Stronger collective bargaining call

Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke moved a motion today at the TUC conference, arguing for stronger collective bargaining to lift wages.

Soon after the Tories’ election victory, gaining with the votes of just one in four people, David Cameron announced he wanted to see a “higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare” society, Tony noted.

“This is the latest example of ‘Orwellian double speak’ from the Tories, alongside the despicable practice of making up examples of people pleased they have received benefit sanctions and calling an increase in the National Minimum Wage for those aged over 25 years only a National Living Wage,” he said.

“When the Tories say lower tax, they really means tax cuts for the very wealthiest, the 1 per cent and lower welfare means scything through our benefit system; it does not mean mounting an assault on the causes of poverty,” he added.

What we need are higher wages, Tony argued, pointing to the fact that since the late 1970s the law shackling trade unions in this country tightened.

“Employment rights were weakened and collective bargaining at sector level or at company level was dismantled in many areas,” he added. “Inequality has grown and the share of our economic wealth going to the people who create it has fallen. Wages for those in the middle and at the bottom have stagnated while those at the top have soared.”

“We have spoken before about the need to reverse the real fall in wages that people have experienced because of this government’s austerity policies,” said Tony.

Part of Unite’s campaign against austerity has been pushing for a more sustainable and productive economy based on decent work for all, with wages you can live on, not just survive on.

“In order to win higher wages you need strong trade unions backed by collective bargaining structures,” said Tony.

British workers are amongst the least protected in Europe and trade unionists much more heavily regulated.

“Trade unions are successful at winning higher pay, particularly where we are well organised and have maintained collective bargaining, such as in manufacturing,” added Tony.

The government’s own statistics show a trade union wage premium of 8 per cent in organised workplaces in the private sector and the pay difference for women as much as 30 per cent.

“George Osborne says he wants to re-balance the economy,” said Tony. “Well the news is George, your plans are not working and they won’t work while ordinary people face poverty pay and precarious work and while your government is hell-bent on an all-out assault on trade unions and working people.”

France and Germany have better skills and competitive industries than the UK thanks to collective bargaining, Tony noted, which covers all workers and is supported by employers and the government.

“This summer, staff at Pizza Express and in the hospitality sector stood up against an unfair tipping practice because they knew they had Unite in their corner – and they won,” said Tony.

Last week Unite organised protests outside Sports Direct stores across the country and its AGM, protesting against their Victorian employment practices.

“Think of what we could achieve — the higher wages that could be delivered to working people and a fairer distribution of wealth, if rather than fending off this government’s attacks on trade unions we had a government that was supportive of a positive agenda on collective bargaining and enabling working people to organise properly in the workplace,” said Tony.

“We must fight the trade union Bill being voted on today every step of the way.”