Tag: May Day

This May Day, let’s fight to win

TUC General Secretary’s May Day message

May Day is a unique occasion in our calendar. It’s when we celebrate the bonds that unite workers and trade unionists across the world. When we reflect on our shared values of equality, justice and solidarity. And when we remember the huge advances won by the collective struggles of working people (writes TUC General Secretary PAUL NOWAK). 

And this year, May Day has a special resonance. The cost-of-living crisis shows few signs of easing. Food prices are now rising at almost 20 per cent, hitting the poorest hardest. And across the economy, in both private and public sectors, hundreds of thousands of workers are striking for fair pay. I’ve been proud to visit scores of picket lines, meeting inspirational reps and workers, many on strike for the first time. Unions don’t accept we have to become poorer. 

In the public sector, the government is refusing to deliver decent pay rises for the workers it lauded as heroes during the pandemic. Ministers had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the negotiating table following industrial action by health and education unions. But they are still failing to negotiate in the civil service – and the TUC will resist any attempts to play one group of workers against another.  

Meanwhile, in the private sector, unions have been winning some impressive deals for their members. And a special mention to workers at Amazon in Coventry, who have been taking historic strike action for fair pay and union recognition. 

But as workers fight for a fair deal, the Conservative government is attacking our right to strike. Their Anti Strikes Bill is undemocratic, unworkable and probably unlawful. It makes the UK an international outlier by imposing yet more draconian restrictions and penalties on unions.

Small wonder the legislation has been condemned by employment law experts and, earlier this week, by over 100 politicians worldwide. And on Wednesday, Labour, Lib Dem and crossbench peers in the House of Lords defeated the government four times on the bill. 

That’s why the TUC has called an emergency “reject and repeal” protest outside Parliament to coincide with the final Commons votes on the bill. We can’t be sure about exact dates just yet, but it’s likely to be sometime in mid May.

Full details will be posted on our website as soon as possible. This is a big opportunity for us to put our concerns firmly in the political, media and public spotlight. 

As working families struggle to stay afloat, those at the top are raking it in. Chief executives continue to trouser massive pay packages. Shareholder dividends have gone up three times faster than wages. And bankers in the City of London have just enjoyed the biggest bonus round since the crash. Britain is increasingly unequal: as hospitals set up food banks to feed their own staff, Porsche dealers report record sales. 

Instead, we need an economy that rewards work not wealth. The TUC is demanding fair taxes, including a proper windfall tax on obscene energy profits. We want a £15 minimum wage, better pensions and a boost to Universal Credit. And we want stronger collective bargaining rights for unions, so we can win fair pay for all and ensure the gains of tech change and AI are shared fairly. 

We’re also campaigning for political change and the election of a new government on a worker- and union-friendly manifesto. But whatever happens, we must rebuild our collective strength, advancing our membership and organisation right across the economy.  

My overwhelming priority remains to build a stronger, more diverse, more inclusive movement. And whether it’s fighting racism, rooting out sexual harassment or resisting the government’s spiteful Illegal Migration Bill, there’s plenty we can do. This May Day, let’s resolve to fight for all working people, in all our wonderful diversity. Ultimately, that’s the best way to win the change we need. 

Have a great May Day – and solidarity to all. 

TUC: A May Day to Remember

May Day is unique. It’s the day in the year when we celebrate the bonds that bring us together as workers and trade unionists. And the fundamental message of May Day – friendship between workers of all backgrounds and nationalities – resonates more strongly than ever before (writes TUC General Secretary FRANCES O’GRADY).

This year, I’m proud to be speaking at the Chesterfield May Day rally, organised by the brilliant local trades council. And I’ll be arguing that even amidst these tough times, by sticking together and organising together, working people can win together.

There’s never been more need for that unity and solidarity. The brutal war in Ukraine casts a terrible shadow. Tech change is transforming our economy and the jobs we do. And the climate emergency demands we get our act together on a just transition to net zero, with good, green, unionised jobs.

In Britain and right around the world, workers also face an intensifying cost-of-living crisis. Energy bills are now rising 14 times faster than wages. One in three parents with pre-schoolers spend over a third of their pay on childcare. And last week, the ONS found that a quarter of people are already struggling to make ends meet – and worse is on the horizon.

That’s why the TUC is demanding an Emergency Budget to boost workers’ incomes. From a real living wage and fair pay agreements to a decent rise for public sector workers, there’s plenty we can do. And action on the cost-of-living must include a windfall tax on the excess profits of the energy giants, alongside the equalisation of capital gains and income tax. It’s time to raise tax on wealth, not workers.

As workers struggle, the government is all over the place. Despite promising to upgrade our rights, ministers look set to delay the Employment Bill yet again.

For some reason, the Chancellor seems more concerned about defending legalised tax avoidance, such as non dom status, than real wages, benefits and living standards. And, as Partygate rumbles on, the PM is focused on saving on his own skin: the next “work-related” event he attends could be his own leaving do.

The recent scandal at P&O underlines why we need change. The no-notice sacking of 800 skilled seafarers, and their replacement with cheap agency labour, is gangster capitalism at its worst. I’ve been proud to speak at P&O rallies and take to the airwaves to demand the reinstatement of those workers – alongside tough action against P&O and parent firm DP World.

The TUC will always support workers taking action against injustice. Across the economy, from our railways to our universities, we’re seeing an upsurge in strikes as workers say: enough is enough. With our membership growing for each of the past four years, we are a movement on the front foot.

And on Saturday 18 June, trade unionists will be gathering in London for our national demonstration: We Demand Better. We’ll be demanding action on the cost of living, a decent pay rise for all, and a New Deal for working people. So spread the word among your friends, colleagues and members – book those coaches and trains – and let’s make this a real show of strength and unity.

Have a wonderful May Day – and solidarity to all.

Today (Sunday) is International Workers’ Day, an annual celebration of working people.

After two hard years, when many workers faced extraordinary challenges due to the pandemic, they now find themselves in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

The TUC is using today’s celebration to highlight the vital role unions play in helping their members gain fair pay rises through collective bargaining.

Unionised workers are paid on average five per cent more than other similar workers. This is equivalent to £1,285 a year based on the average wage.

TUC Deputy General Secretary Paul Nowak, who will speak at today’s May Day rally in Trafalgar Square,said: “International workers day should be a time to celebrate. And working people can be proud of how they have brought the nation through the pandemic.

“But they are now in another crisis. The cost of living is racing ahead of their pay. And our Conservative government is doing nothing to help them.

“Working people need the power of government on their side. We need an emergency budget to give direct support with surging bills. And ministers should give working people and their unions stronger powers to negotiate fair pay deals.

“Join us at our national march and rally on 18 June to demand better for working people. Better pay, better rights and a better voice at work through unions. Only stronger unions can deliver a new deal for working people. Whether it’s winning in the workplace, or influencing government, it’s unions that make the difference

“If you’re not in a unionised workplace get together with your workmates and join a union. If there are enough of you, your employer is legally required to sit down and negotiate a fair pay rise with you. But if you’re not in a union, you have little bargaining power. And you lose out – big time.”

Join the march and rally in London, 18 June

International Workers’ Day 2021: The key steps UK Government has taken to support workers

The UK has one of the best workers’ rights records in the world, according to Westminster. On International Workers’ Day, the UK Government reflects on some of the key steps it has taken to support workers since last year.

Looking to the future, they say they are bringing forward plans to crack down on workplace abuses through a powerful new enforcement body, while giving workers more freedom over where and when they work by putting an end to the use of exclusivity clauses for those on low pay.

Government’s top steps to protect workers’ rights:

  1. We made sure 2 million people received a well-earned pay rise by raising the minimum wage. The National Living Wage, which we extended to 23 and 24 year-olds for the first time, is now 33% higher than the minimum wage in 2015 – that means an extra £4,000 in annual pay for a full-time worker. We’re helping younger people too, by lifting the minimum wages for under-23s and apprentices above the rate of inflation.
  2. And businesses are being held to account, to ensure employees are getting what they are owed. In December we relaunched the naming scheme and named and shamed 139 employers who had failed to pay the minimum wage.
  3. We’ve increased transparency too, for instance by introducing a new requirement for businesses to be up-front with agency workers about their terms and conditions by providing them Key Information Documents.
  4. We’ve also set out plans to crackdown on restrictive employment contracts to ensure up to 1.8 million low paid workers across the UK can pick up extra work if they want to.
  5. To help ensure survivors of domestic abuse get the support they need, we have also been working to improve awareness around the subject in the workplace. Our recent review set out the impact that domestic abuse has on victims, the challenges that it brings for employers and what best practice looks like.
  6. We brought into force ‘Jack’s Law’, a world-first, which created the new legal right to 2 weeks’ paid bereavement leave for parents who suffer the devastating loss of a child, irrespective of how long they have worked for their employer.
  7. We have taken steps to protect the earnings of furloughed workers who take Maternity Pay and other forms of Parental or Adoption Pay, and we have also brought in a new law to make sure furloughed employees who are made redundant receive full redundancy payments.
  8. Rules on carrying over annual leave were also changed in light of the pandemic to ensure workers didn’t lose out on their entitlements last year.
  9. And of course, all this action to support workers’ rights has come alongside the Government’s unprecedented £352 billion package of support to protect jobs and livelihoods through the pandemic, including the extended furlough and self-employed income support schemes.

May Day international solidarity message

from TUC General Secretary FRANCES O’GRADY

Dear sisters and brothers, 

This May Day we are reminded of our past struggles for dignity and justice, and the huge challenges we face in defending our members throughout this pandemic. 

We have seen all those who delivered vital services during this trying year and have fought to ensure their rights. 

Collectively we must address the economic impact of  the pandemic, ever growing inequality, structural racism, the rise of far right populism and the climate crisis. 

Our fundamental values of internationalism and solidarity endure and we send you and all the workers you represent our warm may day wishes. We know that when we work together across borders we can achieve true and lasting change. 

We appreciate and value our continued friendship and look forward to working together over the coming months to achieve equality, social justice, peace, decent work and an end to exploitation.

In solidarity

Frances O’Grady

TUC May Day video 

May Day is a moment to remind ourselves that when workers come together across borders, no-one can keep us down.

MAY DAY: All Key Workers Deserve A Pay Rise

All key workers deserve a pay rise – May Day message from Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC:

This May Day we express our gratitude to key workers who are helping us through the coronavirus lockdown. As well as thanking workers, the government must give all key workers the pay, conditions and respect they deserve. That’s how to really thank the people who got us through this crisis.

“This pandemic show us how much we owe frontline workers. In health, in care and in all our vital services. They are the best of us and we say thank you.

But just saying it isn’t enough. Everyone who’s kept Britain going deserves a pay rise. That’s how to thank the people who got us through this crisis. And ministers must make a promise too. When this crisis is over, no back to business as usual. We need a new deal for working people, jobs for everyone, decent pay and a strong safety net.

Tough times are still ahead and that’s when you need your union. So, tell your children and grandchildren, your workmates and neighbours, It’s time to join a union.

This year we can’t all be together on May Day, so I send greetings from the TUC to workers across the country and across the world, stay strong, solidarity.”

This May Day (Friday 1 May), show your appreciation for all those key workers that are looking after us in these difficult times. Get on social media and thank a worker who’s made a difference to you. It could be your postie, shop worker, someone in the NHS, delivery driver, food worker or any other frontline worker.

The very least we can do is #ThankAWorker. Find out more

MAY DAY: Half of the world’s workers could see their livelihoods destroyed

“For millions of workers, no income means no food, no security and no future. Millions of businesses around the world are barely breathing. They have no savings or access to credit.”

The continued sharp decline in working hours globally due to the COVID-19 outbreak  means that 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy – that is nearly half of the global workforce – stand in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed, warns the International Labour Organization.

According to the ILO Monitor third edition: COVID-19 and the world of work , the drop in working hours in the current (second) quarter of 2020 is expected to be significantly worse than previously estimated.

Compared to pre-crisis levels (Q4 2019), a 10.5 per cent deterioration is now expected, equivalent to 305 million full-time jobs (assuming a 48-hour working week). The previous estimate was for a 6.7 per cent drop, equivalent to 195 million full-time workers. This is due to the prolongation and extension of lockdown measures.

Regionally, the situation has worsened for all major regional groups. Estimates suggest a 12.4 per cent loss of working hours in Q2 for the Americas (compared to pre-crisis levels) and 11.8 per cent for Europe and Central Asia. The estimates for the rest of the regional groups follow closely and are all above 9.5 per cent.

Informal economy impact

As a result of the economic crisis created by the pandemic, almost 1.6 billion informal economy workers (representing the most vulnerable in the labour market), out of a worldwide total of two billion and a global workforce of 3.3 billion, have suffered massive damage to their capacity to earn a living. This is due to lockdown measures and/or because they work in the hardest-hit sectors.

The first month of the crisis is estimated to have resulted in a drop of 60 per cent in the income of informal workers globally. This translates into a drop of 81 per cent in Africa and the Americas, 21.6 per cent in Asia and the Pacific, and 70 per cent in Europe and Central Asia.

Without alternative income sources, these workers and their families will have no means to survive.

Enterprises at risk

The proportion of workers living in countries under recommended or required workplace closures has decreased from 81 to 68 per cent over the last two weeks. The decline from the previous estimate of 81 per cent in the second edition of the monitor  (published April 7) is primarily a result of changes in China; elsewhere workplace closure measures have increased.

Worldwide, more than 436 million enterprises face high risks of serious disruption. These enterprises are operating in the hardest-hit economic sectors, including some 232 million in wholesale and retail, 111 million in manufacturing, 51 million in accommodation and food services, and 42 million in real estate and other business activities.

Urgent policy measures needed

The ILO calls for urgent, targeted and flexible measures to support workers and businesses, particularly smaller enterprises, those in the informal economy and others who are vulnerable.

“For millions of workers, no income means no food, no security and no future. […] As the pandemic and the jobs crisis evolve, the need to protect the most vulnerable becomes even more urgent.”

Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General

Measures for economic reactivation should follow a job-rich approach, backed by stronger employment policies and institutions, better-resourced and comprehensive social protection systems. International co-ordination on stimulus packages and debt relief measures will also be critical to making recovery effective and sustainable. International labour standards, which already enjoy tripartite consensus, can provide a framework.

“As the pandemic and the jobs crisis evolve, the need to protect the most vulnerable becomes even more urgent,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

“For millions of workers, no income means no food, no security and no future. Millions of businesses around the world are barely breathing. They have no savings or access to credit.

“These are the real faces of the world of work. If we don’t help them now, these enterprises will simply perish.”