Call to tax wealth to fund care


THE TUC is calling for a rise in capital gains tax to fund social care, Frances O’Grady told congress. She said all social care


workers should be paid at least £10 an hour and that, instead of “raiding low-paid workers’ wage packets”, the Government should tax wealth to fund social care. The TUC general secretary


said that, in key industries, staff shortages are beginning to bite and supply chains are under pressure. The answer was decent conditions, direct employment and a proper pay rise. The way to avoid the threat of low demand was to pay higher wages. “Working people don’t


hoard what they earn in offshore tax havens – they spend their wages in the local high street and that’s what


“


drives the real economy,” she said. Trade union membership


was rising particularly among women, and women now led the two biggest unions, Unite and Unison, she noted. The pandemic had shown the need for equality: “Levelling up means nothing if ministers freeze key workers’


pay and slash universal credit, and the number of kids in poverty soars. If levelling up means anything, it means levelling up at work and levelling up living standards. “Covid is not going to be a


one-off. Years of austerity took their toll and it meant we fought this pandemic with one hand tied behind our backs.”


Congress seeks balance in fuel for energy


WITH weeks to go before the UK hosts an international climate change conference in Glasgow, TUC Congress backed a ‘balanced energy mix’ including renewables, nuclear and gas. The GMB motion, seconded by


Prospect, said tackling global warming requires “a co-ordinated international response – not the unilateral tearing down of our industries”. The motion was debated as TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady


warned that the world was moving away from carbon and towards net zero, and the Government must urgently increase investment in green technology and industry or lose jobs to other countries.


Labour promises stronger rights


SIR KEIR STARMER told delegates that a Labour government would increase the minimum wage to at least £10 an hour and ensure rights for all workers from the first day of being in the job – including holiday pay, protection against unfair dismissal and guaranteed sick pay. Zero hours contracts would be banned, and rights to parental leave and flexible working increased. Starmer paid tribute to key


workers during the pandemic. He also praised USDAW’s Freedom from Fear campaign against violence and abuse towards shopworkers and the GMB’s support of British Gas engineers who were threatened with fire and rehire.


In addition, he highlighted


a collective agreement negotiated by the Fire Brigades Union to enable firefighters to deliver food and medicine and assist ambulance staff.


Working people don’t hoard what they earn in offshore tax havens – they spend their wages in the local high streets


Frances O’Grady TUC general secretary


tuc news in brief...


CAMPAIGN TO STOP CHANNEL 4 SALE The NUJ seconded a motion to defend public service broadcasting and save Channel 4 from privatisation. The proposer was Paul Fleming of Equity. Congress was concerned that the award-winning Channel 4 News would not survive privatisation and will campaign against any sale or merger.


CREATIVE JOB TERMS NEED REFORM The creative industries contributed £112 billion a year to the economy before the pandemic but are notorious for precarious employment, low pay, harassment and long hours. Congress said the TUC should campaign for reforms, which should ensure that publicly funded arts and culture offer good standards of pay and employment.


PRAISE FOR RIGHT TO DISCONNECT TUC Congress welcomed the Right to Disconnect in Ireland and has called on the UK government to introduce similar legislation. Concern had been raised over pressures to respond to electronic communications and calls outside working hours. Congress agreed this is detrimental to work/ life balance and adversely affects family life and mental health.


New president elected


Sue Ferns, senior deputy general


secretary of Prospect union (left), was elected president of the TUC. She took over from Unite’s Gail Cartmail, following the virtual gathering last month. Ferns grew up in Sheffield and was the first member of her family to go to university. She has a degree in industrial relations. She is the TUC general council’s


lead on energy, environment and sustainability and a


member of the government’s Green Jobs Taskforce.


JESS HURD theJournalist | 7


JESS HURD


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