Labour 20 pledges to working people (and 3 more of my own)

Finally, we are beginning to see some clear red water between Labour and the Tories on what really matters to British workers. While my wish list would like to see the reintroduction of wage councils, greater national insurance benefits for the self employed and a state backed defined benefit pension scheme for all, the below proposals matter for all workers.

Listen. This is the number one issue. The message should be clear. If Labour gets in your pay and your rights at work will go up and your Executive bosses pay will go down. Enough of Tory rip off Britain.

Hat tip Unionstogether

The next Labour government will bring in a 20 point plan for security and equality at work:

Give all workers equal rights from day one, whether part-time or full-time, temporary or permanent – so that all workers have the same rights and protections whatever kind of job they have

Ban zero hours contracts – so that every worker gets a guaranteed number of hours each week

Ensure that any employer wishing to recruit labour from abroad does not undercut workers at home - because it causes divisions when one workforce is used against another

Repeal the Trade Union Act and roll out sectoral collective bargaining – because the most effective way to maintain good rights at work is through a trade union

Guarantee trade unions a right to access workplaces – so that unions can speak to members and potential members

Introduce four new Bank Holidays – we’ll bring our country together with new holidays to mark our four national patron saints’ days, so that workers in Britain get the same proper breaks as in other countries.

Raise the minimum wage to the level of the living wage (expected to be at least £10 per hour by 2020) – so that no one in work gets poverty pay

End the public sector pay cap – because public sector wages have fallen and our public sector workers deserve a pay rise

Amend the takeover code to ensure every takeover proposal has a clear plan in place to protect workers and pensioners – because workers shouldn’t suffer when a company is sold

Roll out maximum pay ratios – of 20:1 in the public sector and companies bidding for public contracts - because it cannot be right that wages at the top keep rising while everyone else’s stagnates

Ban unpaid internships – because it’s not fair for some to get a leg up when others can’t afford to

Enforce all workers’ rights to trade union representation at work – so that all workers can be supported when negotiating with their employer

Abolish employment tribunal fees – so that people have access to justice

Double paid paternity leave to four weeks and increase paternity pay – because fathers are parents too and deserve to spend more time with their new babies

Strengthen protections for women against unfair redundancy – because no one should be penalised for having children

Hold a public inquiry into blacklisting – to ensure that blacklisting truly becomes and remains a thing of the past

Give equalities reps statutory rights – so they have time to protect workers from discrimination

Reinstate protection against third party harassment – because everyone deserves to be safe at work

Use public spending power to drive up standards, including only awarding public contracts to companies which recognise trade unions

Introduce a civil enforcement system to ensure compliance with gender pay auditing– so that all workers have fair access to employment and promotion opportunities and are treated fairly at work

G20 Summit – Job Done

I’m going to be a little bit naf and say that 48 hours is now a long time in modern day politics.

On Wednesday morning this week before work I was out delivering agenda's for our local Labour Party ward meeting on Thursday. While I was doing so I was listening on headphones to the Radio 4 “Today” programme.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown was being pretty comprehensively rubbished - especially during the round-up of the morning papers headlines and the G20 was also seen as going to be a bit of a disaster. The dastardly “Anglo-Saxons” - the United States and Britain, were going to be humiliated by the new big shots, Russia and China. While the ever perfidious French were going to walk out and their Germany allies’ reborn fear of hyper-inflation would result in a resounding “Nein” to any expansion budget. Wide spread rioting during the G20 was also predicted with relish by the tabloid press.

I travelled through central London on Wednesday and Thursday to meetings and saw neither signs of swampy nor the self proclaimed “Whitechapel Anarchists” - even in my beloved East End of London. The radio interviews of these posh sounding middle class kids pretending to be fighting on behalf of the working class was an absolute treat.

On Friday morning partially in order to pay penitence for a visit to the “Fox and Hounds” after the previous nights Ward meeting, I went for a jog (very, very slow) around the lovely Wanstead flats and listening to the radio I found out that Gordon is now once again the hero of the hour and the “broker of massive financial aid for global aid deal”.

Unionstogether the campaign organisation of the 15 trade unions who are affiliated to the Labour Party have organised a petition to congratulate Gordon on the success of the G20 - while reminding him to put jobs first in the domestic recovery programme.

There have been some moaning Minnies (red-baiters and witch hunters) who don’t actually want Gordon to succeed since they prefer oppositional politics and enjoy the luxury of being ideologically pure.

Personally, I am really pleased that the Tories were writing off Gordon’s chances of having a successful G20 conference - yet he pulled it off. There are a number of things you can criticise the Government about but when they are successful and do the right thing they should be congratulated. This agreement will mean more jobs will be saved and created in the UK.

Real Trade unionists know that there is no choice whatsoever when it is between either a future Labour Government “warts and all” or “do nothing Eton Tories”.

"Cuddly Cameron" threats to your rights at work

Just received an email from unionstogther with this new video pointing out to ordinary trade union members the real consequences of Tory leader, David Cameron’s plan to pull out of the European Social Chapter.

“He wants to scrap the legal guarantee that gives us four weeks paid holiday, the right to be consulted about changes at work and our entitlement to parental leave - denying the legal right for parents to spend time with their newborn babies in the critical first few weeks. That's just three examples - but Cameron's threatening dozens more of your rights”.

Sign a petition against this here and fw copies of the email to friends and colleagues.

TULO Newsletter February 2007 - Protect Agency Workers

Thought people may be interested in latest newsletter from TULO. The Trade Union & Labour Party Liaison Organisation. TULO is the body that brings the Labour Party together with the 16 Trade Unions who affiliate to the Labour Party.

Welcome to TULO's newsletter for February 2007 .
This month we are concentrating on an important issue - a Bill to protect agency and temporary workers.
In this edition, we have an article from Tony Dubbins asking for your help in gaining support for a Bill to provide equal protection for agency and temporary workers.
There is also information from the London Fabians, Unions21 & Compass on some events that they are running which you may wish to attend.
We hope you find this Newsletter informative and useful and we remind you that you can view other articles and documents on our website
Regards,
The TULO Office
Time to act to protect temporary and agency workers
Our movement has an important opportunity to act to protect some of our most vulnerable workers. On March 2nd, Paul Farrelly MP will submit a Private Member's Bill to the House of Commons. The subject of this Bill will be protection for temporary and agency workers, which has long been an area where employment protection is weak.
For many, agency working means discrimination in the workplace and:
• poorer pay• denial of sick, holiday and overtime pay• an easy ride for unscrupulous employers.
A key part of the 2004 Warwick Agreement was the pledge by Labour to act to protect agency and temporary workers - either by supporting a European Directive on Agency & Temporary Workers or, if the EU could not reach agreement, to introduce protection within British law.
Since 2004, the discussions at a European level have proven to be difficult, and it is the view of the ETUC and a number of Labour MEPs that the chances of a Directive being agreed upon are highly unlikely.
The Private Member's Bill being brought by Paul Farrelly MP is a reflection of the latest draft of the Directive, and its becoming law would meet the commitment made in the Warwick negotiations. As a result, the National TULO Committee has decided to provide strong support for the Bill and to actively campaign in support of it.
The Bill is due to be presented to the House of Commons on the Friday 2nd March.
That date will be absolutely crucial for the progression of this Bill, as it will require the positive votes of at least 100 MPs if it is to move forward to the committee stage of the Parliamentary process. This could present some difficulties, as Friday is traditionally a day that MPs spend in their constituencies. If the Bill does not receive the 100 votes that it needs, then it will fall and we will have missed this important opportunity to both deliver on a key part of the Warwick agreement and provide protection for some of our most vulnerable workers.
TULO is asking for your support at this important time. We are asking you to do one simple thing:
Click here and take 2 minutes to send an email to Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Minister at the Department for Trade and Industry, asking him to offer the government's support to the Bill.
If you have a Labour MP, you might also want to think about making contact with them to ask them to be present in Westminster on March 2nd to vote for the Bill.
It is my belief that it is only through the wide support of Party and union activists across the country that we will be able to ensure the progress of the Bill. I hope that you will take just a few minutes to play your part in winning protection for Agency & Temporary Workers.
Tony DubbinsTrade Union Chair, National TULO Committee

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