The Scottish
Committee of The People’s Charter has put forward proposals for the protection
and creation of jobs in the face of the Government’s failed austerity
programme.
The Unite and PCS
trades unions are calling for the revitalisation of collective bargaining and
trade union rights to help boost pay and conditions. Furthermore, urgent state
intervention and private investment in strategically important sectors of the
economy are both required if the UK is to lift itself out of
recession.
The proposals are
central to the Charter’s radical alternative campaign which launched its new
e-petition last week in the Scottish Parliament, already gaining cross-party
support and over 1,000 public signatories.
Unite Scottish
Secretary Pat Rafferty said, “The increasing inequality of the UK economy can
be linked to the decline of collective bargaining over the last thirty years
and the legislative assault on trade union rights.
It’s a
simple fact that in economies where high levels of collective bargaining and
trade union freedoms exist, workers benefit from greater job security and
stability of pay and conditions while wider society enjoys greater equality and
prosperity.
A fresh
focus on sector-wide collective bargaining coupled with legislative change from
Government which supports and not attacks trade union rights are vital
components for economic recovery and a future that works.”
The PCS Scottish
Secretary Lynn Henderson added, “The failed politics of austerity has
caused key industries to haemorrhage quality jobs, skills and slash wages with
devastating effects on earnings and households.
