Go Fourth with Usdaw and Labour Executive Council Statement to the 2009 ADM Foreword: John Hannett Labour in Government has delivered for Usdaw members and all working people. We need a historic fourth term of Labour in Government to ensure that we keep the new rights and benefits that we have gained. We also need Labour to win again so that we can continue to successfully campaign for improvements for Usdaw members. Make no mistake, only Labour will deliver for Usdaw members and working people. The Tory threat is very real and they would drive us down into a low-paid economy, allowing rogue employers to undercut each other on basic terms and conditions of employment. The Tories have shown what they are about in the current global economic downturn. The difference between Gordon Brown and David Cameron couldn’t be greater. Our Prime Minister is leading the world in dealing with these difficult times. He is putting jobs, homes and hard-working families at the top of his agenda. Doing as much as he can to help people through tough times. The Tory leader is just standing back and opposing everything the Government is doing to deal with a global recession. The Tories cannot be trusted to run our economy. They refuse to intervene to help hard-working families and are happy to let the recession run its course. The next General Election will be a simple choice between a Labour Government that stands up for working people and the Tories who will take away employment rights and leave working people at the mercy of a global recession. Supporting fringe parties like the Lib Dems, or the Nationalists in Scotland or Wales, will only help the Tories win. Please read this Executive Council Statement, which sets out in detail what Labour has achieved, what Labour will do if they win the next election and what you can do to help Labour win. Complete and return the Volunteer Form at the back of this document. Having a Labour Government is an essential part of the representation that Usdaw offers its members. With Labour, we can campaign for workplace rights that deliver real gains for our members, improvements to benefits and decent public services for everyone. Don’t let the Tories take away everything we’ve gained. Vote Labour. John Hannett General Secretary Go Fourth with Usdaw and Labour page 1 A Message from: The Right Hon John Prescott MP I am delighted that Usdaw is supporting Go Fourth - The Campaign for a Labour Fourth Term. Go Fourth aims to support the fight for the re-election of a Labour Government and commits to the principles and values that have won us an unprecedented three consecutive victories. The campaign’s aims are: ■ To proudly defend the record of the Labour Government since 1997. ■ To actively support the Government in promoting policies that will build on our successes. ■ To encourage greater participation in the Labour Party. ■ To highlight the damage a Conservative Government would do to Britain. I launched the Go Fourth campaign because at times we all need reminding what we are fighting for. We also need to let people know what we’re fighting against. The Tory Party may have spent a fortune on slick PR to try and convince people they’re on their side, but the recession has shown that this party of millionaires and businessmen are not prepared to do anything to rein in City excesses, or to help ordinary people who are struggling through no fault of their own. I know we’ve got a fight on our hands to win the next election. But I believe that Labour’s record in Government and the policies we’ve devised with trade unionists and Labour Party members, to support working people and continue to invest in and improve our public services, are worth fighting for. Please join us. Visit www.gofourth.co.uk now to register to join the campaign. The fightback has begun. Rt Hon John Prescott MP Former Deputy Prime Minister Go Fourth with Usdaw and Labour page 3 Contents Page Introduction 5 Section 1: Why are we in Politics? 6 ■ An overview 6 ■ Usdaw’s campaigns 7 Section 2: What has Labour Done for Usdaw Members? 12 ■ New rights and benefits at work 12 ■ The Warwick II Agreement 14 Section 3: Why do we Need a Fourth Term for Labour in Government? 16 ■ The Liberal Democrats 16 ■ Conclusion 16 Section 4: Helping to Achieve a Fourth Term for Labour in Government 18 ■ Informing members and encouraging them to vote 18 ■ Arranging for a Labour MP or candidate 18 to visit your workplace ■ Organising postal votes for members 19 ■ Helping your local Labour Party 19 ■ Usdaw’s key seat strategy 19 Conclusion 21 Appendices 22 ■ Election Campaigning Volunteer Form* 23 ■ Political Campaign Endorser Form* 24 ■ Usdaw Divisional Political Co-ordinators 25 ■ Labour Party Regional Offices 26 ■ Political Campaign Materials Order Form* 27 * Please complete and return these forms Go Fourth with Usdaw and Labour page 4 Introduction This Executive Council Statement shows that Usdaw needs a historic fourth term of Labour in Government. We say historic because the Labour Party has never achieved four consecutive terms of office. Too many times in the past, Labour Governments have delivered for working people only for it to all to be undone by the Tories winning office. Since 1997 we have made tremendous gains, which are outlined in this statement, and we must ensure that we do not throw them away. This statement is a toolkit to help activists improve the lives of our members by getting politically involved and helping Labour win the election. We also aim to show that our election work is about promoting Usdaw’s policies and delivering new rights and benefits for our members by: ■ Helping our members understand the issues and make an informed choice about how they use their vote. ■ Helping our members meet Labour MPs and candidates so they can let them know their issues and concerns. ■ Giving our members the experience and confidence to stand as Labour candidates. Usdaw needs to mobilise political activists to build a foundation of experienced campaigners who can help us fight for action and improvements for our members. That way we not only help Labour win, we also help Labour deliver for our members. Politics is an important part of the offer we make as a trade union to our members and this statement encourages reps, activists and members to make a real difference by getting involved in Usdaw’s political work. Go Fourth with Usdaw and Labour page 5 Section 1: Why are we in Politics? An overview So what issues are we taking up with the Government? Usdaw’s policies are decided at our Annual Why is Usdaw involved in politics? Delegate Meeting (ADM) and the propositions Our role as a trade union is to make things better passed there form the basis of our political for our members and we mainly do that through campaign work. negotiating with employers, but sometimes we need political solutions: Some examples of issues we are currently campaigning on are: ■ To achieve a level playing field for negotiating ■ with employers. Upgrading the minimum wage for young workers and gaining substantial rises in the ■ To introduce fair minimum standards, eg the rate of the minimum wage. minimum wage, minimum paid holidays, and ■ up to 52 weeks’ paid maternity leave. Protection for shopworkers against violence and abuse at work. ■ To improve our members’ lives in other ways – ■ through better pensions, benefits, improving More support for working parents and carers. schools and health services. ■ Protection of New Year’s Day in Scotland. Why are we linked to the Labour Party? What does our political work involve? Trade unions created the Labour Party to ■ Listening to our activists and members about campaign and act for all working people. Our links the issues and running political campaigns to with the Labour Party mean that we can campaign address their concerns. for what our members need with Labour’s elected representatives. Most members of the Labour ■ Informing our members about new rights and Party and MPs are trade unionists – they benefits that Usdaw has campaigned for and understand what’s important to us and are willing Labour has delivered. to help. ■ Helping to keep the Labour Party in Government so that we can get action on How does Usdaw influence the issues that matter to our members. Labour Party? We can best influence the Labour Party by developing constructive relationships based on mutual trust, understanding and respect. Usdaw’s links at national level with Ministers are important, but much more effective if backed up by Usdaw members raising issues in local Labour Party meetings and policy forums, influencing individual Labour MPs. Go Fourth with Usdaw and Labour page 6 How can you get involved? Usdaw’s campaigns By campaigning with Usdaw and by joining the Labour Party and raising issues there. MPs listen to their local Labour Party members Campaign Action Checklist and representatives from trade unions. Respect for Shopworkers: ■ Labour Party members have a vote in ■ Run the Respect for Shopworkers survey. selecting candidates for Parliament, councils, ■ the European Parliament, etc. Organise a stall for Respect for Shopworkers Week (2-6 November 2009). ■ Labour Party members can influence policy, ■ go to national or regional conferences, Ask your local councillor what your local represent Labour on a council, or even stand council is doing to tackle anti-social for Parliament! behaviour in your shops and shopping areas. Supporting Parents and Carers: ■ Run a stall on Parents Spotlight Day (3 June 2009) and invite a Labour MP, MEP, Euro-candidate or local election candidate.