Received from: RMT
Merged into composite C07
Congress is dismayed the government has attempted to cut welfare benefits as a direct result of the continued acceptance of self-imposed fiscal rules and refusal to tax wealth.
Furthermore, while the government’s industrial strategy and Employment Rights Bill are welcome first steps they don’t go far enough to tackle the legacy of decades of weak business investment, offshoring, outsourcing, privatisation and austerity.
Congress is concerned this approach is leaving the door open to the far-right Reform, who offer no solutions and only sow more division.
Congress believes Labour should adopt policies that begin to restructure the economy to improve productivity and investment and bring about a fundamental and irreversible shift in the balance of wealth and power in favour of working people. This is to include devolving power to workers through:
i. extending mandatory sectoral collective bargaining throughout the economy to enhance cohesion in our communities through improved living standards, job security and embedding trade union values of solidarity and equality
ii. creating conditions to allow unions to negotiate the delivery of Labour’s pledge to oversee the “biggest wave of insourcing in a generation”, to reduce inequality and improve public services:
– a new economic strategy which removes restrictive and arbitrary fiscal rules and raises day-to-day public spending
– an improved industrial strategy to create a new generation of publicly owned or supported industries
– wealth taxes so revenue raising powers are levied on those most able to pay.
Congress agrees to launch a high-profile and constructive campaign in support of the above.
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
AMENDMENT
After “an improved industrial strategy to create a new generation of publicly owned or supported industries”, insert:
“, with particular consideration to water, mail, telecommunications, steel and energy industries, ensuring there are stable universal services and utilities across the country.”
Communication Workers Union