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For the first time in 14 years, the political wing of the trade union movement has been elected to power, leading many to celebrate and anticipate the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton next week. The Labour Party, founded by trade unions over a century ago, claims to be both the party of business and workers, but union leaders remain suspicious that Labour’s promised employment rights may be further weakened. However, union sources say there has been extensive and constructive engagement with the government over the reforms.
The upcoming employment legislation is hailed as “the biggest upgrade of workers’ and union rights in a generation” by the general secretary of the TUC. The proposed Employment Rights Bill is regarded as essential and urgently needed since worker protections in the UK are weak compared to other leading economies. Delegates at the TUC will be ready to praise Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader, when he speaks at the conference next week.
However, the withdrawal from most pensioners of the Winter Fuel payment sparks heated debate, with the country’s second biggest union, Unite, leading the charge. A motion is expected to call for the richest 1% to be subject to a wealth tax, which would cover the black hole in the public finances, and more action to fix the “broken economy” than waiting for economic growth. Rachel Reeves’ stewardship of the economy is also in question.
The Labour Party’s flagship “green transition” policy is called into question by the second and third biggest unions, Unite and the GMB, are concerned about jobs in the oil and gas industry with 30,000 at risk. Unite is against ending new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea without guarantees on alternative employment. The Usdaw wants better funding for social security and employment reform, lifting of the two-child benefit cap, and a more ambitious plan to tackle poverty.
Union sources suggest that Labour has broadened its donor base, securing less dependence on union funding. Despite critical motions, few expect the Labour leadership to concede to demands quickly and simply. Yet, the employment rights agenda has fostered goodwill as tensions remain on the journey to net-zero emissions, and where jobs are under threat in other industries, calls for new government intervention may be inevitable
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