3 – 4 February 2024
A New Deal for Working People – join us in Southampton Itchen to campaign for a Labour government!
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 February
A change of government is overdue
After 14 years of the conservatives in government, the country is desperate for a change. 2024 can bring that change, with a general election coming before the end of this year. Whenever it comes, the Labour party has to win back many seats to form a majority government, and now is the time for you to get involved in this!
I’m not in the Labour party, what’s this got to do with me?
As UNISON activists, you are acutely aware of the erosion of pay and terms and conditions across public services, and the year on year underfunding of vital services. Adult social care is a service that is completely broken, the NHS is beyond breaking point, and local councils are declaring themselves bankrupt across the south east.
The cost of living crisis affects us all, and many of you have been involved in campaigns and industrial action over the last few years, to get decent pay rises for members. Additionally, the attacks on trade unions and their ability to organise, including the 50% ballot thresholds imposed in the Trade Union Act, have made our job even harder.
We have seen a huge rise in the insecure ‘gig economy’ and an increase in the use of zero hour contracts, and ‘fire and rehire’ tactics have been used even by some public sector employers. The conservative government has attacked trade unions from all angles. We have also seen widespread support for industrial action across all sectors in recent years. There has never been a more important time to be in a trade union, and there has never been a more important time to campaign for a Labour government.
Labour’s New Deal for Working People
Labour’s New Deal for Working People is a comprehensive plan to improve the lives of working people by strengthening individual and collective rights. A Labour Government will write this plan into law within 100 days of taking office. As a union affiliated to the Labour party, UNISON has been involved in developing this plan and will ensure that the next Labour government delivers this.
What’s in the New Deal for Working People?
You can find out more and download your own copy of the New Deal, but briefly:
- Labour will strengthen rights at work for all workers, from day one on the job
- Labour will end fire and rehire
- Labour will make work more family-friendly, and make it easier to balance work with home, community and family life
- Labour will ban zero-hours contracts and ensure everyone has the right to regular hours they can rely on
- Labour will strengthen trade union rights, raising pay and conditions – including a commitment to repeal the Trade Union Act and anti-strike legislation
- Labour will reverse the decades-long decline in collective bargaining, using Fair Pay Agreements to drive up pay and conditions – starting with adult social care
Does this sound like something you can get behind? Join us on 3-4 Feb to spread the word!
There hasn’t been a significant amount of media attention on this important white paper yet, and as trade unionist, we can’t rely on the media to tell voters about it. That’s why we will be talking to voters across the country on New Deal Weekend, 3-4 February. Will you join us to spread the word?
Sounds good, I’m in!
Affiliated unions have selected a number of key battleground seats for this trade union campaign weekend, and there will be events in the South East in Southampton Itchen, Rochester & Strood and Gillingham and Rainham.
UNISON are organising the event in Southampton Itchen, and we need you to come along and join in! Please share the details with your branch and encourage members to come along.
You can sign up to come along to any of the sessions here:
Please RSVP via the event pages above so we know how many people to expect. If you’ve never done this before, rest assured you will be put in a team with experienced campaigners.
Can’t make to Southampton? Why not take a look at the campaign day in Medway, covering Rochester & Strood and Gillingham & Rainham
The link between UNISON and the Labour party has never been more important, as we prepare for the general election and the Labour party is preparing to be the next government.
Any questions? Contact Louise Barter, Regional Political Officer on l.barter@unison.co.uk
Let’s make this a great weekend, and let’s do our part to get a Labour government in 2024!