In a powerful address to the nation's trade unions, Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has pledged an immediate and decisive break from the Conservative government's approach to industrial relations.
Phillipson promised that a Labour government would wipe the controversial Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act from the statute book within its first 100 days in office. This landmark legislation, introduced by the Tories, has been fiercely criticised by unions for severely limiting the right to strike in key public sectors.
A New Chapter of Partnership
Speaking at the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) in London, the senior Labour frontbencher framed the upcoming election as a critical "choice between more chaos with the Tories or hope with Labour." She committed to ushering in a "new chapter of partnership" between a Labour government and the trade union movement.
"Conference, we will repeal your anti-union laws. We will do so quickly," Phillipson declared to applause, underscoring her party's commitment to replacing what she called "Conservative strife with Labour stability."
Beyond Repeal: A Positive Agenda for Workers
Phillipson's vision extends beyond simply scrapping Tory laws. She outlined a positive, pro-worker agenda designed to be enacted from "day one" of a Labour administration.
The cornerstone policies include:
- Fair Pay Agreements: A new system to establish decent wages and conditions across entire sectors, beginning with social care.
- Basic Rights from Day One: Legislation to ensure fundamental employment rights and protections apply to all workers from the very first day of their job.
- Strengthened Union Access: New rights for unions to organise and represent their members effectively in workplaces.
Contrasting Visions: Labour Stability vs. Tory Chaos
The speech served to draw a stark dividing line between the two main parties. Phillipson accused the Conservatives of using strikes as a "political weapon" and fostering constant "conflict and division."
She positioned Labour as the party that would deliver competent, stable governance and a genuine collaborative relationship with workers and their representatives, aiming to improve public services together.
This major pledge signifies Labour's intent to make workers' rights and the repeal of Tory trade union laws a central battleground in the forthcoming general election campaign.
