UPDATE: The Momentum policy primary is now open. For more info, including on how to vote, click here.
Free Our Unions, the Fire Brigades Union, and two local Momentum groups (Brent and Southampton) submitted similar motions to the “policy primary” Momentum is currently running to determine which motions it will encourage supporters to submit to their Constituency Labour Parties to go forward to Labour’s 2021 conference. We have now agreed a single composite, the text of which is pasted below.
Momentum is due to publish shortlisted motions on 18 March. Momentum members will then vote in a ballot from 24 to 29 March to determine which motions Momentum will promote.
We encourage supporters who are members of Momentum to vote for our motion, and consider submitting to their CLPs.
Unshackling workers from draconian anti-trade union laws
The pandemic has amplified the need for workers to guarantee their safety and working conditions. Draconian cuts and lack of investment in public services have undermined resilience and caused workers to be further exposed to the effects of the ‘free’ market.
Waves of job cuts, attacks on terms and conditions (e.g., “fire and rehire”) and plans to scrap sectoral collective bargaining, including in the fire and rescue service, have continued throughout this crisis.
Conference notes TUC policy that workers should be: “represented by an independent union; strike/take industrial action by a process, at a time, and for demands of their own choosing, including in solidarity with any other workers, and for broader social and political goals; and picket freely”.
Conference reaffirms the commitment to repealing all anti-union laws to ensure that workers have power in their workplaces.
This commitment includes repealing anti-strike laws, such as the ban on striking in solidarity with other workers or over political issues – an affront to democracy. These laws prevent workers from taking action directly over issues such as climate change, equality issues, and the NHS.
Conference denounces the Tories’ plan to impose new restrictions on transport workers through a “minimum service requirement”- it seems likely they will extend this to other groups of key workers.
Conference resolves that the party will actively drive trade union membership amongst all party members, campaign for the repeal of all anti-trade union laws, and that the next Labour government will repeal all anti-trade union laws.
(248 words)
Free Our Unions 