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In this edition we have an article on the new employment figures, details of how you can get involved in the policy making process of the Labour Party, new support materials for TULO Officers and an invitation to a TULO seminar.
We hope that you will enjoy the E-News and that you will visit www.unionstogether.org.uk to read previous editions of the E-News and find out more information about TULO and the work of the Trade Unions.
Regards,
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There’s good news for Trade Unionists this week — figures show that the labour market is doing well and the employment rate has increased.
The UK continues to have one of the highest employment rates in the world, right behind Canada, who currently has the highest employment. The number of people working in the United Kingdom is at a record level of 29.2 million.
The employment rate is up by 1.7 percentage points since 1997 throughout the UK. There are one million fewer people on benefits since 1997. In fact, there are now more people leaving benefits that making new claims.
Employment rates are on the rise because the Jobcentre Plus is helping nearly 4,000 people find jobs every working day and the New Deal for Young People is working, so far helping 745 thousand find work.
Additionally, the Labour Government’s welfare reforms are working — more people are taking advantage of the high number of vacancies available in order to move off incapacity benefit and to support themselves and their families.
Other positive changes for the Labour Market:
- Employment up in every region and country of the UK.
- For the first time ever, during a period of economic growth, after housing costs pensioners are no more likely to be in poverty than people of working age.
- One million fewer new claims for JSA, Incapacity Benefits and Income Support in the year to May 2007 than in the year to May 2000.
- Long-term claimant unemployment has fallen by over three-quarters
- Youth claimant unemployment has fallen by over a third.
- Number on lone parents down 9 thousand on the year to 766 thousand.
This is decidedly different from working while under the Tories when unemployment went over 3 million on two occasions and more than 5.5 million people were on ‘out of work’ benefits in 1997.
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Trade unionists now have the opportunity to get involved in Labour’s policy making process – Partnership in Power.
Through Partnership in Power the Labour Party aims to constantly discuss and respond to the evolving challenges they face as a party of government. Partnership in Power recognises that the Labour Party stays relevant as a political party through its connections to, and involvement in, our local communities.
We hope that the new PiP documents will be used by trade union branches, as well as individual trade unionists, to spark debates, discussions and ultimately ideas in local policy forums and meetings across the country.
This is one of six documents produced by Labour’s policy commissions and the NPF. The six second year documents are:
• Britain in the World
• Creating Sustainable Communities
• Crime, Justice, Citizenship and Equalities
• Education and Skills
• Health
• Prosperity and Work
These documents reflect the comments and submissions received on the first year consultation document “Securing Britain’s Future” which was published in 2006. All six documents set out key challenges which have been identified by the commission and the National Policy Forum.
The Labour Party wants to know, have they identified the right issues and raised the right challenges? What are the broad issues they need to consider and address to meet the challenges in their next manifesto?
You can comment on these documents until February 2008. The documents will then be redrafted and considered at a meeting of the National Policy Forum in 2008. These final year documents will help shape the manifesto for a fourth term Labour government.
Information on how to make a submission, and to view all the documents, can be found here.
We hope you take the time to submit your views and help shape Labour’s next manifesto.
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TULO has been working to re-develop our support materials for TULO Officers.
As a result of which we have a new design and content for the 2007 TULO directory & 2007 TULO Officers Handbook.
You can download all the new documents here. You may also like to click here to view the handbook online and download the various sample letters and materials for your own use.
It you have any questions about the Handbook or Directory please contact the Regional TULO Officer, Helen Symons, for more information.
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A year and a day before a new US President enters the White House, in a year that also sees presidential elections in Russia and the Beijing Olympics, the Fabian New Year Conference 2008 is the place to start the debates we need about the future global agenda progressives around the world want to see.
Read on for details of the conference agenda and a special rate for advanced ticket booking.
For further information about partnership opportunities with the Fabian Society for the New Year Conference 2008, please contact Tim Gore.
THE WORLD AFTER BUSH
Next year's Fabian NYC will bring together more than 50 leading thinkers on foreign policy and global issues from the UK, Europe and beyond.
Will Tim Garton Ash agree with Shirley Williams about Europe's strategy towards Iran? Do Will Hutton and Robert Cooper share the same vision of the rise of China? Could Polly Toynbee learn something about the Europe debate from Quentin Davies MP? What does Sir Christopher Meyer think America will be like after President Bush?
Answers to these questions and many more at the biggest UK public conference on global politics for years, held in partnership with E! Sharp, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Policy Network, Oxfam, Amnesty International and The Guardian.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
10.00am: Morning keynote speech (speaker tbc)
11.00am: Morning breakout sessions exploring the global contexts shaping Britain, Europe and their citizens' place in the world…
AFTER BUSH: Will America engage?
POWER SHIFT: Can the new global order be multilateral?
HEARTS AND MINDS: What is democratic counter-terrorism?
AFTER IRAQ: Is intervention dead?
EUROPEAN BRITAIN: Can the public argument be won?
12.30pm: Lunchtime workshop on new media campaigning
2.00pm Afternoon breakout sessions exploring practical agendas to tackle some of the most pressing global problems…
CLIMATE CHANGE: Is a global deal possible?
MIDDLE EAST PEACE: Can outsiders help?
HEALTH EMERGENCY: Can't we prevent needless deaths?
IRAN: Can Europe stop a war?
PEOPLE FLOW: How do we protect the vulnerable?
4.00pm: Final plenary session debating five ideas to change the world.
VENUE
The conference takes place once again at Imperial College London, South Kensington - see here for a map.
CONFERENCE TICKETS
To book tickets please print out the booking form from the link below. Tickets are available for a limited period only at a special advanced rate for bookings made with this form.
Publications: New Year Conference 2008 Booking Form
News: Fabians look forward to world after Bush
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