25 Attacks on terms and conditions

Submitted by Community

Congress recognises the damaging effects of the recession on businesses and charities across the UK. Congress welcomes the work of trade unions to seek viable solutions with employers to getting through the downturn that safeguard jobs for the future. However, Congress condemns those employers that have seized the recession as an opportunity to attack workers’ terms and conditions with no guarantees of job security in return and condemns those employers that are merely trying to maximise profits while crying poor.

In particular, Congress notes with concern the recession being used as an excuse by employers to further the demise of final salary pension schemes. Congress calls on all unions and the TUC to campaign to defend final salary pension schemes as the best provision for security in retirement.

Amendment (Accepted)

From: Unite

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‘Congress specifically condemns the actions of Diageo this year, which demonstrate the worst excesses of corporate opportunism at a time of recession, condemning more than 900 workers to the dole in order to maximise profits to shareholders. Congress calls on unions to support the campaign to keep the plants open.’