Trade unions are one of the foundations of a fair society. They give people, who may not otherwise have one, a voice and a degree of control over their working lives.
Trade unions are key partners in building a modern, competitive economy where work pays, rights are respected and workers are never treated as mere commodities. Look at the huge amount of success we’ve had recently in the car industry – a direct result of constructive trade union and employer engagement, supported by government. Throughout our economy, we need to spread the success of the trade union movement.
A strong economy requires our trade unions to meet new challenges with the same energy and imagination as they have shown in the past – instead the Tories want to restrict their rights for petty party political gain.
That’s why today I am voting against the Trade Union Bill and I will continue to champion strong rights for working people.