Rolling out the Manifesto for Labour Law fringe meeting

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Stall

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Labour Party support

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has previously described the Manifesto as a ‘blueprint’ for the Labour Party’s future reforms to employment and trade union rights. Indeed, several key proposals from the Manifesto were adopted as part of the 2017 Labour Party Manifesto For the Many, Not the Few. Rolling out the Manifesto for Labour Law was developed - working closely with the Labour Party - as a roadmap to the implementation of these ideas.

Both Shadow Ministers explain why they welcome the report in the videos below:

John McDonnell welcomes Rolling out the Manifesto for Labour Law

Rebecca Long-Bailey welcomes Rolling out the Manifesto for Labour Law

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Show your support

You can tweet your support for Rolling out the Manifesto for Labour Law by using the hashtag #iermanifesto or click an image below (or more than one if you like!) to send it straight to your Twitter!

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Recommendations

Key recommendations are listed below. To view a briefing that includes all 25 recommendations as well as issues identified by our report, please click here.

• A Ministry of Labour with a Cabinet seat to give workers a voice in government and to plan for the workforce the UK needs;
• National Joint Councils (NJCs) in all sectors, on which an equal number of employers’ and workers’ representatives would sit to negotiate sectoral collective agreements setting minimum terms and conditions for the sector on everything from wages, to apprenticeships, to dispute resolution procedures;
• Stronger trade union rights to recognition, access and inspection of workplaces to provide workers with a genuine choice to be represented by a union rather than forcing them to fight for the privilege;
• A minimum of two workers on boards, as well as a guaranteed percentage of worker votes at company general meetings, and a greater role for workers in managing their pension funds;
• A real living wage to replace the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage;
• A single 'worker' status with equal rights from day one for all workers to replace the current categorisation that makes ‘workers’ eligible for fewer rights than ‘employees’, and to remove the confusion over employment status in the gig economy;
• A minimum number of guaranteed hours for all workers to be specified by employers, and a premium rate for overtime to replace zero-hours contracts while allowing employers and workers to preserve the flexibility each needs;
• Stronger equality rights to make it easier for parents, people from a lower socio-economic background, people with a non-binary gender identity, and other vulnerable groups to stay in and benefit from work;
• An emphasis on in-house dispute resolution through procedures agreed by NJCs, to reduce the expense and stress to employers and workers of litigation;
• An independent Labour Inspectorate to monitor labour law compliance in the workplace and with enforcement powers;
• Compensation commensurate with the losses incurred by the victim and criminal sanctions for the worst offenders including those guilty of blacklisting, corporate manslaughter, and significant evasion of court ordered compensation. Directors and shareholders will also have personal liability - including under criminal law - for actions they have taken that caused or contributed to harm.

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Changing laws; changing lives

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Briefing

Download the full briefing for Rolling out the Manifesto for Labour Law, which provides a summary of all 25 recommendations, an introduction to the benefits associated with sectoral collective bargaining, and some of the current labour law issues that justify reform.

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Brochure 2018

Download a PDF copy of our TUC Congress 2018 brochure or view online below.

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Buy the publication

Click here to order your copy of Rolling Out or visit us at TUC Congress 2018 stall to get your copy for half price!

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Union support for the Manifesto for Labour Law

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