The link between trade unionism and equality – kittysjones

Last Updated: November 30, 2014By

141130kittysjonesunions

What follows is excerpted from an absolutely storming article by kittysjones, which not only goes into detail on why trade unions are so vitally important for working people but also features many of the most important arguments against the current Conservative-led government and its ideology, all in one place. You need to read this article.

As a taster, to draw you in, here’s kittysjones on trade unionism:

The Coalition have introduced trade union laws which inhibit trade union recruitment, activity and collective bargaining. Employment rights are being removed, at a time when policies have reduced access to unfair dismissal protection and access to employment tribunals.

Trade unions are most effective when all workers are represented and therefore trade unionism encourages social inclusion. Collective bargaining and representational support will not work in the long term if some workers have substantially less to gain from the process than others.

For this reason, trade unions and the Labour Party have worked at eliminating sex, race and other forms of discrimination in the workplace. This has taken time, given how deeply ingrained inequalities have been in our society.  We know that where trade unions are active, employers are more likely to have equal opportunities policies.

But for proper support of economic equality, trade unions need legal protection for their activities so they may operate freely and build effective social solidarity and promote egalitarianism.  Trade unions seek increased participation by working people in the decisions that influence their lives and a fairer distribution of the nation’s wealth. That is the antithesis of Conservatism.

Freedom to speak out against injustice, to campaign for economic equality and to work together through trade unions are underpinned by rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). It’s no surprise that Cameron has pledged to exit the ECHR and to scrap Labour’s  Human Rights Act.

To tackle economic inequality and build a fairer society, it is essential that trade-unions can operate freely and that collective bargaining is renewed. The impoverishment and exploitation of any one group of workers is a threat to the well-being and livelihood of everyone.

Building a future economy where the benefits of work and profit are shared requires legal reform in support of effective trade unions.

None of this will happen under a Tory-led government, because Conservatism is in diametric opposition to trade-unionism, equality, human rights and egalitarianism.

Now visit the kittysjones blog and read the rest.

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4 Comments

  1. Rupert Mitchell (@rupert_rrl) November 30, 2014 at 11:12 am - Reply

    I find this an excellent article and one which I just wish there was a way to place in front of all decent people. I doubt that the majority of employers would find it to their taste of course, but there might just be a few who appreciate a democratic and fair society. The important and difficult matter is how to get this article in front of all Labour beneficiaries; especially those who don’t have access or understand the use of the internet. The Daily Mirror or similar should be proud to print this article in full.

    • kittysjones November 30, 2014 at 2:59 pm - Reply

      It’s been picked up by a couple of Labour branches and trade unionists on twitter,but will send it to the Mirror and Guardian, Rupert.

  2. kittysjones November 30, 2014 at 2:57 pm - Reply

    Mike, thank you so much. I wrote this from hospital, I can’t see very well at the moment, and had a bad fall, resulting in a couple of cracked ribs and other injuries, I’m a mess. I had the accident in my home, because I’m pretty frail at the moment, and my coordination and eyesight have been affected by a bad flare of my illness, lupus.

    I can’t get on Facebook here, just twitter and my blogsite. I’m suffering from a very bad depression – just because I’m feeling so useless. I was thinking I may not be able to write if my eyesight gets any worse. As it is, it’s painful. Part of me also thought I should just give up – the depression talking. But I know won’t until I have to. Because nothing is more important than getting this govt out. Nothing is more important than makng sure they can’t harm anyone else, and destroy any more lives and ruin our once civilised country any more. The only way we can do that is by making sure as many people as possible know what the tories have done, are doing, and make sure labour get in on 7th May 2015.

  3. aussieeh December 1, 2014 at 1:41 pm - Reply

    1st Class. Yet there will be people, ordinary workers even, who think they can argue against such common sense. As long as some workers get the carrot, they will always go against their brothers and sisters who get the stick.

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