14:49

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Cocklers back at work on the sands of Morecambe Bay in 2004, days after the tragedy in which 23 people died

The exploitation of vulnerable workers is still widespread two decades after the Morecambe Bay cockling disaster, warns Unite.

The union has called for reform of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, which was established following the tragedy 20 years ago today where 21 people lost their lives. Unite argues that the authority, renamed the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) in 2017, needs more funding.

The union also highlights that insecure employment practices such as zero-hour contracts, bogus self-employment and gig economy work have become increasingly normalised since the disaster. Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite, said: "It is now 20 years since the Morecambe Bay disaster and the dangerous exploitation of vulnerable workers is still rife."

She added: "Unions have always been at the forefront of defending workers and Unite's predecessor union the T&G successfully fought for the establishment of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to prevent such tragedies happening again." She expressed her outrage that the Government has repeatedly chosen to attack unions and weaken employment rights instead of improving people's lives.

She concluded: "My fear is that unless something changes it can only be a matter of time until the next tragedy."

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Lawrence Matheson