The TUC's Heartunions week highlights the positive contribution made by union reps and members in workplaces and communities throughout the region.
South West TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley said: "There are half a million trade union members in the South West, reps helping working people very day. In workplaces all over the region they are making sure we're safe at work, protecting our jobs, pushing for higher pay and helping us get learning and training."
The South West TUC is marking Heartunions week by publishing the third edition of the popular West Country Workers – a booklet looking at the great work carried out by unions, together with features on the new union deal with Hinkley, what Brexit means for Cornwall and a campaign for good employment in Bristol.
West Country Workers also sets out a list of union demands to the government as the region comes to terms with the uncertainty surrounding the UK leaving the EU.
The South West TUC is concerned that, despite the government saying the country is out of the economic doldrums, wages have still not recovered, productivity is below its pre-crisis trend and the West Country is at risk of turning into a 'below stairs' labour market, with low-paid, insecure jobs.
Nigel Costley said: "We must avoid a recovery where things get better for some people, in some places, but others are left behind.
"A recovery built on the false economy of cuts to training and skills and other precious public services is exactly the sort of recovery that won't deliver for the South West in the long term.
"We need a recovery where every worker gets the change to build their skills, learn and progress. It needs managers working out how to genuinely engage their workers, using technology as a help not a stick to beat them. It's about making the rights at work better, not worse."
The South West TUC wants :
* for working people to get that long over-due pay rise
* to bring unions to more workplaces, winning for more workers
* a renewed set of protections at work
* a stronger economy that works for working people across the West Country.
Details of heart unions can be found here http://heartunions.org
West Country Workers can be downloaded here https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/SW_TUC_West_Country_Workers_2017.pdf
Events listed so far include:
Monday 6th February
Tuesday 7th February
Wednesday 8th February
Thursday 9th February
Friday 10th February
Saturday 11th February
Monday 13th February
Tuesday 14th February
Wednesday 15th February
Saturday 18th February
ends
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