Welsh TUC president calls for alternative economic programme to
boost Welsh economy
30 June 2011
An alternative economic programme to kick-start the Welsh
economy was outlined in Cardiff today (Thursday 30 June) by the
president of the Welsh TUC, Andy Richards.
Andy Richards, who is also the Welsh regional secretary of
Unite, the country’s largest trade union, told trade unionists at
Cathays Park at 12 noon that working people in Wales were paying
the price for the ‘negligent and irresponsible’ behaviour of the
financial institutions.
Andy Richards told the rally - called to protest against attacks
on pension provision, jobs and public services - that there were
three measures that should be taken to reignite the Welsh
economy:
- Collect the missing tax billions from the banks,
multinationals, and rich individuals and close the loopholes and
avoidance scams that enable them to opt out of making their fair
and proper contribution.
- Introduce a ‘Robin Hood’ tax to collect revenue from all
financial transactions, bonuses and share options, and raise tax
rates at the top to ensure a fairer contribution from those most
able to make one.
- Maintain public spending and invest in the future, keeping
people in jobs and growing the Welsh and also the UK economy to
create new ones.
Andy said: ”The economic crisis has given government the
opportunity to promote and further its attack upon collective trade
unionism, social and employment protection and the wider fabric of
our society.”
Andy added that ‘this cabinet of millionaires’ prefers to
threaten working people in Wales with the prospect of a new round
of vindictive anti-union laws, as outlined recently by the business
secretary, Vince Cable.
Said Andy: ”Coordinated, legal industrial action is an essential
tool in the fight against aggressive imposition and we applaud the
stand being taken by members of PCS, NUT, UCU, and ATL today. You
are an inspiration to our movement and showing the way which we all
must follow.
”The fight back must be coordinated and fully supported by the
Wales TUC and as president, I give you that pledge.”
ENDS
Notes for news editors:
For further information please contact Unite communications
officer, Shaun Noble, on 07768 693940
Speech by Welsh TUC president and Wales Unite
regional secretary Andy Richards
Check against delivery
Public services rally
30 June 2011 – Cardiff
Andy Richards WTUC president address
Comrades, it is an honour to have the opportunity to address you
today and to convey to you a message of total support on behalf of
the Wales TUC and my union Unite on your day of action against this
unelected government’s attacks.
We salute you and all workers who are fighting against the
cuts.
This assault on our class is designed to shift the blame for the
economic crisis to the public sector and make working people pay
for a crisis, not of our making, but caused by the negligent and
irresponsible behaviour of financial institutions, gambling for
profits in an unregulated market for financial products.
The consequences of these actions, coupled with the failure of
both national and international regulators to prevent even the
worst excesses of the free market and their promotion of self
regulation, are now being felt by workers across the globe.
The economic crisis has given government the opportunity to
promote and further its attack upon collective trade unionism,
social and employment protection and the wider fabric of our
society.
There are, as we all know, alternatives to making these
cuts:
- Collect the missing tax billions from the banks,
multinationals, rich and powerful in our society and close the
loopholes and avoidance scams that enable them to opt out of making
their fair and proper contribution.
- Introduce a ‘Robin Hood’ tax to collect revenue from all
financial transactions, bonuses and share options and raise tax
rates at the top to ensure a fairer contribution from those most
able to make one.
- Maintain public spending and invest in our future, keeping
people in jobs and growing our economy to create new ones.
But this cabinet of millionaires is not prepared to consider
alternatives.
The cabinet is not seeking alternative solutions.
The cabinet is seeking our destruction in the time
honoured Thatcherite way in order to make us pay for the reckless
greed of its mates.
The cabinet prefers to sabotage negotiations aimed at
identifying alternatives with interference by Danny Alexander.
The cabinet prefers to threaten us with a new round of
vindictive anti union laws, referred to only recently by Vince
Cable in what must rank as the most disgraceful speech made by a
member of a totally discredited party.
The cabinet prefers to warn us against defending the rights of
our members and our communities by using its mates in the right
wing press and media to say how well prepared the government is for
battle.
Well I say – bring it on !
Coordinated, legal industrial action is an essential tool in the
fight against aggressive imposition and we applaud the stand being
taken by members of PCS, NUT, UCU, and ATL today. You are an
inspiration to our movement and showing the way which we all must
follow.
We will not surrender jobs, wages, pensions, social benefits and
public services - no matter what threats we receive from this
discredited Tory/Liberal alliance who have no mandate from
the people of this country to wreak such social devastation.
And let us remember that it is the Con/Dems in Westminster who
are the enemy – not the Welsh Labour government that are standing
up for Wales in Cardiff Bay against imposed cuts in the Welsh
budget.
Comrades, we have been successful in mobilising hundreds of
thousands of people from all walks of life in support of our
campaign against the cuts.
The demonstration in London on 26 March was an awesome display
of the anger and outrage felt by ordinary people against this
governments slash and burn policy.
It was preceded by a significant march and rally in Cardiff on 5
March where thousands turned out to hear the rousing call to
arms from general secretaries Len McCluskey and Mark Serwotka.
Well the time has come where we must all answer the call – as
you have all answered the call today.
Comrades, we are in the fight of our lives.
It’s a fight which we must win for our members, our communities
and future generations.
It’s a fight which must be coordinated and fully supported by
the Wales TUC, and as president I give you that pledge.
It’s a fight which my union Unite is committed to winning – no
matter how much it costs – no matter how long it takes.
So bring it on!
Andy Richards, president, Wales TUC
