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15 September, 1999The British TUC has debated the future of trade unionism at its annual conference.
GREAT BRITAIN: The ties between the British trade unions and the (new) Labour Party have been brought into question, as many union leaders are unhappy with the attitude of the Labour government.
Tony Blair said to the delegates that he makes no apology for saying that New Labour does strongly support business: "It is absurd to suggest that supporting business means somehow we don't support employment or we don't support employees or we don't support trade unions. When we back business, we are supporting employees and employment. When we support employees and employment, we are backing business."
According to Tony Blair, trade unions must be partners in change, not its enemies -- champions of change even.
Tony Blair has also got support from, among others, Sir Ken Jackson, General Secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union: "Our link is Labour's link with working people. I would like to see these links strengthened, not cut."
Roger Lyons, General Secretary of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union, declared: "It would be completely foolish to distance ourselves from the most popular Labour government in history."
Tony Blair said to the delegates that he makes no apology for saying that New Labour does strongly support business: "It is absurd to suggest that supporting business means somehow we don't support employment or we don't support employees or we don't support trade unions. When we back business, we are supporting employees and employment. When we support employees and employment, we are backing business."
According to Tony Blair, trade unions must be partners in change, not its enemies -- champions of change even.
Tony Blair has also got support from, among others, Sir Ken Jackson, General Secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union: "Our link is Labour's link with working people. I would like to see these links strengthened, not cut."
Roger Lyons, General Secretary of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union, declared: "It would be completely foolish to distance ourselves from the most popular Labour government in history."