Yet another U-turn from Tory Theresa, so now firms won’t have to have workers on their boards

Theresa May U-turned at the CBI conference in London [Image: Andy Rain/EPA].

Theresa May U-turned at the CBI conference in London [Image: Andy Rain/EPA].

This seems less a policy change and more a flat-out lie to make Theresa May more electable, back in July.

She never meant to publish plans for workers and consumers to be represented on company boards by the end of the year.

Her U-turn certainly shows that she doesn’t care for workers as much as it does for company bosses.

So the whole fabric of “one nation” or “caring” Conservatism is now in tatters and Mrs May’s Tories are revealed to be the creatures of naked greed that they always were.

They’re wearing the “Emperor’s new clothes”, rather than turning over a new leaf.

In her keynote speech at the CBI conference today (November 21), she said:

“While it is important that the voices of workers and consumers should be represented, I can categorically tell you that this is not about mandating works councils, or the direct appointment of workers or trade union representatives on boards,” the prime minister told a packed room in central London.

“Some companies may find that these models work best for them – but there are other routes that use existing board structures, complemented or supplemented by advisory councils or panels, to ensure all those with a stake in the company are properly represented. It will be a question of finding the model that works.”

But firms already have an obligation to ‘regard the interests of the company’s employees’, according to the Companies Act of 2006, which was passed by a Labour government.

Theresa May has given company directors an excuse to limit workers’ representation to what it is now.

This writer has seen such representation in action and it didn’t work; the good sense of the employees was drowned out by the greed of the bosses.

The decision not only harms the interests of working people; it harms the companies employing them, who could have benefited from their sensible input.

All because Theresa May is afraid of big business – not a kitten, more a corporate poodle.

Source: Theresa May: I won’t force companies to appoint workers to their boards | Business | The Guardian

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4 Comments

  1. Dai November 21, 2016 at 12:58 pm - Reply

    A leopard never changes its spot, when she gets her Mitt’s on power through a election, the tune will change,..

    I think Corbyn is gaining traction, just Hope the poisonous media don’t get to work on him.

  2. NMac November 21, 2016 at 2:57 pm - Reply

    How many Tories want in any way whatever to empower working class people? They are doing everything they can to prevent working class people from empowering themselves. Forward to the 19th century.

  3. Barry Davies November 21, 2016 at 6:23 pm - Reply

    To be honest given human nature I don’t think that any workers on the board would help their ex fellow workers whatsoever, bung them a few quid and they will go along with what the real board wants.

    • Mike Sivier November 21, 2016 at 11:27 pm - Reply

      Then you have a very pessimistic opinion of human nature and I feel sorry for you.
      By the way, if worker representatives were put on company boards, they would be part of the “real board”, as you put it. The fact that you differentiate them says much about your attitude.

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