On an unassuming street in south London, the man who could become prime minister within months met the leaders of some of the country’s biggest unions.
At Labor’s new headquarters in Southwark, they were debating what the party would say it would do about working conditions and workers’ rights if it won the general election.
This goes straight to the heart of one of the most important dynamics that a new Labor government will have to juggle: its relationship with business and its relationship with unions – that is, workers.
For a party born of unions, seeking elections in a world where union influence is diminished, it faces a dilemma that involves compromise.
A desire to be faithful to its heritage but also a desire to win and conquer recent conservative voters among whom there are perhaps few union members and even suspicions about their influence.
So will Labor ban zero-hours contracts? What about companies that lay off and then rehire? What about the right to disconnect and not be harassed by a boss when you are not at work?
In 2021, which in political terms seems just after the last ice age, the Labor Party released what it called A New Deal for Workers. It was – and still is – described as a green paper, which is Westminster parlance for a consultation document, the start of a conversation.
He promised to ban zero-hours contracts. It promises that “all workers, regardless of sector, salary or contract type, will benefit from the same fundamental rights and protections.
“This included – and still includes – rights to sick pay, holiday pay, parental leave, protection against unfair dismissal and much more.”
He promised “from day one, a Labor government will strengthen workers’ rights and make Britain work for the people.”
Let’s go back to last summer, where there were some backpedals.
On the timing, on the practical aspects, on the details.
Some union figures still fear another step backwards. They thought the party was going to go wrong.
It is against this backdrop that the leaders of the 11 unions affiliated to the Labor Party visited the party’s headquarters to meet Sir Keir Starmer.
The occasion was a meeting of the Trade Union and Labor Party Liaison Organization or TULO – which does exactly what it says in its title.
But the subject was high stakes. The general secretaries rearranged their schedules to make sure they were there.
They stayed there for around five hours, meeting with Sir Keir and other senior party figures for around an hour.
Subsequently, an intriguing joint statement from Labor and TULO said: “The Labor Party and affiliated unions had a constructive discussion today.
“Together we have reiterated Labor’s full commitment to the New Deal for Workers, as agreed in July. We will continue to work together at pace on how a Labor Government would implement it into legislation .”
Union leaders believe this amounts to a abandonment of any further changes to plans last amended last summer.
But it seems clear that they will meet again in three weeks and that the unions have not yet seen “the words on a page”, as one character told me.
And neither do we, the general public.
I understand it was said at the meeting that Labor would bring forward a Labor Rights Bill within about three months of winning the election, which would make it illegal for businesses to fire their workers in the sole purpose of rehiring them at worse wages and conditions.
There would be an exemption if the employer was about to go bankrupt.
So there is an out clause and it won’t happen instantly (which was never likely, but past language suggested it would happen).
The outright ban on zero-hours contracts has been lifted. Instead, the party wants to ban what it calls “exploitative” zero-hours contracts.
The idea is that some people like zero hours contracts, but those who don’t should be offered a contract equivalent to the average hours worked per week over a 12-week period.
And creating a “single worker status”, as was initially suggested three years ago, which would mean that all workers could benefit from the same fundamental rights, is actually quite complicated and will require extensive discussions and consultations which, according to the party, can only begin once he is in government.
So this is not likely to happen quickly.
Added to this is the conventional expectation, not yet realized in the initial proposal, that big ideas leading to changes in the law almost always begin with a consultation period of around three months, not least to minimize the likelihood of subsequent legal challenges.
But it all adds to a sense of delay that has frightened some union leaders.
And so the conversation continues.
This is not just a conversation with union leaders, but also with employers – as the general public watches, listens and makes judgments, as the day of reckoning for the Labor Party approaches, in ballot boxes.
It’s no wonder these conversations are sensitive, tense and difficult to resolve.
And there will be more to come before we find out precisely what Labor is promising.
News Source : www.bbc.com
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