Frances O'Grady says May should keep her promise - and boost investment
Theresa May’s industrial strategy must give workers more power, said the Trades Union Congress (TUC), calling on the Prime Minister to keep her promise to put employees on company boards.
Responding to the government’s green paper today, which promises investment in research, skills and infrastructure, TUC General Secretary Francis O’Grady welcomed the strategy’s ‘pro-active government intervention’ for jobs and and higher living standards.
But she said more public spending was needed, and a greater role for workers in decision-making. O’Grady said:
“Businesses are more successful when workers are involved in taking decisions about their jobs. So the strategy must put the workforce at the centre of plans to improve productivity – starting with the Prime Minister’s promise to put workers on company boards.”
She noted that public investment was set to be lower than in the last parliament, and called for the March budget to include ‘new investment in vital infrastructure like transport and broadband’.
O’Grady added:
“Trade unions look forward to working with government and business to make this long-awaited and much-needed industrial strategy deliver for working people.”
Theresa May promised to put workers on boards during her Tory leadership campaign, but has since watered down her proposals.
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