4 January 2003 - Text of TUC General Secretary-elect, Brendan Barber's New Year message:
"2003 must be the year in which trade unionism begins to move decisively
forward again.
"Building on the opportunities for growth provided by the more balanced
legal framework now in place.
"Reaching out to workers, whose daily lives are pressured and stressed to
demonstrate that today's unions, working with reasonable employers, can make a difference
for the better.
"Security and fairness at work are trade unionism's elemental goals.
"But unease about the prospects after working life is finished has shot
to the top of the agenda.
"For the vast majority of people in this country living standards have
risen year on year for probably more than 50 years. But the cut back by employers in
pensions provision, and the growth in the numbers of employees working for companies that
provide no pension at all, means that many of today's workers face poverty in retirement.
Many will be worse off than the average pensioner today. Surely no-one can be happy with
policies that will leave huge numbers dependent on means tested benefits when they retire.
"The case for compulsion is now overwhelming. Employers must not be
allowed to duck out of paying a fair share towards pensions provision.
"The government's decision in their Green Paper to give voluntarism one
last chance is only postponing the day that employers face an obligation to contribute to
staff pensions. This is why we will be stepping up our campaign for a new pensions
partnership. We recognise that employees who can afford to do so should play their
part in saving for retirement, and employers should be able to make membership of a
decent pension scheme a condition of employment. The state must also underwrite security
by providing a decent retirement pension as a foundation for all that keeps up with
living standards.
"A further priority area will be improving rights at work, and in
particular securing a proper transition of the European Information and Consultation
Directive into UK law. For the first time this will give employees in large and medium
sized companies the right to be informed and consulted about key business decisions.
This is no burden on business, but will spread what well managed companies already do
to the long tail of under performing companies that drag down our productivity.
"There are of course many issues that affect particular sectors of the
economy. Manufacturing continues to suffer, despite welcome signs that the government does
now recognise its importance to the economy.
"The future of the public sector remains a paradox in union government
relations. Of course we welcome the big increase in resources that is now feeding through
to the front line in most public services. It is a testament to the success of the
government's handling of the economy that even at a time when the world economy faces
real difficulties, the biggest boost to public spending is still on track.
"Yet the government's promise to resolve the two-tier workforce issue
remains unfulfilled. I want to see a new agreement reached with government urgently to
provide the proper protections needed.
"My personal priority for 2003 is to try and build better relationships
with this government. There is no golden age of union/Labour government relations. We have
always had our rows and difficulties. The union job is always to argue for more, and Labour
governments cannot always say yes as they must govern in the interests of the whole
country, not just the union interest. There have been many real advances secured since
1997, but the government needs now to articulate a vision for Britain's world of work
that again inspires union support."
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