At a meeting of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), TUC, Welsh TUC and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) in Cardiff today (Friday) union leaders agreed on key action points that the Governments of the UK and Ireland, and the devolved administrations from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, need to implement in order to minimise the damage caused to working people and their families by the recession. The trade union statement also covered necessary actions to help workers take advantage of economic growth after the recession has ended.
'The world economy finds itself at a turning point: the failure of the free market / deregulation agenda has been exposed and a new era of strong economies, supported by active government, and built on fairness and proper scrutiny of financial institutions, is possible.'
Following the meeting STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith said
“Our message to the UK and devolved administrations is clear. To safeguard jobs through boosting demand, provide effective assistance to the unemployed and rebalance the economy in order that it emerges from the recession fit to face the challenges of the future.”
The ten key action points agreed by the trade union leaders are:
*Stating that minimising the impact of recession is the absolute economic priority with interest rate decisions in line with that priority;
*Embarking on a major fiscal stimulus to increase demand in the high street. This could include tax cuts for low and middle income earners and the bringing forward of major infrastructure projects to boost demand in industries such as construction and transport;
*Getting lending moving again in order to support companies facing short term funding or cash flow crises;
*Supporting people made redundant, by increasing the levels of statutory redundancy pay and increasing unemployment benefit. This will both prevent short-term poverty and give some support to demand in the high street;
*Supporting those at risk of losing their homes, exploring every possible avenue to avoid repossessions taking place;
*Supporting fair pay for all workers, including those in the public sector, rather than pursuing wage restraint policies and job cuts;
*Working with local and regional authorities, within nations, to identify business sectors of strategic interest, such as green jobs, and ways in which they might be supported;
*Embarking on a major campaign of upskilling, so that workers made redundant have the maximum chance of finding further work, and all workers are equipped to participate in the high value economy that must emerge after the present crisis is over;
*Engaging with other world leaders, not least next year, when the UK chairs the G20 group of industrial nations, to seek trade rules and minimum standards to promote economic growth and minimise poverty throughout the world
*Acting to protect the most vulnerable in society by investing in public services.
The TUC, STUC, WTUC and ICTU call on all the relevant Government authorities to work closely with unions and employers to take this agenda forward.
In a discussion with the First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan, union leaders welcomed the steps being taken forward in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government in partnership with the Wales TUC and CBI Wales.
ENDS
For further information contact Kevin Buchanan 0141 337 8100