AFTER nearly ten years of a Tory-led government, the average worker is worse off today than they were in 2009 – it’s time for a real change.

Over the last decade, the Tories have ridden roughshod over hard-working people and given the spoils to the richest 1 per cent. 

While 50 per cent of workers earn less than £25,000 a year, the bosses of the largest companies take home 133 times that amount.

One in six workers doesn’t even earn enough to cover the cost of living, which is why most of the 14.3 million British people living in poverty – including 4.6 million children – live in a working household. That’s the highest level of in-work poverty the UK has ever seen. 

And what for? The Tories said austerity was necessary to eradicate government debt by 2015, but as we near 2020 government debt is higher now than it was in 2010 when the Tories took over.

The burden of this failed initiative has fallen disproportionately on people with low incomes, people with disabilities, women and BAME workers. Meanwhile, the Tories have passed laws to make it easier for exploitative employers to line their own pockets by cutting pay even further.

This raid on workers’ wallets will only get worse if the Tories are allowed to continue.

None of this was necessary. Workers in the vast majority of other developed countries have had pay rise after pay rise. UK workers are among the tiny handful that have actually got poorer over the last ten years.

Allowing this to happen was a political choice – a deliberate decision made by wealthy people with nothing to lose themselves. The Labour Party is putting control over your working life back into your hands. 

Labour will give you a living wage
Under a Labour government, every worker will earn at least £10 per hour – guaranteed. Why £10?

Because that covers the basic cost of living. We will stop making so many working people claim state benefits to keep a roof over their heads.

But increasing your hourly rate doesn’t cut it if you can’t get enough hours. Labour will ban zero-hour contracts, so that everybody in employment knows the minimum amount they will earn each week. We’ll also make sure you get advance notice of your shifts, and that you are fairly compensated if your shift is cancelled at short notice.

Labour will allow workers and employers to come together to set a rate for the job so that you will get paid the same amount as anyone else doing the same work as you, regardless of your age or who you’re employed by. 

Public sector workers have lost so much money that nurses are being forced to use food banks. This is a disgrace. We will raise public sector pay by 5 per cent in the first year and guarantee that the wages of public service providers will keep pace with inflation.

Labour will protect your job
The Tories passed a law to let employers fire their workers for no reason within the first two years of employment. Labour will give you the power to call them out. You will have protection against unfair dismissal from day one on the job, because unfair dismissal is, by definition, unfair!

We also have a plan to protect your livelihood during industrial changes, like a transition to a green economy and the rise of automation.

Labour will fund and promote on-the-job training for both apprentices and those learning new skills, and require employers to retrain and reassign workers instead of making them redundant where possible.

Labour will protect families
One in ten pregnant women and new mothers have been fired or forced to leave work just because they are starting a family. This form of discrimination has got considerably worse under Tory-led governments.

Labour will protect pregnant women and new mothers from being unfairly dismissed and make sure parents can afford to have a family by extending paid maternity leave to one year, while doubling paternity leave and increasing paternity pay. To make it easier to return to work, Labour will provide 30 hours of free childcare between the ages of two and four and a right to flexible working for all, with particular attention to the needs of those who need to care for sick or elderly relatives and children.

Labour will keep you safe
No-one should be in danger at work, yet most workers say they have experienced or witnessed harassment or discrimination on the job and the average employer will only be inspected for health and safety once every 50 years! 

Labour will require employers to provide harassment-free workplaces and act on gender, BAME and disability pay gaps. Will we also establish a Royal Commission to make health and safety law fit for modern workplaces.

Labour will give you a voice
Labour will give you a voice at work, in the economy, and at the heart of government. We’re the only party that has a Cabinet Minister in charge of looking after your economic interests, rather than just those of the wealthiest.
We’re stronger together, so Labour will provide ways for employers and workers to band together to strengthen industry and boost our economy.

This includes rolling out sectoral collective bargaining and reserving a third of seats on company boards for workers.

Labour will give you a genuine choice over whether or not you are represented by a trade union, and if you want, you can be represented at work by a trained official who will work with your employer to raise pay and conditions, as well as providing support if you encounter any issues at work.

Labour will enforce the law
All of this, along with your existing rights at work, will be enforced by a new Workers’ Protection Agency, because it isn’t right to expect workers to police the behaviour of their employers.
It has already begun…

During this election, you have the power to decide the futures of 33 million UK workers. This isn’t a choice over whether or not we spend money, it’s a choice of who we spend it on. Will you vote Labour to take it back for the 95 per cent? Or will you keep giving it to the richest few?