TUC urges 'fresh start' for government

Monday, 12 September 2005 12:00 AM

The government needs to make a "new start" and introduce a "fresh sense of purpose" in the wake of the general election, the TUC general secretary has warned.

Brendan Barber said that following the loss of much of its parliamentary majority in the general election, Labour needed to adopt a "clear vision for the workplace" to maintain its support among the labour movement.

"With lots of union help on the ground, Labour secured a historic third term with a clear majority. That's some achievement," he told delegates.

"But it's one that has to be qualified. Other than the 1983 disaster, you have to go back to 1935 to find an election when fewer people voted Labour."

Labour had to go back to the principles that won it the 1997 landslide to maintain support, Mr Barber argued, and not only should it attempt to win new voters but it must also ensure it persuades those who often feel taken for granted to return to the party.

"Genuine advances" had been made in the past eight years, he said, from the minimum wage to near full employment and the massive expansion of childcare.

But while he admitted the government did not always get enough credit for what it had achieved, Mr Barber said this "doesn't mean we shouldn't work for more, because so much more is needed".

Two Britains still exist - the "comfortable Britain" for people with good jobs and good pensions, and the other where struggle and exploitation is rife.

Outsourcing in particular had left many people with poverty pay, no pension and minimum holidays, Mr Barber said.

And he urged the government to deliver proper protection for agency workers and sensible safeguards on working time - "To begin a real crackdown on burned out Britain."

Mr Barber gave his nominal support to the proposed merger between the Amicus, T&G and GMB unions, but insisted that this must not detract from unionism's main goal.

"For generations our movement has spoken with one voice; that's what has sustained us through good times and bad. Together stronger," he concluded.

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