TUC General Secretary warns Trump should be “a cautionary tale” against supporting Farage
20 February, 2025
Left Foot Forward
Left Foot Forward
‘This is what happens when you let the political fraudsters of the populist right in.’
The TUC general secretary Paul Nowak has today issued a stark warning to UK voters with President Donald Trump having waged attacks on workers’ rights during his first few weeks in power.
In a swipe at Reform leader Nigel Farage, Nowak has warned: “This is what happens when you let the populist right in”.
In his first few weeks as president, Trump has fired the head of the US labour watchdog, the National Labor Relations Board, which rules on “unfair labour practices” by bosses, effectively leaving it unable to operate.
Trump has also empowered tech billionaire Elon Musk to fire thousands of federal workers – actions carried out without due process and which union officials say have violated laws and rules.
Highlighting the close relationship between Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Nigel Farage, Nowak says you should “judge a man by the company he keeps”.
The TUC says Farage is defying his voters and constituents by voting against stronger workers’ rights.
Nowak said: “As well as spending vast amounts of time kowtowing to Trump and Musk, Farage and his fellow Reform MPs have voted against the Employment Rights Bill at every stage.
“Given the choice of supporting legalisation that will boost worker protections and incomes – Farage and Reform have chosen instead to be on the side of bad bosses, zero hours contracts and fire and rehire.”
Recent TUC and Hope Not Hate polling shows that voters across the political spectrum – including Reform voters – overwhelmingly back key workers’ rights policies from the government’s flagship workers’ rights legislation.
This includes the majority of voters in Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch’s constituency.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “What’s unfolding in the US should be a cautionary tale for us all. This is what happens when you let the political fraudsters of the populist right in.
“Having promised to be a champion for working people, President Trump is already torching workers’ rights and slashing public services. And he’s empowered unelected tech billionaire -and union buster – Elon Musk to fire thousands of essential government workers.
“Nigel Farage is making the same bogus claims about being on the side of working people here in the UK. But you should judge a man by his record and the company he keeps.”
Over a million workers remain on zero-hours contracts
18 February, 2025
Today’s ONS labour market data has revealed that use of zero-hours contracts remains high, with 1.13 million workers in the UK still employed on these terms.
Youth unemployment is at 12.8%, up from 10.6% a year ago, while inactivity from long-term sickness has fallen slightly, but remains high at 2.77 million.
Responding to the latest figures, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “A decade of inaction on insecure work has left a legacy of over a million workers on zero-hours contracts.
“That’s why it’s so important to improve security at work and stop these exploitative working practices. The Employment Rights Bill will rightly ban them.”
The Trades Union Congress has said that one in 12 zero-hours workers have been with their current employer for more than a decade, while almost half have been in the same job for more than two years.
Labour’s Employment Rights Bill aims to end “exploitative zero-hour contracts”, giving workers a right to guaranteed hours, new rights to reasonable notice of shift and payment for shifts that are cancelled or moved at short notice.
Commenting on the figures more broadly, Nowak noted that “there are some better signs in the employment data”, adding “but ministers must keep their focus on supporting jobs”.
“The government’s industrial strategy and infrastructure plans are an opportunity to create good new jobs where they’re most needed. And job seekers need access to well-funded training and employment support.”
On youth unemployment and inactivity due to long term sickness Nowak added: “We need an approach that improves access to health services, and that gives young people genuine opportunities to earn and learn.
“It’s a chance to transform the lives of people who want to work but who face barriers keeping them out of employment.”
Left Foot Forward
The general secretary of the TUC says the latest labour market data highlights the need for Labour's Employment Rights Bill.
The general secretary of the TUC says the latest labour market data highlights the need for Labour's Employment Rights Bill.
Today’s ONS labour market data has revealed that use of zero-hours contracts remains high, with 1.13 million workers in the UK still employed on these terms.
Youth unemployment is at 12.8%, up from 10.6% a year ago, while inactivity from long-term sickness has fallen slightly, but remains high at 2.77 million.
Responding to the latest figures, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “A decade of inaction on insecure work has left a legacy of over a million workers on zero-hours contracts.
“That’s why it’s so important to improve security at work and stop these exploitative working practices. The Employment Rights Bill will rightly ban them.”
The Trades Union Congress has said that one in 12 zero-hours workers have been with their current employer for more than a decade, while almost half have been in the same job for more than two years.
Labour’s Employment Rights Bill aims to end “exploitative zero-hour contracts”, giving workers a right to guaranteed hours, new rights to reasonable notice of shift and payment for shifts that are cancelled or moved at short notice.
Commenting on the figures more broadly, Nowak noted that “there are some better signs in the employment data”, adding “but ministers must keep their focus on supporting jobs”.
“The government’s industrial strategy and infrastructure plans are an opportunity to create good new jobs where they’re most needed. And job seekers need access to well-funded training and employment support.”
On youth unemployment and inactivity due to long term sickness Nowak added: “We need an approach that improves access to health services, and that gives young people genuine opportunities to earn and learn.
“It’s a chance to transform the lives of people who want to work but who face barriers keeping them out of employment.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
No comments:
Post a Comment