Industrial strategy must give every part of UK better jobs and living standards after Brexit, says TUC

22 January 2017

- TUC publishes 5 tests for the government’s industrial strategy

The TUC has today (Sunday) published 5 tests the government’s industrial strategy must meet if it is to make the UK successful after Brexit with higher productivity, more high-quality jobs and major improvements to living standards.

The TUC is publishing its view ahead of the green paper on industrial strategy expected to be issued early this week by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The TUC says the industrial strategy must:

1. Address regional inequalities with a regional focus on increasing the supply of good quality jobs, especially for communities affected by industrial decline.
2. Empower the workforce with funding for skills and training, corporate governance reform to give workers a direct say on company boards, and stronger collective bargaining rights.
3. Provide a roadmap for transition to sustainable industry so that Britain can become a world leader in renewable energy, low carbon industry, environmental innovation and green jobs.
4. Reform fiscal policy so that the strategy’s goals are aided by public procurement policy, a tax policy that supports the aims of the strategy, and public investment in infrastructure and skills.
5. Include a framework for industrial cooperation between government, business and trade unions for the ongoing delivery and development of industrial strategy.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Britain’s economy has underperformed for decades because we lack a proper industrial strategy. So it’s very welcome that there is now support from across the political spectrum to develop one. It’s a chance to make sure that every part of the UK benefits from the good quality jobs, modern infrastructure and the industrial vitality needed to improve living standards.

“Britain can do better if we catch up with other countries on investment, skills, and infrastructure, and give workforces a direct say in company decision making. We’d have more world leading companies, we’d create more high quality jobs, and we’d raise living standards.

“A successful industrial strategy needs the backing of public procurement and public investment. The Chancellor made a start on the investment boost needed in the Autumn Statement, but he needs to go further in the Budget.

“An industrial strategy is more than a one-off programme of action, it needs ongoing development. So we hope the strategy will include a framework for how government, businesses and trade unions can work together on the long-term decisions needed for the UK’s future prosperity.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

- The TUC will provide a more detailed view of what is needed from the government’s industrial strategy in a blog that will be published on Sunday 22 January on Touchstone: http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/ 
 - All TUC press releases can be found at tuc.org.uk/media
- TUC Press Office on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:
Press Office  T: 020 7467 1248  E: media@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter  T: 020 7467 1285  M: 07887 572130  E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols  T: 020 7467 1388  M: 07808 761844  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson (Mon to Thurs) T: 020 7467 1337  M: 07900 910624  E: egibson@tuc.org.uk
Michael Pidgeon  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: mpidgeon@tuc.org.uk