Church workers ‘must receive more protection under employment law’

Posted 16/12/2009

Trade union Unite has urged the Church of England to do more to safeguard the rights of vicars and reverends under employment law.

Rachael Maskell, the union’s national officer for the community and non-profit sector, expressed concern that not enough is currently being done to protect church workers from becoming victims of bullying or harassment.

This comes after a vicar from Worcester launched a compensation claim against the church via an employment tribunal after alleging that he was abused by residents at his parish, as well as being made to live in sub-par accomodation.

Ms Maskell described this situation as a “disgrace” and called for improvements in order to protect other reverends from suffering similar treatment.

She said: “The Church of England needs to introduce the full range of employment rights for its entire clergy.”

Earlier this week, the Guardian reported that the European Commission is calling on the UK government to make employment law changes to prevent churches from discriminating against homosexuals.