Warwick Agreement
Encyclopedia
The Warwick Agreement is the name of a document agreed in July 2004 to the 2005 General Election
between many of Britain's main trade union
s and the Labour Party
, which helped form Labour's 2005 election manifesto
.
The trade union
s are organised into a group called TULO (Trade Union & Labour Party Liaison Organisation) and you can find details of the Warwick Agreement and updates on its implementation by visiting the TULO website, http://www.unionstogether.org.uk
The document is named after The University of Warwick
, where the agreement was made.
There are many principles covered by each heading (see separate sheets), including statutory pay and paid holidays, protection for pensions, sanitation improvements in the NHS, healthy eating in schools, expansion of skills programmes in the UK and more stringent limitations on interest rates and fees.
is one of this group, quoted as saying:
“Central to this Warwick Mark II programme should be the end of privatisation, the promotion of public ownership and public services, and the implementation of the Trade Union Freedom Bill.”
Another prominent character in this is Jon Cruddas MP
, who puts a lot of emphasis on policy change and improving Trade Union
rights.
Pensions
Public services
Manufacturing
within EU law, and support a review of EU procurement policy.
Other commitments
competition.
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
between many of Britain's main trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s and the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, which helped form Labour's 2005 election manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
.
The trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s are organised into a group called TULO (Trade Union & Labour Party Liaison Organisation) and you can find details of the Warwick Agreement and updates on its implementation by visiting the TULO website, http://www.unionstogether.org.uk
The document is named after The University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
, where the agreement was made.
Five main points
There are five main points covered by the Warwick Agreement:- Fairness at work
- Pensions
- Public services
- Manufacturing
- Other commitments
There are many principles covered by each heading (see separate sheets), including statutory pay and paid holidays, protection for pensions, sanitation improvements in the NHS, healthy eating in schools, expansion of skills programmes in the UK and more stringent limitations on interest rates and fees.
Future developments
There is a small sector that believes a new, more relevant version of the Warwick Agreement is required to clamp down on some aspects of public services. John McDonnell MPJohn McDonnell (politician)
John Martin McDonnell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Hayes and Harlington since 1997; he serves as Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group, the Labour Representation Committee, and the "Public Services Not Private Profit Group"...
is one of this group, quoted as saying:
“Central to this Warwick Mark II programme should be the end of privatisation, the promotion of public ownership and public services, and the implementation of the Trade Union Freedom Bill.”
Another prominent character in this is Jon Cruddas MP
Jon Cruddas
Jonathan Cruddas is a British Labour Party politician who is the Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham. He was first elected in 2001 to the seat of Dagenham....
, who puts a lot of emphasis on policy change and improving Trade Union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
rights.
Principles covered
Fairness at work- Four weeks paid holiday for all, exclusive of bank holidays.
- Legislation on corporate manslaughter in the next parliamentary term.
- Using Anti-Social Behaviour OrderAnti-Social Behaviour OrderAn Anti-Social Behaviour Order or ASBO is a civil order made against a person who has been shown, on the balance of evidence, to have engaged in anti-social behaviour. The orders, introduced in the United Kingdom by Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1998, were designed to correct minor incidents that...
s to tackle violenceViolenceViolence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
and anti-social behaviour in and around front-line workplaces. - Major rollout of childcareChildcareChild care means caring for and supervising child/children usually from 0–13 years of age. In the United States child care is increasingly referred to as early childhood education due to the understanding of the impact of early experiences of the developing child...
schemes including Sure StartSure StartSure Start is a UK Government initiative applying in England, originating with HM Treasury, with the aim of "giving children the best possible start in life" through improvement of childcare, early education, health and family support, with an emphasis on outreach and community development...
& Extended Childcare Scheme for lone parents. - Increased statutory redundancy pay.
- To work in Europe for the introduction of employment protection for temporary and agency workers.
- Protection for striking workers to be extended from 8 to 12 weeks.
- New ‘Sectoral Forums’, for example in low wage industries to improve pay, skills, productivity and pensions.
Pensions
- Protection for pension funds in company transfers or mergers.
- Trade unions will gain the right to bargain on pensions.
- Training to be introduced for pension trustees, and members to make up 50% of trustees.
- Assistance for those who have already lost out on occupational pensions.
- An agreement to engage in effective dialogue over the future of public sectorPublic sectorThe public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
pensions. - Legislation, if necessary, to move beyond the current voluntary system of occupational pensions.
- A commitment on pensions for same sex partners.
Public services
- The extension of two-tier workforce protection in local governmentGovernmentGovernment refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
across the public services. - A review of all National Health ServiceNational Health ServiceThe National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
cleaning contracts on a test of cleanliness and not just the cost. - Consultation with all stakeholders to monitor PFIPrivate Finance InitiativeThe private finance initiative is a way of creating "public–private partnerships" by funding public infrastructure projects with private capital...
, including future financial implications. - Steps to develop staff roles, e.g., health care assistants to receive paid training and possible registration.
- A commitment not to transfer out the vast majority of NHS employees.
- Agreement to tackle unequal pay in local government.
- Measures to promote healthy eating in schools and evaluate the possible extension of the free school meals programme.
Manufacturing
- Review and enhance investment funds for manufacturing support with a view to having the best support possible.
- Promote a public procurement which safeguards jobs and skills, encourages contracts to be given to UK firms for UK workers
within EU law, and support a review of EU procurement policy.
- The Bank of EnglandBank of EnglandThe Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
to consider regional and employment information when setting interest rates. - A strong skills agenda, including
- The expansion of apprenticeships
- Rolling out Employer Training Pilots, supporting free training up to NVQ2
- Action in sectors under-performing on skills, including possible training levies
- Union Learning Representatives trebled to 22,000.
- Investment in Research and Development to rise to 2.5% of national income.
- Improve credit export facilities.
- Ensure Regional Development Agencies produce manufacturing strategies through working with employers and Trade Unions, and assist manufacturers to find new markets.
Other commitments
- The Royal MailRoyal MailRoyal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
to stay in public hands, with telecom regulation to focus on service choice and reliability as well as network
competition.
- An immediate review of National InsuranceNational InsuranceNational Insurance in the United Kingdom was initially a contributory system of insurance against illness and unemployment, and later also provided retirement pensions and other benefits...
Lower Earnings Limit to help lower paid workers get benefits. - The New Deal to provide help to unemployed over 50’s.
- Action to tackle unethical labour agencies in the health sector.
- Further action to tackle domestic violence and support those at risk.
- Legal limits to stop rip-off interest rates for credit.
- Stronger company disclosure on social, ethical, and environmental issues.
Resources
- http://www.brc.org.uk/policycontent04.asp?iCat=42&iSubCat=406&sPolicy=Employment+%28UK%29&sSubPolicy=Warwick+Agreement
- http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=94362&int1stParentNodeID=89645&int2ndParentNodeID=89660
- http://www.amicustheunion.org/default.aspx?page=2824
- http://www.amicustheunion.org/pdf/warwick%20agreement%20leaflet1.pdf
- http://newsweaver.co.uk/amicus/e_article000655215.cfm?x=b11,0,w
- http://www.tgwu.org.uk/shared_asp_files/GFSR.asp?NodeID=93339
- http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file11436.pdf