Received from: Prospect
Merged into composite 14
Congress acknowledges that the coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on all workers across the economy.
Congress notes that the crisis has had a particularly devastating impact for freelancers and the self-employed. Lockdown has exposed the vulnerability of the three million self-employed workers who have been excluded from government support schemes.
Congress recognises the ongoing crisis facing freelancers in the creative industries where many thousands have fallen between the gaps of the CJRS and the SEISS and left with no financial support at all.
Congress acknowledges the growth in self-employment, and a growth in trade union membership amongst this group of precarious workers. Congress agrees that no groups of workers should ever again be left without a safety net at times of crisis.
Congress resolves to:
i. campaign for a ‘new deal’ for freelancers with the aim of ensuring better workers’ rights and more security at work for the self-employed
ii. ensure that high-quality self-employment is part of the TUC’s plan to ‘build back better’ after the pandemic
iii. examine best practice and new ideas for organising and providing a voice for self-employed workers.
Prospect
AMENDMENT
- In paragraph 3, replace “the creative” with “all”.
- At the end, add sub-paragraph iv.:
“iv. convene a working group of affiliated trade unions to meet regularly to co-ordinate campaigning and recruitment of self-employed workers.”
College of Podiatry