Matthew Taylor’s independent review of working practices launches today. We’re looking forward to working with him. Here are the things we think his review has the potential to change for working people: Making sure everyone can access decent rights at work Access to key workplace rights…Read more…
The pensions triple lock is for youngsters
One of the myths about the State Pension triple lock is that it is somehow a subsidy of the wealthy old by the impecunious young. A report released this afternoon by the studiously neutral, Pensions Policy Institute shows two key things: The triple lock has done the vast bulk of the work in…Read more…
Canadian & European civil society oppose EU-Canada trade agreement
Over 450 public interest groups from across Europe and Canada – including the TUC – today published an open letter urging legislators to vote against the EU-Canada ‘trade’ deal known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). They joined forces to defend…Read more…
Worker board representation must mean what it says on the tin
The government’s Green Paper on corporate governance is expected today (Tuesday 29th November) and should include the government’s proposals for putting into practice the Prime Minister’s repeated commitment to have workers represented on company boards. As I blogged last week, there are three key…Read more…
This is still austerity, but not as we knew it
There were welcome signs in the 2016 Autumn Statement that the Chancellor has learned from his predecessor’s mistakes. The OBR forecast greatly increased borrowing (around £120bn more over 5 years) because they see uncertainties around the referendum meaning a weaker economy especially over the…Read more…
No bones about it: the worst real earnings decline in at least 162 years
Frances O’ Grady’s immediate reaction to the Autumn Statement was that Today’s OBR forecast shows that the average annual wage will be £1,000 lower in 2020 than predicted at the Budget. And this is on top of wages still having not recovered to their 2007 levels. This is yet another blow to ordinary…Read more…
The Child Maintenance Service is changing and it matters
At single parents’ charity Gingerbread, we’re campaigning to ensure the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is fit for purpose for the UK’s two million single parent families. Launched in September 2016, our campaign Maintenance Matters calls for a fairer charging system and zero-tolerance on…Read more…
An Autumn Statement for Everyone? Looks like we’ll have to wait for spring
Last week we set out five tests for the Chancellor to meet for an Autumn Statement that works for everyone. Here’s how we think he’s done. Test 1: Set out a plan for a Brexit that protects working people’s jobs and rights. As the OBR make clear, Brexit is the biggest factor affecting the economy…Read more…
#AutumnStatement Universal Credit changes won’t make up for cuts that hit families and low-paid workers
The Chancellor’s announcement of a small cut in the Universal Credit taper rate goes nowhere near making up for the cuts his predecessor announced in July 2015, which will leave many low-paid working families hundreds – even thousands – of pounds worse off a year. As the End Child…Read more…
More money for housing in Autumn Statement – but also more Right To Buy
This afternoon in the #AutumnStatement Philip Hammond announced a number of measures that go some way to addressing the crisis we are facing in both the private and rented housing sectors. These include: A Housing Infrastructure Fund of £2.3bn by 2020-2021, funded by the NPIF (National Productivity…Read more…
Productivity and the #AutumnStatement: an antidote to Brexit?
Philip Hammond committed to raising productivity in today’s Autumn Statement. A National Productivity Investment Fund worth £23bn will focus on infrastructure, including digital communications, and research and development. £23bn sounds like a lot of money; as Geoff has blogged elsewhere, it is…Read more…
NHS and social care funding crisis completely missing from #AutumnStatement
“Departments will continue to deliver overall spending plans set at the Spending Review 2015” That was how the Chancellor used the Autumn Statement to respond to the crisis in our NHS and social care services. The NHS, deep in funding crisis, wasn’t mentioned once –…Read more…
JAM tomorrow? Not much in the Autumn Statement for those Just About Managing
In the last few days the press has been full of claims that this afternoon’s autumn financial statement would be all about the ‘just about managing’. This was the first chance for the new Conservative leadership to show how they would build an ‘economy that works for everyone’ and to turn Theresa…Read more…
#AutumnStatement minimum wage rises leave 21 to 24 year olds £450 a year out of pocket
The government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations and will increase all national minimum wage rates from 1st April 2017. The government’s national living wage (introduced in April of this year) will go up by 4.2%, a 30p increase, to £7.50 an hour. That’s good, but there’s a fly…Read more…
#AutumnStatement minimum wage rises leave 21 to 24 year olds £450 a year out of pocket
The government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations and will increase all national minimum wage rates from 1st April 2017. The government’s national living wage (introduced in April of this year) will go up by 4.2%, a 30p increase, to £7.50 an hour. That’s good, but there’s a fly…Read more…
Prime Minister reconfirms commitment to workers’ representation on company boards before #Autumn Statement
Speaking immediately before the #Autumn Statement to a packed House of Commons, the Prime Minister clearly said that the government would bring in worker representation on company boards: I believe that we should see workers’ representation on boards. I make no apology for the fact that this…Read more…
#AutumnStatement: Chancellor goes a little way to meet his investment challenge
Today the Chancellor has finally recognised that spending on infrastructure strengthens the economy. Measures the TUC has long called for were announced, including more cash for housing, high speed broadband, rail and roads. Overall the Chancellor’s measures amounted to £23bn, a big sounding…Read more…
#AutumnStatement: Working people are facing a hit of £1000 per year by 2020
The OBR figures released today for the Autumn Statement showed lower economic growth translating into lower wage growth for the next four years. On top of this, weaker sterling has translated into significantly higher inflation, especially in 2017. For…Read more…
The #AutumnStatement chose corporate tax cuts over the pay rise Britain’s workers need
In the details of Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement came a worrying confirmation for those of us campaigning for a pay rise for Britain’s workforce. The Autumn Statement’s accompanying OBR forecast shows that the average annual wage will be £1,000 lower in 2020 than predicted at…Read more…
Chancellor should ensure more money for a fairer deal on migration
Yesterday the TUC released a report calling on the Chancellor to use the Autumn Financial Statement on Wednesday to significantly increase the amount going to a Migration Impacts Fund so that areas that have experienced industrial decline, cuts to services and significant recent increases in…Read more…