GFTU BGCM Report 2017

Resolution 18 (continued)

Implementation

(3) There are more than three quarters of a million young people unemployed in the UK. It is time to act. We cannot stand by and watch the potential of thousands condemned to the scrap heap. Shame on this Conservative led Coalition Government if it is prepared to watch young black people languish in misery and no hope ... a generation condemned to a future of worklessness! (4) We must take action now to stop the indefensible levels of unemployment of young black people. (5) We call on the GFTU in partnership with affilates to: • To demand that the Government urgently sets up a Taskforce made up of Community Representatives, Trade Union Leaders, Faith Leaders, to consult with young black people, voluntary sector, community and faith organisations, etc to produce recommendations to address the alarmingly high unemployment rates. • Urge the Trade Union movement to come together to organise a National Conference, made up of young people, Politicians, Police, Public Sector Leaders, Youth Forums, Business Leaders, etc, to urgently consider and develop strategies to create employment opportunities for all young people. • Lobby MPs and Local Councillors to develop local strategies with the private and public sectors to urgently address the problem of high employment rates of all young people with a particular focus on tackling the disproportionate impact of unemployment of Black and Asian young people. (1) Conference is appalled at the continuing and sustained attack on collective and individual employment rights and trade union freedoms by the present government. (2) This has included: • Increasing the qualification period to claim unfair dismissal • Undermining the health and safety protection for workers • Introducing fees for employment tribunals • Attacks on trade union facility time, check off and collective bargaining in the public sector • Reducing working rights for people in SMEs • Cutting the consultation period for large scale redundancies • Limiting the amount of compensation employees can receive for unfair dismissal • Weakening TUPE legislation that protects employees transferred from one mployer to another. (3) In addition Conference deplores the fact that UK law imposes obligations on trade unions in relation to dispute and strike ballots that are unprecedented in Europe and that the law seeks to frustrate trade unions on technical grounds from their right to take collective action rather than to provide a framework for assessing whether there is genuine worker support for the proposed action. (4) The restrictions in trade union activity in the UK are amongst the most severe in the developed world and stand in breach of ILO conventions. (5) Conference also deplores the increasing use of the courts by employers to prevent legal industrial action by union members who have voted Resolution 19 Employment Rights & Trade Union Freedoms

Implementation

Extensive campaigning throughout the Movement did not prevent the Trade Union Act from reaching the statute books. The GFTU has supported all those politicians and organisations seeking a repeal of the Act and a positive new framework of employment and trade union legislation. The General Secretary has responded to a number of consultation documents. The GFTU Is supporting an extensive section of its new education programme on trade unions and the law.

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