Stephen Byers is facing calls from unions to deliver on a promise to stop private companies cutting the pay and conditions of workers.

Unions have alleged that staff transferred when services are privatised receive some protection, but new entrants are generally paid worse, have fewer holidays and worse pensions.

Byers told the Labour Party conference in October: "Where evidence of a two tier workforce is found to exist we will take action to end it."

Forum Response: Unison

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, told ePolitix.com: "Stephen Byers promised action and we expect him to deliver on that promise. He wanted the evidence and we have provided it. And it is pretty damning evidence of how private sector companies are coming into local government and making their profits by cutting the pay and conditions of the workforce.

"It cannot be right that two people employed by the same company doing the same job should be paid on different rates. We are talking about penny pinching measures which in the main affect adversely women employees who make up almost three-quarters of the workforce. Those most at risk in the emerging two-tier workforce are the already vulnerable - including black and ethnic minority staff who continue to be concentrated in the lower paid jobs."We want Stephen Byers to put some teeth into enforcing fair wages, rather than relying on a voluntary code, as mooted by some of the privateers. It is in the government's own interests to take action urgently, if it is to deliver on election pledges. Pushing down pay, conditions and pension rights will not result in delivering the quality services which the government wants."