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 Ian Lavery MP, Shadow Minister for Trade Unions and Civil Society, speaking at Labour Party Conference 2016, said:

Colleagues, it is a privilege to address you here in Liverpool. A city with a proud Labour and trade Union history. A city that knows, through its own painful experiences, what devastation a Conservative government can wreak on its own citizens.

The Tories claim to be the party of working people, they claim to represent communities like those here in Liverpool, in my native North East and in working villages, towns and cities across Britain. Here in Liverpool, back at home, across the country and in the Labour Party, we know different. We can remember the damage they did last time around and we can see what they are doing to whole swathes of society now.

My own history is scarred by the impact of a Conservative government. I came from a town in the heart of the north east coalfield, the community built around the colliery. During the miners’ strike, as a young man, I saw the power of government being wielded unceremoniously against its citizens. That year changed my life. It left an indelible mark on me. It showed me the best qualities of men and women in our communities, banding together for a cause. And it taught me never to trust a Conservative government with the lives of working people.

Thirty years later and the Conservatives are back in power again. They talk tough on society’s ills but, under their government, many people not only don’t have employment rights, they now feel lucky to get any scrap of work offered. They are expected to accept the crumbs from the table, whilst the employers and the shareholders feast on vast profits.

Six million people earn less than the Living Wage. Young people are stuck at home, unable live independently because they don’t know if they will earn enough from week to week to pay their rent. Almost a million people are employed on Zero Hours Contracts.  And whilst the Tories turn their fire on Trade Unions, unscrupulous and exploitative business practices, such as those recently revealed at Sports Direct and BHS, are going unchecked.

Through recently passing the Trade Union Act they have further shrunk working people’s rights in a country already described as the most restrictive in the Western world.

Workplace 2020 is Labour’s response. It will be the biggest discussion with working people and employers in a generation. It underlines how serious we are about creating workplaces fit for the future.

Everyone has a story to tell on the world of work and on what it should look like in the future, and Workplace 2020 isn’t about focusing on the negatives. Many people have positive experiences of the workplace. Many people benefit from apprenticeships, training opportunities and additional support.

We want to hear from working people and employers about how we can promote good practice and raise standards. I will be travelling around the UK – to our nations, to our regions, to local communities - because I want to hear from as diverse a group of people as possible. I want to work with employees and employers to create an environment that is fair to all.

But alone, I can only do so much. I need your help. I need you to set up meetings in your workplace, your local community centre, place of worship, local cafe, pub or even your front room. You can hold a Workplace 2020 discussion anywhere. Even online - you can visit www.Workplace2020.org.uk

I want you to tell me exactly what you think the future world of work should look like. If you go to the Labour Party stand after this session, you can pick up a campaign pack and a leaflet that tells you more about how to get involved.

The Labour and Trade Union movement is best when we work together. This is your opportunity to embody the spirit of generations of men and women who have gone before, who have transformed society.

The old adages proudly displayed on Trade Union banners remain relevant today: agitate, educate, organise.

Together we can change can the world of work.

You can be part of that.

ENDS