Unite press release

Thursday 18 August 2022

Unite's power in the workplace spreads to battleground seats to create a Workers' Economy 

From workplace to community Unite is driving a UK-wide strategy to help bring change to ‘heartland’ communities following the failure of politicians to act. With the aim of unifying collectivism at the workplace and within local communities, the Union will now look to drive the political agenda as opposed to commenting on it.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Over the last 12 months Unite has delivered at the workplace winning over £100 million for members in dispute.  As promised in my manifesto Unite will now use that power to do the same within our communities.

“Too often workers are taken for granted, their concerns ignored whilst politicians protect corporate profits at the expense of wages and services.

“No amount of lobbying in Westminster will change that. We need a totally new approach.

“We need to build power in our workplaces and simultaneously organise in our communities. Unite will establish permanent bases on the ground to work with workers within their communities. We will help deliver practical change that people can touch and feel. And we will develop our own programme - a Workers' Manifesto.  

“It’s time to do things differently. It is time for the trade union movement to lead.”

 ‘Unite for a Workers' Economy’ will begin with a major national billboard campaign across key battle-ground seats up and down the UK, including Glasgow, Grimsby, Hull, Leigh, Barrow, Workington, Morecombe, Derby and Crawley (see notes to editors).

The campaign will begin with key messages. It is a first significant step in taking Unite’s own Jobs, Pay and Conditions movement into local communities. The strategy will link Unite’s workplace activity with local communities where, in time a unity of purpose will be developed.

Sharon Graham says: “Our economy isn’t working for workers, only for corporate Britain and its rich backers. It’s time for workers and communities to fight back. It’s time for us to build a movement for real change based on a unity of the workplace with local communities - popular working class power.”

It’s time to challenge the status quo. Workers and communities from across the political spectrum can join together to demand higher wages, freedom from fuel and food poverty, and pensions that allow us to retire comfortably. That and so much more.

Profits in Britain’s top companies are up by 47 per cent but it’s predicted that workers’ real wages could experience the biggest fall in 100 years. Meanwhile the food bank charity, The Trussell Trust, is handing out emergency food parcels every 13 seconds as demand soars amid the cost of living crisis.

This situation cannot stand any longer without persistent, permanent challenge. Only a rebirth of the trade union movement which becomes the lifeblood of local communities can help drive that change.

ENDS

Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315 

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion 

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.