23 August 2016

General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Frances O’Grady has welcomed the 25 policy recommendations made by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) in its new Manifesto for Labour Law.

Key proposals include instituting a Ministry for Labour, Sectoral Bargaining Commissions to ensure agreements on wages and conditions are set at industry level; and the repeal of prohibitive trade union laws such as the Trade Union Act.

The Manifesto has already been backed by Jeremy Corbyn’s team and major unions including UNITE, UNISON, GMB, FBU, NUT, CWU and BFAWU.

"Since the results of the referendum, the TUC has been campaigning to ensure the vote to leave the EU does not become an excuse to slash workers' rights. It is critical for post-EU Britain to not only maintain the level of protection afforded to Britain's workers by EU law, but also to build on this foundation to create a stronger, fairer and more secure economy for all.

"The IER's Manifesto for Labour Law helps point the way forward to that brighter future,” Frances explained.

She went on to praise the evidence-based analysis on which the Manifesto, authored by 15 leading labour lawyers and academics from the UK’s most prestigious universities, is based.

"The proposals in the Manifesto are thoughtful and well-evidenced and should be widely read and discussed,” she said.

“Policies such as promoting sectoral-level collective bargaining – which would allow trade unions to negotiate on minimum wages and conditions across entire industries – are put forth following careful examination of how similar systems have worked to create economic resilience and increased equality in some of our strongest European competitors, such as Germany and Sweden.

"We would urge all union members to join together as a united front to call for wide ranging reform, and a new framework of rights for working people and trade unions in the UK.”

Read more about our Manifesto and purchase your copy here