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There is more that unites us than divides us – Paddy Lillis tells the TUC

Date: 12 September 2016 Paddy Lillis - Usdaw Deputy General Secretary and Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee - today brought fraternal greetings to the Trade Union Congress meeting in Brighton this week.

He congratulated the work of the TUC and Frances O’Grady – General Secretary - in working with the Labour Party to stand up to a Conservative Government determined to undermine working people and their trade unions. Paddy thanked the affiliated trade unions for their continued commitment to the Labour Party and appreciated the dedication Iain McNicol – Labour Party General Secretary – and his staff had shown in difficult circumstances.

Recognising the current difficult times the Party is going through, Paddy explained how he drew on past experiences to look to the future.

Paddy Lillis said: “I learnt from the trade union movement that whatever divides us, we have more in common than separates us. That lesson is very relevant for all of us in the Labour and trade union movement throughout the UK. In our debates and decisions, in our votes and when we choose leaders, we must remember we have more in common than divides us. We must show respect for each other.

“In the last year, in the debates about the future of Labour there has been too much abuse and not enough respect for each other’s views; too much shouting and not enough listening; too much name calling and not enough discussion about policy and strategy. This bad behaviour is a sad reflection of the abuse that is too easily found in political debate in today’s society. The advent of Twitter, social media and online debate should have been a great democratic step forward. Instead it seems to be a green light to some of the most vile abuse of political representatives and opponents. The most extreme example of this was the tragic murder of Jo Cox MP.

“We, the trade union movement, should more than anyone else make it clear that abuse, harassment and attacks on political representatives because of their views is unacceptable.

“Whatever happens in the Labour leadership election we as a movement, as a matter of urgency, need to return to the policy agenda. We need a Living Wage that delivers a decent standard of living for workers and their families. We need radical policies to deal with the housing crisis. We need public services that meet the needs of our communities. We need to defend the NHS. We need schools and universities that deliver education that our young people, and all our people, deserve. We need a workforce that has skills and training to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

“Above all, we desperately need a Labour Government. We must also be able to convince and win back voters who have voted for other parties. We have a duty and a responsibility to the workers, the people and the communities we represent to get ourselves into a position where we can win the next General Election. Because without winning, our principles and the policies mean nothing.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion

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