Corbyn condemns 'zero-hours contracts at Glastonbury'
Organisers of the festival, where the Labour leader made an appearance in June, reportedly hired workers on zero-hours contracts.
Wednesday 5 July 2017 21:48, UK
Jeremy Corbyn won a rapturous reception at Glastonbury last month, but now the Labour leader has condemned the reported use of zero-hours contracts for workers at the festival.
Mr Corbyn would be "happy" to discuss his opposition to the zero-hours contracts to the event's organisers, according to a Labour spokesman.
"How Glastonbury runs its event and runs its finances is entirely a matter for them," the spokesman said.
"But these contracts should not be in place and shouldn't be used.
"We oppose them and next time we are in Government we will ban them."
Asked whether the row could lead Mr Corbyn to boycott the festival in future, the Labour spokesman said: "Jeremy and the Labour Party have taken a very strong stand against the use of zero-hours contracts and the exploitation of migrant and other workers and we would take that view wherever it happened."
During his appearance on the Somerset festival's Pyramid Stage, Mr Corbyn said young people should not have to "accept low wages and insecurity as just part of life", and vowed to ban zero-hours contracts.
Mr Corbyn was met with loud cheers, with thousands chanting his name to the tune of the White Stripes' Seven Nation Army.
But organisers, including founder Michael Eavis, have faced criticism after reports said hundreds of workers from across Europe were hired on zero-hours contracts to clear up.
Many reportedly found themselves dismissed after just two days because there was not as much litter as expected.
Asked whether Mr Corbyn would raise the issue with organisers next time he visits the festival, the spokesman said: "He is happy to raise it right now.
"This kind of contract and these kinds of employment conditions are unacceptable."