Unions Apprehensive Ahead Of Labour Clause V Manifesto Meeting

Affiliated trade unions are apprehensive about the detail of the “new deal for working people” policy ahead of the party’s so-called ‘Clause V’ manifesto meeting on Friday, PoliticsHome understands.

The “new deal”, also titled “Labour’s plan to make work pay”, is a package of proposals aiming to boost workers’ rights. Internal critics say policies were watered down at Labour’s National Policy Forum (NPF) last year and made weaker again last month.

“The again revised New Deal for Working People has more holes in it than Swiss cheese,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in May.

Changes since the package was first unveiled in 2021 include the promise to create a single tier status of worker replaced with a consultation, and the introduction of collective bargaining now potentially applying to adult social care rather than throughout the economy.

Sources say that, ahead of the crunch meeting to sign off Labour’s manifesto, unions are concerned about the wording. It states Labour will “implement in full” the new deal, which is considered by some to be “too vague” and giving the party “a lot of wiggle room”.

They acknowledged that the wording was agreed at a recent meeting, however. The key point unions will be focused on is whether there is any further rollback from the NPF wording.

"We agreed the document last week and are committed to it," a Labour Party spokesperson said.

Around 80 stakeholders will arrive at 10am on Friday at a venue in central London, to be revealed to them at 6.30am that morning. On arrival, they will hand in their electronic devices – to ensure no leaks – and be given numbered copies of the manifesto. They have two hours to read the manifesto before the meeting begins at noon.

Unlike the Conservatives,