Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has issued a stern warning to the Labour Party, emphasizing the need for substantial progress in 2025 to improve the financial well-being of ordinary citizens. He stressed that maintaining the current situation is not viable and that the public must experience tangible improvements.
Nowak, in an interview with The Independent, described Sir Keir Starmer's first six months as Prime Minister as displaying "potential". This assessment comes amid criticism of several unpopular policies, including adjustments to inheritance tax and winter fuel payments. The Labour Party recently unveiled a "Plan for Change" aiming to prioritize how well off people feel, rather than solely focusing on broader economic indicators.
The TUC leader's message underscores the urgency for visible change. Nowak stated that repairing Britain after 14 years of Conservative government is a significant challenge, and highlighted that economic growth alone is insufficient. Families, he noted, want to feel tangible improvements in their day-to-day lives. He also warned of far-right elements using grievances to divide communities and that his proposed “Make Work Pay” Plan is key to unifying Britain by ensuring that workers rights from their first day of employment are protected and upgraded.
Nowak endorsed Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's "Make Work Pay" plan, which aims to enhance workers' rights, including sick pay from day one, protection against unfair dismissal, and a ban on zero-hour contracts. These proposals, according to government analysis, could cost businesses up to £5 billion annually. He countered criticism of the proposals by saying it’s “the same voices who opposed the introduction of the minimum wage” and urged the government not to get “distracted or diverted from this task.”
The union leader also highlighted the critical need to address recruitment and retention issues in public services, citing pay levels that have been "brutally squeezed" over the past decade. While acknowledging some of the Labour government's initial positive actions, including the National Wealth Fund and the resolution of industrial disputes, Nowak emphasized that the public's perception of change hinges on real, material improvements in their lives.
Nowak stressed that 2025 will be a crucial year for the government to demonstrate that its plans will translate into concrete benefits for families, and he warned that public services cannot be fixed “unless we deal with the recruitment and retention crisis that has pushed them to breaking point”.
