Back to the 1970s
Labour plan ‘would boost union power and lead to strike chaos’
LABOUR was yesterday accused of seeking to take Britain back to the 1970s after unveiling a raft of socialist policies designed to boost the power of the unions.
A radical 20-point plan set out by the party includes proposals for a cap on bosses’ earnings and for compulsory collective bargaining across entire sectors of the economy.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Labour would give all workers, even temporary staff, full employment rights on day one of a new job, as well as banning zero hours contracts and unpaid internships.
The party would also repeal the Trade Union Act, which would mean strikes could go ahead without having the support of at least 50 per cent of union members. On a day when party leader Jeremy Corbyn seemed happy to take Labour even further back into history – wearing a badge featuring Labour founder Keir Hardie and the words ‘socialism, peace, equality’ – Conservatives said the policies would return the UK to the industrial strife of the 1970s.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen highlighted the three- day week introduced after thenprime minister Edward Heath failed to stand up to the unions.
‘This is like taking Britain back to the 70s,’ he said. ‘Anyone thinking of voting Labour needs to get the candles in because we’ll be back to the three-day week.
‘These plans will allow a small minority of activists on a low-turnout ballot to go out on strike and bring the country to its knees. There’ll be so many strikes it’ll be like a bank holiday every day.’ Labour’s 20-point
‘We’ll be back to the three-day week’
plan would beef up the power of the unions by guaranteeing them access to all workplaces, and ensuring all workers have access to trade union representation.
It would also roll out ‘sectoral collective bargaining’, meaning employers in entire sectors of the economy would have to hold talks with the unions to discuss pay rates and workplace rights.
Women would be given stronger protections against unfair redundancy, unions would be guaranteed a right to access workplaces, and any employer recruiting labour from abroad would be ordered not to undercut workers at home. There would also be maximum pay ratios in the public sector and companies bidding for public contracts, meaning that bosses would not be able to earn more than 20 times average earnings in their firm.
Other policies include a ban on unpaid internships and scrappingg employment tribunal fees. There e would be four new bank holidays, s, the minimum wage would rise and paid paternity leave would be doubled to four weeks.
Unveiling Labour’s 20-point plan at the weekend, Mr McDonnell said: ‘These policies will be the cornerstone of the next Labour government’s programme to bring an end to the rigged economy that many experience in workplaces across Britain.’ Trade unions – led by hard-left Unite boss Len McCluskey – welcomed the announcement.
Mr McCluskey, whose union has given Labour £ 1.5million since Jeremy Corbyn became the party’s leader, said: ‘This positive platform from Labour is the antidote to the uncertainty and insecurity which plagues working life for millions.’ Unison g general secretary Dave Prentis sa said: ‘Labour’s plan promises to tr transform employees’ rights. These proposals will change the lives of millions of working people for the better.’
But Tory MP David Gauke, Treasury chief secretary, said: ‘T ‘This is another set of nonsensical promises from Jeremy Corbyn that he simply can’t deliver.’
And Andrew Percy, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, warned that the package would threaten the country with a wave of strikes. ‘Jeremy Corbyn would hand more power to his union paymasters if he and his coalition of chaos were ever let near Downing Street,’ he added.