Unite welcomes King's speech

Unite welcomed the scope of the government’s ambition following the publication of today’s (July 17) King’s Speech. The union said it was clear that Britain needs a Labour government. But it added that Labour must also be ready to meet the economic challenges and to deliver the change workers and communities need.

Unite’s comments come as the King’s Speech laid out Labour’s agenda in government, which spanned 40 different bills. Major bills laid out in the Speech include the employment rights bill, which will set out a “new deal for working people to ban exploitative practices”; a railways bill, which aims to bring train operators under public ownership; a better buses bill, which will give new franchising rights to local leaders; and a bill to “set up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean power company headquartered in Scotland, which will help accelerate investment in renewable energy such as offshore wind”, among others.

The employment rights bill will ban zero-hours contracts, unless specifically requested by an employee, and it will also ban most ‘fire and rehire’ practices. The bill will moreover grant workers maternity and sick pay from day one of their employment, and will grant all workers flexible working by default. Labour has also said it would simplify the process of statutory trade union recognition and would ensure workers and unions have reasonable access to a union in their workplace.

Commenting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “The King’s Speech is packed full of measures which will begin transforming the UK for the better. The King’s Speech shows why Britain needs a Labour Government. The forthcoming employment rights bill is key to rebalancing the relationship between employers and workers, making work fairer. As always, the detail will be important.’

“Given the sheer scale of the challenge facing the government after a decade and a half of neglect, Labour has to be ready to deliver the transformation and change that workers and communities need.

“The NHS and our public services are on their knees, staff are leaving in droves and our infrastructure is crumbling, substantial investment will be needed to tackle the cliff edge we face. That fact is undeniable.

“Now is not the time for the government to be straitjacketed by self-made fiscal rules, leaving us entirely reliant on growth, which may not arrive in time.

“There is no doubt that the UK has been given hope and the opportunity for tangible change by electing a Labour government. Unite is already seeing that in our initial discussions with key ministers.

“Britain is broken and hurting, we have no time to waste. We have one shot to deliver for workers and communities. We have to make it count.”

By UniteLive team