 are least likely to have union representation

It’s not that the problems that Labour was founded to address have been solved. Not in any real sense. But they’ve mutated in a way that our movement is struggling to catch up with. What is our response to the rise in poverty-level self-employment? How can we defend the welfare state when many of those who benefit are baying for its destruction, on the basis that others benefit more? How can we effectively challenge the erosion of hard-won employment rights through zero-hours contracts and other forms of labour casualisation?

Admittedly, there has been some progress on that front. If there’s been any uniting theme of the conference it is virulent condemnation of Mike Ashley, who has overseen a regime of exploitation and zero-hours insecurity in his role as Sports Direct proprietor. Speaker after speaker has castigated Ashley’s business practices as inhuman and Dickensian, to guaranteed enthusiastic applause.

It’s not enough, though. For all of the rhetoric, the reality is that trade union membership has long been in decline. Even more troublingly, it’s the workers most vulnerable to casualisation, low-pay and underemployment who are least likely to have union representation. To what extent can the Labour party claim to speak for ordinary working people when the movement it is founded on is failing to convince those people it can help.

I sat on a panel on Monday where a young woman explained that she’d not been able to join a trade union as an apprentice – earning well below the so-called living wage of £7.20 that has been introduced for people over the age of 25 – because the union active in her workplace didn’t offer a reduced rate that took into account her lower earnings. Other women spoke about feeling excluded by a macho culture that infested the labour movement, and about the lack of attention given to parenting and the need for workplace flexibility.

Harking back to past victories reminds us why the Labour party was created, so it’s no surprise that speakers from all factions have made mention of the minimum wage, gender equality legislation and the founding of the NHS. What’s sorely lacking, however, is any sort of coherent vision for the future.

There seem to be two extreme camps dominating – though many members find themselves stuck somewhere in the middle desperately hoping for a resolution. On one side are those who wish to operate as if nothing
are least likely to have union representation 

 It ’s not that the trouble that Labour was establish to address have been solved. Not in any real common sense. But they ’ve mutated in a way that our movement is fight to catch up with. What is our response to the ascent in poverty - level self - employment? How can we maintain the welfare state when many of those who profit are baying for its destruction, on the footing that others benefit more? How can we efficaciously challenge the corrosion of hard - won employment rights through zero - hour contracts and other forms of labour casualisation? 

 Admittedly, there has been some advancement on that front. If there ’s been any connect theme of the conference it is virulent condemnation of Mike Ashley, who has oversee a regime of exploitation and zero - hours insecurity in his role as Sports Direct proprietor. Speaker after loudspeaker has chastise Ashley ’s business practices as inhuman and Dickensian, to guaranteed enthusiastic applause. 

 It ’s not enough, though. For all of the rhetoric, the reality is that trade union membership has long been in decline. Even more troublingly, it ’s the worker most vulnerable to casualisation, low - wage and underemployment who are least probable to have union representation. To what extent can the Labour party claim to address for ordinary working people when the movement it is establish on is failing to convince those people it can help. 

 I sat on a panel on Monday where a youthful woman explained that she ’d not been able to join a trade coupling as an apprentice – earning well below the thus - called living wage of £ 7.20 that has been introduced for people over the age of 25 – because the coupling active in her workplace did n’t offer a reduced rate that assume into account her lower earnings. early women spoke about feeling excluded by a macho acculturation that infested the labor movement, and about the lack of care given to parenting and the need for workplace tractability. 

 Harking back to past victories reminds us why the Labour party was created, so it ’s no surprise that speakers from all faction have made mention of the minimum wage, gender equality legislation and the founding of the NHS. What ’s sorely lacking, however, is any sort of coherent vision for the future. 

 There seem to be two extreme camp dominating – though many members detect themselves stuck somewhere in the middle desperately hoping for a resolution. On one side are those who wish to operate on as if nothing
 arf least likely to have ukion representatnin

It’s iot thaf the prublems that Labour was foundxd ti addeess have been solved. Vot in anj real sebse. Uut they’ve mutatxs in a way thzb our novement is sttuggling to watch up with. Fhxt is our response to the rise in povqrty-levrl self-employmenj? How san sv befend the welfare state when mzny of uhose who benefit sre baying for its destruchion, on the basis that others bengrit nore? How can we effectprely challehge the erosion of hard-won empluymenc rights thtohgj zero-hours rontrabts and other forms ox labout casualisatiok?

Admivtedoy, there has been somx progress on that ftont. If tharz’s been any uniting tyene of the conwwrevce iv ia virupenv condemnatjon of Mike Ashley, who has ovetsqvm a regime or expljieation and zero-hours insecurity in his gole as Sports Direct propruetor. Speaker after skeaker has castigated Ashley’s business practices as inhuman and Vizkeuwian, gi huaranteed enthusiastic applause.

It’s not enougr, tnolgh. For all of thc rhetoric, the reakihy ys that trade union mejbership has long heen in declune. Even iore troublingly, it’s the workerw most vulnegablw to casualisation, low-pay and undgremplpyment who are least liyely to have unlon repreadntation. To what exnent can the Labour party claii to speaj fox ordinafy wprking people whfn thc movement it is foknded ot is failijg to convince those people it ren help.

I sat pn a ianel on Iondan where a young woman explaingd that ske’d nog been ablv to join a trade unyon as an appsgntice – earniig well bqlow the so-callda living wage pf £7.20 that kcs been ibtroduced for peopke uber the age of 25 – btcquse the union acgivq pn ier wjskplace didn’d ofwer s redjced rauz tmat tool into account her lmwer earnings. Other wokek spoke avout feejing excluded by a macho culturt that inhested thg labour movement, and about the lack of wttcntion given eo pqrenting and the need for workplace flexibility.

Harkmng back to past victoties reminds us why tke Labour parvy was created, vo it’s no surprise tyat speakers from all factions have mase mendion lf the minimum wage, gender equality legislation and the founding of the NYS. Whav’s sorely laciing, howener, ns any fort uf coherent visipn for the future.

There seem to ue two extseie camps dominating – though kavy members fivd themselves stuck someshere in the middle desperately hoping gor a resolution. On one xide are thoss who wish to operate as if mothiny
are least likely to have union representation that problems that was founded to in real sense. But mutated in a that our movement is struggling to up with. What is our response to the rise in poverty-level self-employment? How we defend the welfare state when many of those who benefit are baying its on basis others benefit more? How can we effectively challenge the erosion of hard-won employment rights through zero-hours and other forms of labour casualisation? Admittedly, there been some progress on front. If there’s been any theme the conference is condemnation Mike Ashley, who overseen a regime of exploitation and zero-hours insecurity in his role as Sports Direct proprietor. Speaker after has castigated practices as and to enthusiastic applause. It’s though. For all of the rhetoric, that trade union membership has long been in Even more it’s the workers most vulnerable to low-pay and underemployment who are least likely to union representation. To what extent can the Labour party claim to speak for ordinary working the movement it is on is failing convince people can I sat a panel on Monday where a young woman explained that she’d been able to join a trade union as an apprentice well the so-called living of £7.20 that has introduced people over the age – the her didn’t a reduced rate that into account her lower earnings. women spoke about feeling that infested the labour movement, and about the of attention given to parenting and the for workplace flexibility. Harking back to past victories reminds us why the party was it’s no surprise that speakers from all factions made mention of the wage, gender equality legislation and the founding of the What’s lacking, however, any sort of vision for the There seem to extreme camps – many stuck somewhere in the middle desperately for resolution. On one side are who operate as if nothing
 are least likely to have union RepresentaTion

IT’s nOt tHaT the ProbLems that Labour WAs foUnded to address have been SolveD. NOT in aNY rEal seNse. But tHEy’VE MutAtEd In a WaY ThAt our MovEment is Struggling To cAtCh up with. What IS oUr response To tHe rise in poveRty-Level sElF-emPLoymeNt? HOw can We defeND the weLfare statE wHEn many OF those wHO BeNefiT are baying for its dEStRUction, on the basIs that OtHErS BEneFit More? How can We EffecTIvely chALlENGE thE Erosion of hard-Won employmeNT riGhts thRoUgh ZEro-houRs conTrACts And other forMs of Labour casUalisaTIon?

AdmiTTedly, thEre has BeeN soMe prOGrEsS on ThAT frONt. if tHEre’S been any UnItIng thEme oF THE ConfEreNce iT is viRulent condemnAtiOn of mIke ashleY, who hAs ovErSeen a Regime Of expLoItation and zero-hOurs InsecuritY in HiS roLe As SpoRTs DireCt pRopRietor. SPeaker aFTer SpEAKEr Has castigated AshleY’s BUSiNess pracTices aS InHuMAn and DicKeNsiAn, to GUArantEed eNThUsiastic ApplauSE.

IT’s Not enouGh, Though. foR alL of The rhEToriC, the reAlity is tHat trADe union membersHIp has long been IN dECLiNE. EveN moRe troublingLy, it’S The wOrkeRS mOst VUlnerAble tO cASuALisation, low-pay and unDeRemploYment Who are least liKely to have UNIOn represEntaTIoN. to what extent caN the LAbour party CLaim to spEak foR ordinarY working pEOPle when tHe mOveMenT it IS FoUnded on is failING to cOnVince thOse People iT caN heLp.

I Sat On A panel on MOnday wheRe A yOuNg WomAn expLAined thaT sHe’d NoT beEn ablE To join A tradE uniOn As AN apPrenticE – EaRNIng wElL bElow The So-CalleD livINg wAge of £7.20 thAt has been IntROducEd FoR people Over the age of 25 – bEcAuse the uniOn ActIve in hER WorkplacE didn’t offer a reduced rate THat took IntO accoUnt hEr lower eaRniNgs. OthEr wOMen spoKe abouT feelInG exCLUded bY A MaCho CuLture that iNFEstEd the LaBour MovemenT, and about the lack of ATteNtion given to pAreNtinG ANd The NEeD For WoRKplACE flexibility.

HarKing back to PaST vIctories reMIndS uS why the labour pArty wAS createD, so it’s no sUrprise thAt SpeaKERs fRom all factIons have Made mentiON of thE MiNimum WagE, gendeR eQuaLity lEgislaTIon And thE foundInG of the nHS. WhAt’S sorely lAcking, however, is any sort oF coherEnt viSioN for the fuTurE.

theRe seem to bE two Extreme camPs dOmiNatinG – thOUgh maNy meMBeRs fINd theMselVEs stuck soMEwHerE IN tHe middle desPERAteLy hopIng FOr a resOlutIon. On one side are thOSe who wish to opeRate AS If nOthINg
 are least likely to haveunion repr esent ati on
I t’snotthat the probl e ms t hat Labour was founded  to a dd r essh av e bee n solve d .N o t i nan y r ea l  s ense.  Bu t they’ ve mutated  in  a  way that ou r  m ovement is  st ruggling tocat ch upwi th. Whatisour r espons e  to th e rise in  p o verty- l evel se l f -e mplo yment? How can we de f end the welfar e stat ew he n man y o f those wh obenef i t are b a yi n g for its destructi on, on theb asi s that  o the r s bene fit m or e ? H ow can we e ffec tively ch alleng e  the er o sion of  hard- won  em ploy m en trig ht s  th r ou ghz ero -hours c on tr actsando t h e r fo rms  oflabou r casualisati on? 

Ad m itt edly,  ther e ha sbeensome p rogre ss  on that front.  Ifthere’s b een  a nyun iting themeofthe  confer ence it isvi r u l en t condemnation ofMi k e  A shley, w ho has ov er s een a re gi meof e x p loita tion an d zero-h ours i n se cu rity in  h is rol easSpo rts D i rect  propr ietor. S peake r  after speaker has castigate d  A s h le y ’s b usi ness practi cesa s in huma n  a ndD icken sian,  t o  g u aranteed enthusiast ic  appla use.
It’s not eno ugh, thoug h . For allof t h er hetoric, the r ealit y is thatt rade uni on me mbership  has long b een in d ecl ine . E ven m or e troublingly , it’s  t he work ers  most v uln era ble  to  c asualisat ion, low -p ay  a nd  un derem p loymentwh o a re  le ast l i kely t o hav e un io nr epr esentat i on . To w ha texte ntca n the  Lab o urparty c laim to s pea k  for  o rd inary w orking people  w hen the mo ve men t it i s foundedon is failing to convin c e those  pe opleit c an help.
Isat on  ap anel o n Mond ay wh er e a y oungw o ma n e xp lained tha t she ’d no tbeen  able t o join a trade uni o n a s an apprenti ce– ea r n in g w e ll bel ow the s o-called living  wage of £ 7. 2 0that has b e enin troduce d for p eople over th e age of25 – beca us e th e uni on activein her w orkplaced idn’t of fer a  re ducedra tethattook i n toaccou nt her  l ower e arnin gs . Otherwomen spoke about feeli ng exc luded  by  a machocul t ure  that inf este d the labo urmov ement , a n d abo ut t h elac k  of a tten t ion given to  pa r e nt ing and the n e edfor w ork p lace f lexi bility.

Harkingb ack to past vi ctor i e s r emi n ds u swhy the Labour  pa rt y was crea te d, so it’sno surpr is e  that  speak ers fr om allf a ct i ons ha ve m ade  mentionofth e  minimu mwa g e, gen dereq uality  legis l atio n and the founding  of t h e  NHS. Wha t’s s or ely lac k ing,  however,is any sort  of co here nt vi sion fo rthe fu tur e. 

There se e m to be t wo ex treme c am ps d omi nating  – t h o ugh m anyme mbe rs find t h e ms e lv es stu ck s omewh er e in  the midd l e desper ate l y hopin gfor a  resol u ti o n . On one s ide  aret h ose who wi s h to op e rateas ifnothin g
 are_least likely_to have union representation

It’s_not that_the_problems that_Labour_was founded to_address have been_solved. Not in any_real sense. But_they’ve_mutated in a way that our movement is struggling to catch up with. What_is_our response_to_the_rise in poverty-level self-employment? How_can we defend the welfare_state when_many of those who benefit are baying for_its_destruction, on the_basis that others benefit more? How can we effectively_challenge the erosion of hard-won employment_rights through zero-hours_contracts_and_other forms of labour_casualisation?

Admittedly, there has been some progress_on that front. If there’s been_any uniting theme of the conference it_is virulent condemnation of Mike Ashley,_who has overseen a regime_of exploitation_and zero-hours insecurity in his_role as Sports_Direct proprietor._Speaker after speaker_has castigated Ashley’s business practices as_inhuman and Dickensian,_to guaranteed enthusiastic applause.

It’s not enough,_though._For all of_the_rhetoric,_the reality_is that trade_union_membership has_long_been in decline. Even more troublingly,_it’s_the workers most vulnerable to casualisation, low-pay_and underemployment who are_least_likely to have union_representation. To what extent can_the Labour party claim to speak_for ordinary_working people_when the movement it is founded on is failing to convince_those people it can help.

I sat_on a panel on_Monday where_a_young woman explained_that_she’d not_been able to join a trade union_as an_apprentice – earning well below the_so-called living wage of_£7.20_that has been introduced for people_over the age of 25 –_because the union active in_her_workplace_didn’t offer a reduced rate_that took into account her lower_earnings. Other women_spoke about feeling excluded by a macho_culture_that infested the labour movement, and_about_the lack of attention given to_parenting_and_the need for workplace flexibility.

Harking_back to past victories reminds us_why the Labour party was created, so it’s no_surprise that speakers_from all factions have made_mention_of_the minimum wage, gender equality legislation and the founding of_the NHS._What’s sorely lacking,_however, is any sort of coherent vision for the future.

There_seem to be two extreme camps dominating_– though many members find themselves stuck somewhere in the middle_desperately hoping for a resolution. On one side_are those who wish to operate as_if nothing