Building a sustainable economy: Invest in training
and jobs and restore trade union rights.
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James Corry
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The 113th Scottish Trade Union Congress
kicked off today by slamming the 'unjust and inefficient'
banking model that led to the financial crisis.
It called on the UK and Scottish Governments
to work with the STUC and employers organisations
to limit the effect of the recession and to create
a fairer and more sustainable economy and society.
UNISON's James Corry called for more
investment in the Modern Apprenticeship programme,
especially to support those who were losing their
jobs in the current climate.
Congress also recognised the particular
impact of the recession on vulnerable groups such
as the young, the disabled and those on low income
and set out arrange of measures to address these.
It called for a national living wage,
a fairer and more progressive tax system; investment
in training and manufacturing and maintaining public
spending to embed the economic recovery alongside
measures to tackle youth employment, increased benefits
for those out of work and on low pay.
It demanded the reform of anti-trade
union legislation which has undermined employment
and bargaining rights and has led to a "more
unequal and unjust society and an economy that is
considerably less stable"
James, Secretary of the UNISON Skills
Development Scotland Branch, called for continued
lobbying of the Scottish Government to maximise
resources in the Modern Apprenticeship programmes
to allow funding for the over 20s to continue.
While praising the Scottish Government
for funding 7,800 new places and lifting the age
limit before, he slammed the 25% reduction this
financial year,the 'debarring' of the 20+ age group
and no commitment to fund the ScotAction initiative
beyond June.
By lobbying for the reinstatement
of these cuts, James said, "We will continue
to offer much needed support to not only school
leavers entering the labour market but also assisting
those who are facing the threat of loss of employment"
due to the financial crisis.
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