Trade Unions meeting.

I had a very helpful meeting recently with 5 of the big Trade Unions ( Amicus - http://www.amicustheunion.org , Transport and General Workers - http://www.tgwu.org.uk , GMB - http://www.gmb.org.uk , Usdaw - http://www.usdaw.org.uk and Unison - http://www.unison.org.uk ). It was very helpful to hear their views on what’s important for the city as they see it.
For example, we had a helpful debate on the consequences for staff of the so called "24/7" city. It sounds wonderful and vibrant but it does mean people working more and more varied times with less and less real family time. The move to equal pay, prized by everyone, is not an easy road either and it was good to get the Unions views on that issue as well.
I have always understood that the Trade Unions are the bedrock of the Labour Movement. The Labour Party www.labour.org.uk and the Trade Unions www.stuc.org.uk have complementary roles and a common cause, standing up for the marginalised and the voiceless. We should not be in each other’s pockets but we should know what’s in each other’s minds.
I will be holding as series of further meetings with a wider range of trade unionists to make sure I hear what they have to say and understand their aspirations for the city and their part in its continued success.