By UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea
Labour’s election is full speed ahead, and the polls still predict a Labour majority. With that, comes delivering the New Deal for Working People.
I’m sure the party’s promise to make work pay is turning out to be a key part of their popularity throughout the campaign.
We worked closely with the Labour Party and other trade unions in turning this idea into a manifesto pledge and a deliverable plan. We put the needs of all UNISON members and working people at the heart of it. It will be transformational – not only for working people, but also for the economy.
The day we get a Labour government will be the day we can start to get the job done. We will hold a Labour government to account on the commitments in the New Deal for Working People.
I expect to see the Employment Rights Bill introduced within the party’s first 100 days in office. I expect to see a genuine living wage, pay equality, and fair pay agreements set up in social care.
Workers deserve security, and I expect to see the end of exploitative zero-hours contracts and fire-and-rehire practices.
While good employers already do what’s right by their staff, too many workers suffer under ruthless bosses. Workers can only thrive when treated fairly and paid enough to live a decent life.
With your vote on 4 July, you could be making sure that bad bosses can no longer exploit workers.
Strengthened rights for trade unions are also essential, and better sick pay, parental leave, and day-one rights at work will benefit working people and our economy. The New Deal offers all of this – the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.
We will make sure a Labour government keeps its promise to create a Britain that works for working people.
As you head to the polls on 4 July, remember what’s at stake.
The article Opinion: The New Deal will be transformational first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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