THE agenda for this year’s Wales TUC is very aptly titled “Unions Winning for Workers.” 

A union-hostile government at Westminster, mired in scandals, increasing inflation (the worst in Europe), war in Ukraine and the tipping point for global warming almost reached, point to a difficult future for working people. 

As far as Wales is concerned, the economic contest is important. Welsh weekly earnings remain the lowest of all the nations and regions of Britain, having fallen to 89 per cent of the UK in 2018. 

Crucial to improving wage levels in Wales, as elsewhere, is trade union membership, recruitment and strategies for action on pay. 

In Britain as a whole, wages for unionised workers are 7 per cent higher. The union premium for young workers is 22 per cent. The need to recruit more young workers into unions is not only important for their own benefit. The continuation of trade unions depends upon it. 

Yet only 9 per cent of young workers in Wales are unionised. Overall, the portion of workers in trade unions in Wales at 31 per cent is still the highest in Britain. 

Almost half of workers in Wales are in workplaces with no trade union presence, while fewer than 30 per cent are covered by collective bargaining arrangements. 

The steep decline in collective bargaining since its high point in 1980 has been brought about by successive Westminster governments’ anti-trade union laws.

This has been part of a wider strategy to raise the rate of profit against what had been a long-term downward trend.

Therefore to quote history’s most successful communist, what is to be done? 

On a political level, the Welsh government has substantial power in key areas of the economy, two being transport and housing. 

In both, political action can make a difference to the hard-pressed incomes of ordinary people. Comprehensive legislation leading to rent controls on private rented property should be brought forward as a matter of urgency. 

We have lived in a market free-for-all for too long and it is time in Wales that it was stopped. We have the power to do it. 

The Welsh government has made a start on transport issues by its promises on a national bus franchise. This again needs to be implemented urgently on an all-Wales basis, with a long-term aim of a publicly owned system. Curbing excessive fares would be a start.

The second front must be campaigning by the trade union movement itself. However much working-class advance may be improved by policy and legislative changes, it will only be militant trade union action that will secure maximum benefits for working people.

The Wales TUC has the strategic role to play, working with trade unions, trade union councils and community groups to plan and carry out a co-ordinated, non-sectarian, vigorous campaign to recruit workers, especially the young in the care and hospitality sectors.

We congratulate the Wales TUC on their plan to pause Congress on Wednesday May 25 to hold a “We Demand better! Cost of Living Rally!” 

As a further step, the Welsh Communist Party calls for trade unions to deliver maximum support for the TUC Cost of Living national rally on Saturday June 18.

Laura Picand is chair of the Welsh Communist Party.