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Welcome to the first TULO Newsletter for 2007. Everyone at TULO wishes you a happy New Year and hopes that you had a good Christmas holiday break.
In this month's edition we have articles by Dave Watson on the Scottish Parliament Elections and Graham Smith on the Welsh Assembly Elections. We also have a message from the Fabian Society regarding their conference on Saturday 13th January.
We have also produced the 2007 TULO directory and a refreshed TULO Officers Handbook which you can find here.
We hope you find this Newsletter informative and useful and we remind you that you can view other articles and documents on our website www.unionstogether.org.uk.
Wishing you a great 2007!
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The main business of the November 2006 Scottish Labour Party conference was the adoption of the policy programme for the Scottish elections. The affiliated unions through STULP championed the 'Workplace Agenda 2007' throughout the policy process that culminated in the debate and votes at conference. The aim was to win widespread support across all party organisations for a radical manifesto that recognised Scotland's distinctive place in the UK and addressed the issues that matter to workers.
The key trade union issues in the programme are highlighted in the document 'Delivering on the Workplace Agenda' launched with First Minister, Jack McConnell MSP and Party Chair Hazel Blears MP at the STULP reception. This paper sets out 75 policy commitments of particular relevance to trade union members. These can be viewed here .
The key commitments include support for a balanced energy policy that gives consideration to all energy sources. Bus regulation along corridors, the imposition of quality contracts where required and examining the case for a not-for-profit Scotrail franchise. On the economy a new Full Employment Agency operating as a partnership with trade unions and industry - developing the lifelong learning agenda and supporting union learning representatives. Building on Scotland's already impressive qualification profile by adopting a training levy for those businesses that fail to commit resources to training.
Developing Scotland's distinctive public service model through comprehensive education, an integrated and democratic NHS, a public water service and new roles for local government. Supporting public service workers with new initiatives for education staff, long term funding for community wardens and developing the role of police staffs. Careers staffs to be employed by local authorities and funding for the implementation of the 21st Century Social Work plan. In the NHS support for wider nursing roles and measures to tackle drop out rates of student nurses, reducing dependency on agency staff and ensuring that overseas nurses are not exploited.
Differences over public service funding have been addressed through a commitment to review the approach to all PPP to ensure a level playing field between PPP and conventional finance arrangements. A substantial part of this review will have the aim of excluding soft FM services from future PPP contracts. In the NHS in-house provision will be the norm when existing contracts expire.
Workers safety is addressed with new initiatives to stamp out violence and intimidation of staff in the workplace. Tackling hate crimes such as racism, sectarianism and homophobia and developing employer responses to domestic abuse. Supporting union safety representatives with action to reduce deaths and accidents in the workplace. Defending union legal action in support of workers by retaining the right of access to the Court of Session for personal injury cases.
The Workplace Agenda 2007 is also outward looking. Committed to the principles of devolution - a Scotland better off and stronger in Britain, worse off and weaker apart. Strengthening Scotland's position within the EU and growing our partnership with the developing world.
Delivering the Workplace Agenda 2007 gives workers a real confidence that Scottish Labour will deliver a better future for Scotland.
Also register your support or if you want to volunteer to help STULP in Scotland.
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The Labour Party and Trade Unions in Wales have always worked together to deliver improvements for Welsh Workers. We in the trade union movement were therefore particularly pleased that Welsh Labour recently committed to delivering a package of funding to boost the skills of Welsh workers if the party is re-elected to the Welsh Assembly Government in May 2007.
• A significant increase in funding for the Wales Trade Union Learning Fund. This will enable unions to better equip workers with the skills they need in the modern world and improve workplace learning
• Extra resources to increase the number of modern apprenticeships. There are already 14,500 in Wales, more than double the rate in England.
• Linking investment grants awarded to companies to socially responsible corporate behaviour.
• The creation of a Wales Trade Union Modernisation Fund
This demonstrates that Labour values our manufacturing workers and craftspeople as essential to the Welsh economy. Labour shares our goal of creating a modern workforce equipped with the high-tech skills they need to compete in a global marketplace.
Welsh Labour has also committed to ending competitive tendering for Hospital Cleaners. Our cleaners provide a hugely important role as part of the clinical teams toiling away to make our hospitals fit for patients, staff and visitors. They should be rewarded for their hard work and dedication. Ensuring they are a valued part of the clinical team would also be another key step in beating the fight against hospital infections.
This package proves that Labour is the party not only of high employment but of rights in the workplace and of quality work for a generation.
Labour has already delivered huge improvements for the people of Wales including
• The lowest unemployment and fastest growth in the UK
• Record investment in schools and hospitals
• Seven new hospitals opened or on the way in Wales
• Over 8,000 more nurses and 1,700 teachers working on the frontline than in 1997
• Free bus travel for pensioners and disabled people
• Free school milk for five, six & seven year olds.
• Free Breakfasts for primary school children.
• Free nursing care for older people in nursing homes.
• Maintenance Grants for full time students in Further Education Colleges
• Free swimming for pensioners and schoolchildren.
• No top up tuition fees in Welsh universities
• Prescriptions will be free for everyone this April.
By campaigning together and winning the Welsh Assembly Elections we can secure and build on these achievements.
Also register your support or if you want to volunteer to help TULO in Wales.
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Join us to kick off the political year at the Fabian New Year Conference with over 50 top speakers as we bring together Britain's leading voices to debate the way forward for the Labour party and progressives in the next decade.
As we approach 10 years of New Labour government the Fabian Society will tackle the most pressing questions in the renewal debate. Take part as Glenys Kinnock and Timothy Garton-Ash tell Hilary Benn what they think we can do to regain respect for British foreign policy. Hear David Blunkett take on Kevin Maguire on the role of the media in politics. What do Martin Bright and John McDonnell believe are the causes of infighting on the left? Share your views on Neal Lawson's ideas for the values that should underpin the Labour movement. Join in as Lucy Siegle of the Observer challenges David Miliband on the government's environment policy. Have your say as Trevor Phillips tells us what he thinks will be the impact of the new politics of culture. Plus much more .....
For more information, including the most recently confirmed speakers and to buy tickets go to www.fabian-society.org.uk
Tickets are £30 or £20 for concession (student, retired, unwaged)
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