More about: Glastonbury Festival
700 litter pickers were reported to fired after two days
Jeremy Corbyn has condemned the Glastonbury zero hours contract but has said that he’s “happy to talk about it” with the organisers.
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The Labour leader, who drew one of the biggest-ever crowds at the Pyramid Stage at the festival almost two weeks ago, has pledged to abolish zero hours contracts if he comes to power. However, a report in The Independent revealed that the Glastonbury Festival had hired hundreds of workers from across Europe on zero hours contracts. They were fired after two days.
A spokesperson for Mr Corbyn said: “In terms of employment contracts, those contracts should not be taking place and we are opposed to them and when we are next in Government we will outlaw them.
“We’ve made quite clear we are opposed to those forms of contract everywhere.”
Asked if the issue would be raised on his next visit to Glastonbury he said: “He’s happy to raise it right now.”
The festival was accused of taking advantage of around 700 people who’d travelled from across Europe to work as litter pickers. Despite expecting two weeks’ worth of employment, they were dismissed after two days. Many were left stranded.
It is understood that a combination of good weather, the use of charity workers and on-site litter crews ensured that there was less rubbish than usual after the event.
A statement from the organisers said: “This year was an unusually dry one for Glastonbury. That, coupled with a fantastic effort from festival-goers in taking their belongings home, meant that the bulk of the litter picking work was completed after 2.5 days (in 2016, a very wet year, the equivalent period was around 10 days).
“All but a core crew of litter pickers were advised that there was no further work available after Friday (June 30). Those who weren’t able to leave the site over the weekend were given further meals, plus assistance with travel to nearby towns with public transport links.
“We’d like to thank the litter pickers for their work on the clean-up, which was - as always - hugely valued by the festival.”
More about: Glastonbury Festival
Photo: Press
