16 Agenda for economic recovery

Submitted by TUC Black Workers’ Conference

Congress notes that:

i) the people of Britain are experiencing the shock and awe of the turmoil in the financial markets and the banking sector, which has resulted in cuts in public spending, rising unemployment, wage cuts and home repossessions

ii) many in the financial sector continue to receive obscene pay, deny responsibility for the economic crisis and still extol the virtues of the free market

iii) many people suffer from the lack of heating while energy companies and suppliers show increases in profits and pay greater dividends to shareholders.

The challenge now for the Government is to steer the economy through the recession while protecting the most vulnerable and those least able to stand wage cuts and unemployment. It is sound economic sense to ensure greater disposable income for the poor, thereby creating demand to kick-start the economy, rather than relieving the rich of tax.

The biggest issue facing working people in Britain today is the carnage in social and economic terms of the recession. It is virtually certain that the employment/social impact will fall disproportionately on black people, especially young black people, for whom we have fought so hard over the years to ensure equality of opportunity.

Congress calls upon the General Council to lobby the Chancellor to continue to:

a) have greater regulation of the economy

b) increase public spending and accelerate the public works programmes

c) adopt measures to increase the pay of the poorest in Britain.

(this motion is exempt from the 250-word limit)