TRADE union membership is more important than ever before to guarantee workers’ rights and support a future Labour government, the CWU conference heard today.

Opening the telecoms and financial services conference in Bournemouth, deputy general secretary Andy Kerr said that while there were “32.25 million people in work … so the economy looks as though it’s doing well,” 903,000 were employed on zero-hours contracts.

He said: “Yes, there is a lot of employment, but in-work poverty is on the rise.