uniteWORKS Comment


NEWS in pictures INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY


LABOUR MPs HAIL ‘ROBUST AND CREDIBLE PLAN’


Len McCluskey General Secretary


Unite – more vital than ever


It is hard to believe that there is something other than Brexit occupying politicians’ thoughts at the moment.


As the groan at Westminster goes, it is consuming all the government’s ‘bandwidth’. Other serious priorities – like tackling the rise in homelessness, fixing our broken NHS, addressing the social care crisis – struggle for a hearing.


Which is why the work of Unite and its members is more vital than ever.


As this edition of uniteWORKS shows, it is our union – on your side – that is doing the heavy-lifting in the defence of jobs and living standards.


The epic fight to save Bombardier in Northern Ireland was undertaken by Unite and is certainly something we can all be proud of.


Left to pretty much get on with it by a government reluctant to take on Donald Trump’s government which was prepared to crush 20,000 UK jobs, the future looked bleak. But we won the battle, for now. That we did so is down to the doggedness and solidarity of the Unite members and reps at the site. They never gave up.


This should give heart to our GKN members also facing turmoil, and also experiencing the Tory government's ‘hands off’ approach when it comes to putting Britain's workers first.The 6,000 workers directly in the firing line, and the thousands more in associated jobs, know that they have Unite on their side. And we never give up.


But back to Brexit. It is not just in our manufacturing and our auto industries that the Tory dithering and division is causing real concern. Investment is drying up, and our BrexitCheck surveys are finding that some employers are using the uncertainty to hold down wages.


In February, Jeremy Corbyn said that Labour would negotiate to save the trading arrangements on which jobs depend, end freedom of movement and take on the greedy bosses to ensure ‘a rate for the job, not a race to the bottom’, Unite welcomed his pledges.


It was a message that united business and the unions. It is a way to stop Brexit taking all the bandwidth. But it needs a Labour government to deliver it.


Late last year Unite’s new manufacturing strategy Shaping the future of manufacturingwon praise from Labour MPs– including shadow chancellor John McDonnell – with the document being hailed as a “robust and credible plan”.


MPs contrasted the strategy’s positions on Brexit, the skills crisis and the vital role trade unions have in bringing about a manufacturing renaissance with the government’s “thin on the ground” industrial strategy – published earlier that week.


The document – which lays out plans to create jobs through investment, plug the skills gap, encourage reshoring, make the UK a global leader in digital technology and stimulate manufacturing growth – was described as “powerful” by shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey.


Unite BAE Systems convenor Phil Entwistle, who chaired the strategy’s launch in Parliament as well as the manufacturing combine, said the document’s ideas will continue to be discussed with members, employers and politicians.


“It was gratifying that so many Labour MPs came along and praised Unite for this ambitious and long term plan,” Entwistle said.


“As we move forward we will ensure that the ideas contained in this strategy, which will help defend our members and build a fairer and more productive economy, are given the recognition they deserve.”


Find outmore HERE


uniteWORKS No:29 Published by Unite the union, 128 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8TN. Phone 0207 611 2500. Editor – Amanda Campbell Magazine enquiries and letters to the editor, by post, phone, or email uniteworks@unitetheunion.org Distribution enquiries contact your regional office Available in alternative formats from Taylor Humphris 020 3371 2557


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