L7 Summit: Build Back Better with Workers (session recordings)
The Labour 7 (L7) is made up of national trade union centres from G7 countries and international trade union organisations that represent the interests of working people and campaign to improve their rights around the world. Under the UK Presidency the L7 is chaired by the TUC.
The UK holds the G7 Presidency for this year (2021) and comes at a time of acute global crisis, and we are keen to explore urgent actions and bold ideas that can help us truly “build back better.” Labour unions, led by the TUC along with TUAC and the ITUC have launched these L7 priorities for this year’s G7 summit here L7 priority document
The L7 summit took place on 26-27 April and assembled voices from the global labour movement and our allies to set out a vision of how to repair our democracies, confront the climate crisis with a just transition, revolutionise access to health care and vaccines, and to build a labour market and economy fit for all.
A distinguished line up of speakers from across the world, including Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, Richard Trumka, President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady, Pierre Habbard, General Secretary of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD and many more leading L7 senior trade unionists and speakers from G7 engagement groups.
Programme and speakersMonday 26 April 2021 |
Opening plenaryThis short session welcomed guests to the summit and set out the broad L7 agenda and how it reflects the priorities of unions and workers around the world. It is also a chance to hear from the UK government, which holds the G7 Presidency this year, on responding to the jobs crisis caused by the pandemic. Chaired by Paul Nowak, Deputy General Secretary, TUC
Session 1: Democratic Values and Global ActionDemocracy and the rule of law is vital for trade unions, but trade unions are also vital for a healthy democracy. This session looked at how workplace organising can help strengthen democracy at all levels of society, and how workers around the world are dealing with increasing threats to freedom and the persistent inequalities dividing our societies. Chaired by Frances O’Grady, TUC General Secretary
Session 2: Health & Social ProtectionA healthier world is an aim shared by most of us as we emerge from the Covid-crisis. But the relationship between access to vaccines, better workplace safety and support for workers who are too sick to do their jobs safely means we need to look at both free healthcare and other forms of social protection to protect jobs, workers and their families, and prevent the need for safety from disease meaning the risk of destitution for millions. Chaired by Gail Cartmail, Assistant General Secretary Unite and TUC President
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Tuesday 27 April 2021 |
Session 3: Climate Change and Just TransitionWith climate change a G7 priority and COP 26 approaching, urgently addressing the challenges of the climate crises is clearly a priority. But the upheaval required will have a huge impact on jobs and livelihoods, and fear of that could slow down progress and harm the consensus we need to move at the speeds required. We will look at how to make a new green economy that supports workers, including hearing from the UK government, and in turn how the workers themselves may drive the changes needed to save the planet. Chaired by Frances O’Grady, TUC General Secretary
Session 4: Prosperity and an Inclusive Labour MarketWith the theme of the G7 being "build back better", we look at some of the current schemes, new ideas and future plans needed to realise that ambition. We will also look at what we are aiming to build back better from, assessing some of the most urgent threats to our shared prosperity and proposing solutions to overcome them. Chaired by Owen Tudor, Deputy General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation
Closing plenaryIn this short closing session we will reflect on the summit, identifying next steps as we work to turn our priorities into solid action and progress on the world stage. Chaired by Frances O’Grady, TUC General Secretary
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