Briefing: A New Deal for Workers

Why we desperately need a New Deal for workers to address the cost of living crisis

The Covid-19 pandemic, the economic downturn that followed, and the current cost of living crisis has revealed in sombre terms the true nature of British society and the huge inequalities which characterise it. Read our 4-page introduction to what a New Deal for Workers might look like, and why we so desperately need a manifesto for recovery.

Key recommendations

  • International action

    There is a need for co-ordinated and progressive international action, as in the ILO Declaration of Philadelphia (1944).

  • Restoration of sector wide collective bargaining

    In the UK, sector-wide collective bargaining must be restored, as a key lever for redistribution, the promotion of equality, and to raise wages.

  • A green just transition

    A true green and just transition in energy (and elsewhere) is required to save the UK and the world and to provide a new generation of worthwhile jobs.

  • Income equality and equality of wealth

    At domestic level, radical and transformative fiscal policies must be adopted to raise taxes, in order to increase spending, in order to promote income equality and equality of wealth.

  • Rebuild the state

    The State must be rebuilt as the expression of collective solidarity, not just in health, but also in employment, housing, education, transport, and income maintenance.

  • Expand trade union voice

    Participation in government must be expanded to give trade unions a voice in public policy development, while all public services must be delivered directly by public bodies.

  • Strong industrial citizenship

    The economic constitution must be restored to recreate an open, robust, resilient, and inclusive democracy based on entitlement through strong industrial citizenship.

  • End exploitative forms of employment

    Steps must be taken to ensure the dignity of all workers, and to end the various forms of exploitation through non-standard employment. Enough is enough.

  • Reasses wage rates based on service to commity, not market value

    We must re-assess the value of work and its rewards. Wage rates should be based on service to the community not market value, with much greater State intervention. In particular wages, through sectoral collective bargaining must rise in our vital public services so as to recruit and retain staff to fill the tens of thousands of vacancies.

  • Disempower the reach of global corporations

    Steps must be taken to disempower global corporations and to democratise companies, as an integral part of the new economic constitution which includes public ownership of the fundamental services.

Download the 4-page briefing here