Community: The Union for Life

The relationship between the Party and the Unions has been debated time and again ever since our party’s birth.

And judging from some of this morning’s headlines,

it will be under scrutiny again.

But I think it is right at this time that we remember Labour’s foundation.

It was the trade unions that were there at the beginning of the Labour Party –

to give a voice to working people and represent workers in Parliament.

One of my predecessors – a steelworker – John Hodge was among that pioneering group of Labour MPs all those years ago.

And even though more than a hundred years has passed – that role remains fundamental.

I would say that our objective soon changed.

Giving a voice to working people in Parliament was not and is never enough.

We want working people represented in Government.

That is why May’s election result was so devastating.

I know that my members, the people I represent, will lose out because Labour lost.

And it’s for this reason that my union remains part of the Labour Party.

And I’d like to emphasise that point – we are a part of the Labour Party – not a vocal supporter on the outside but on the inside.

But being within Labour comes with responsibility.

Jack Jones famously described the relationship like a good marriage – murder often, divorce never.

But I think that sometimes assigns a level of maturity that the relationship doesn’t always merit.

Sometimes the relationship is more akin to Gordon’s two boys squabbling in the bath.

But we need the mature relationship to be at our most effective. That is equally important in opposition as in government.

When Community took the Government to court to save the pensions of our members it was because it was the right thing to do. But we didn’t fight them in public we fought them in Whitehall and in the European Court of Justice. And we were frank and open with Gordon and others, that we were defending our members’ interests directly.

What we didn’t do was make threats about our commitment to the party. That was never in question, even when we were spending thousands fighting the Labour Government in the courts.

This was the sign of a good marriage. And I’m pleased to say the Government saw sense in the end.

My fear is that without recognising our responsibility to the Labour Party, we become a movement of protest rather than a movement of progress.

We must remain committed to being a movement of progress – struggling for power so that we can bring about social justice.

One area where the labour in Labour is vital is on workforce and employment policy.

Trade unions are experts on the world of work.

I spend 1 week a year at Labour Party conference –

But 52 weeks a year, my time is spent helping my members solve their problems at work.

Unions have a great deal to offer.

Unfortunately, the fog of industrial relations can often mask the underlying success of daily wins in the workplace.

But this is an area where we have much advice to offer. We are closer to the workplace.

Sadly, in our 13 years in Government, I don’t think Labour truly got to grips with the world of work - and in particular, the quality of work.

I know Unions 21 and the Work Foundation and others tried to pursue that policy agenda but it never really took hold within Government.

There is much to be done on this policy area – not least, might I suggest, looking at the quality of management.

But that’s a discussion that must continue within unions and within the party.

To answer today’s question:

the labour IS in Labour and that’s where I believe it should remain.