{"id":23650,"date":"2020-09-14T16:11:34","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T15:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=23650"},"modified":"2020-09-15T11:07:26","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T10:07:26","slug":"we-wont-rest-until-we-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=23650","title":{"rendered":"‘We won’t rest until we win’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TUC general secretary Frances O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady gave a powerful opening speech this morning (September 14) of the first day of the first online-only Congress in the union confederation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 152 year history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady noted that the trade union movement was facing it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own #MeToo moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWomen demand dignity and justice and our movement must pass the test,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bBecause true trade unionism is about common purpose between all working people, here in Britain, and around the world. Treating each other with respect. Looking after each other. Winning better working lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd, if there is one lesson we have learned from this terrible pandemic: It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s that there is such a thing as society,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady continued. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve shopped for our neighbours. Kept each other safe. Saved jobs and livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt takes a whole community to beat a pandemic. It can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just be done from Westminster corridors or company boardrooms. We all have to play our part.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady lambasted the Boris Johnson-led government for its failings amid the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bMinisters struggle to imagine lives that are unlike their own,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bLike when the Prime Minister ordered a return to work, without a proper plan for public transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd precious little thought about working mums and dads, and childcare — instead, a useless app, a mutant algorithm, and a half-baked test and trace system: less \u00e2\u20ac\u0098moonshot\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 and more moonshine.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady explained the role that unions played in securing the furlough scheme, where the government pays 80 per cent of people\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wages for those who cannot work. In exchange, employers must agree to keep furloughed workers on their pay rolls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scheme has been a great success, but the TUC general secretary went on to warn that if the government doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t extend the furlough scheme beyond the end of October, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bwe face a tsunami of job losses\u00e2\u20ac\u0165.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t about obsolete jobs or zombie firms,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThese jobs are on the line for one reason only. The global pandemic. And they do have a future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOnce this pandemic is under control people will still want to fly on holiday; and go to gigs and shows; and, if we are to earn our way in the world, Britain will still need steel and manufacturing,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she added. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe pandemic isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t scheduled to end in October so neither should state support for jobs.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady went on to outline what the TUC believes should serve as the successor to the furlough scheme \u00e2\u20ac\u201c one that would entail short-time working until the economy picks up again and demand returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bChancellor must learn the lessons of the job retention scheme, and keep on supporting jobs. So my message to the Chancellor is this – we worked together once before; we are ready to work with you again,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.  \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIf you are serious about stopping the catastrophe of mass unemployment, Rishi Sunak, then stand by working families \u00e2\u20ac\u201c don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t walk away.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning to workplace safety, she said far too many workplaces are not safe to return to amid the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWhen we asked low-paid workers what the boss has done to reduce risk one in four said – nothing. Zero,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady noted. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThat tells us a lot about the pursuit of profit over safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bSo, thank you prime minister, but we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need a pep talk about returning to work.  From the start, whether on the shop floor or from the kitchen table, millions have worked hard through this crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bInstead, we need this government to get tough on workplace safety — and deliver decent sick pay,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady went on to call for the minimum wage to be hiked \u00e2\u20ac\u201c especially given that so many minimum wage workers are key workers, who have demonstrated how vital their work and have risked their lives to keep the country going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concluding her speech, O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady had a special message for these key workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015b[To] staff in shops, energy, utilities, fire fighters and prison staff, bus drivers and railway workers, delivery drivers and posties, refuse collectors and civil servants, teachers and support staff. Our wonderful members in the NHS and social care, – thank you for your sacrifice and for your service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis country must make a promise, to you and to all working people, there must be no return to business as usual,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe demand a new deal for working people – and we will not rest until we win.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can tune into TUC Congress 2020 live here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Hajera Blagg<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TUC general secretary Frances O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady gave a powerful opening speech this morning (September 14) of the first day of the first online-only Congress in the union confederation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 152 year history. O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady noted that the trade union movement was facing it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own #MeToo moment. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWomen demand dignity and justice and our movement must pass the test,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23654,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[1295,950,1319,914,1419],"wps_subtitle":"TUC general secretary Frances O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Grady calls for new deal for working people","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23650"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23650"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23670,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23650\/revisions\/23670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}