TUC General Secretary to call on government to drop Trade Union Bill in Congress speech

date: 14 September 2015

Today (Monday), the General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O’Grady, will set out her priorities for Britain in a keynote speech to the TUC Congress 2015.

Speaking ahead of the second reading of the Trade Union Bill, Ms O’Grady will say:

“History will remember this Conservative government's Trade Union Bill as the biggest attack in thirty years. Not just against trade unions, but against our best chance of raising productivity, pay and demand. Because here is a simple truth: you can't create wealth without the workforce. And you can't spread that wealth around fairly without trade unions.

“If an employer believed we couldn’t strike, they wouldn’t bother to bargain.  
We wouldn’t have safe workplaces, we wouldn’t have paid holidays and we wouldn’t have equal pay.

“Nobody would deny that strikes can be inconvenient. But when it comes to a threat to the fundamental right to strike, the public are with us. Because that's exactly what this government is doing. Attacking the very principle of the right to strike.”

Hitting out at the Conservative party, Ms O’Grady will say:

“If David Cameron was really battling for blue collar Britain, he’d be fighting for stronger rights, to stop bosses getting away with pitting worker against worker to undercut pay. 

“He’d be fighting for an investment plan so our young people get good job opportunities.

“But the Conservative Party no longer represents the interests of industry in general. Its main purpose is to serve just one. Global finance. It's become the political wing of the City of London. Money - and only money - talks in today's Conservative Party. The national interest trumped by vested interests. The common good sold for a quick buck.”

Speaking about the role unions can play in raising productivity, Ms O’Grady will say: 

“The slogan for this TUC congress is great jobs for everyone. That means fair pay and secure contracts, time to spend with your family, a voice at work and respect for a job well done.

“But Britain’s unions don’t just want a fair share of the cake for workers. We know we have to grow the cake too.  There is a better plan for Britain. And the government should talk to businesses and unions about how to deliver it.”

NOTES TO EDITORS: 
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @The_TUC and follow the TUC press team @tucnews
- Congress 2015 will be held in the Brighton Centre from Sunday 13 September to Wednesday 16 September. Media passes can be obtained by visiting www.tuc.org.uk/MediaCredentials2015 and completing an online form. However, as the closing date has passed, an administration fee of £75 must be paid.

Contacts:
Media enquiries: 
Alex Rossiter  T: 020 7467 1285  M: 07887 572130  E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols  T: 020 7467 1388  M: 07808 761844  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Clare Santry  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: csantry@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson (Mon to Wed)  T: 020 7467 1337  M: 07900 910624  E: egibson@tuc.org.uk
Kay Atwal (Thur and Fri)  T: 020 7467 1385  M: 07941 547469  E: katwal@tuc.org.uk