First published on Progressonline in the Young progressives column
Judging by David Cameron’s performance at PMQs, the union movement must be braced for a forthright attack if the Tories were to win the next general election.
Yesterday at the Unions 21 annual conference there was much debate about the last 13 years and the improvements for working people. A number of comrades at the Compass fringe were in full flow as they attacked Labour for doing too little and playing down the excellent advances that have been made for people at work.
Yesterday – the day of the conference – was the tenth anniversary of statutory recognition brought in by the government. We have also seen the UK sign up to the social chapter, four weeks’ paid holiday plus bank holidays, increased maternity and paternity rights, union recognition at GCHQ and tribunals strengthened. Not to mention the rafts of equality legislation and protection from victimisation for being a trade union member. (more…)