A jobs guarantee for young people, spreading the living wage across the public and private sectors, putting communities not profits at the heart of public services, and creating a stronger voice for workers in the management of companies are among the TUC’s campaign plan that was published yesterday.
A Future That Works sets out five key priorities that will drive the work of the TUC over the next two years. The plan has been agreed by the general council, which represents the TUC’s 53 affiliated unions who between them have almost six million members.
The campaign will mobilise resistance to austerity, with a series of events across the UK this summer, and will also provide a platform for advocates of pro-growth policies and new economic ideas.
This will include an event with former US labour secretary and fierce critic of UK austerity, Robert Reich, who will deliver a lecture at the TUC on 21 May.
The TUC will work with and champion public and private sector employers who reach living wage agreements, as well as campaigning on the NHS and public services in general.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Margaret Thatcher’s legacy of deregulated capitalism and the cult of finance crashed dramatically in 2008. But the government is still peddling the same old busted model.
“The government’s failed austerity drive means it could take another ten painful years just to get back to where we were before the recession.
‘Not only will the TUC and unions continue to be the backbone of Britain’s anti-austerity movement but we will also lead the call for new economic ideas.
‘We will champion and work with those who are helping to create a fairer economy – from paying a living wage to giving staff a bigger say in how their company is run.
