THE new Labour government must use its first King’s Speech tomorrow to drive forward “oven-ready” legislation with the power to bring about the biggest shift in the balance of power to workers in decades, trade unions have said.
As the finishing touches are made to the speech to be delivered by a bejewelled monarch on a golden throne in the presence of MPs and unelected peers, Britain’s trade unionists will be watching closely for the announcements of plans which Labour pledged could transform labour relations after decades of attacks on workers’ rights.
TUC president and Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to deliver on the New Deal for Workers policy, adopted by the TUC and the Labour Party to boost workers’ rights and wages.
He said: “It’s vital that the King’s speech contains substantial and ‘oven-ready’ legislation to deliver Labour’s New Deal for Working People. Words alone are not enough.
“It’s crucial that this includes passing legislation to repeal the authoritarian and undemocratic Minimum Service Levels Act and the 2016 Trade Act, which severely limit the rights of workers to take industrial action in defence of public services and pay even when they have a democratic mandate to strike.
“Unions have been working with Labour officials and shadow ministers for years to prepare the New Deal for Working People ahead of Labour entering office.
“There is no reason for delay. Labour must use its massive Commons majority to get these pernicious laws off the statute book quickly.”
Speaking ahead of the speech, Sir Keir said: “Our work is urgent. There is no time to waste.
“From energy, to planning, to unbreakable fiscal rules, my government is serious about delivering the stability that is going to turbo-charge growth that will create wealth in every corner of the UK.”
Those “unbreakable fiscal rules” involve handing power over public spending levels to Tory chancellor George Osborne’s creation, the Office of Budget Responsibility, which will sound alarm bells across the public sector, but trade unions are all the more determined to win a New Deal for Workers.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward, who formulated and championed the policy, remained confident that it would be delivered, telling the Star: “It represents the biggest immediate difference between them and the last Tory government.
“We believe that Labour implementing this legislation will deliver the most fundamental shift in the balance of forces in the world of work from bad employers and in favour of working-class people we have seen in decades.
“Of course we must ensure that the deal is implemented in full and that we counter the business lobby’s attempts to water it down, and we will closely monitor progress.”
In a challenge to all trade unions, however, including his own, Mr Ward added: “Legislation is important, but it will be the actions of independent trade unions in rebuilding the movement will be just as vital on the road ahead.
“This is the moment for trade unions to come together, by agreeing common bargaining agendas across all sectors of the economy to make sure it delivers for all workers.”
