Bryan Simpson, a young call-centre worker from Glasgow representing young members on the Executive Council of Unite the Union, says workers will win with an independent Scotland.
A Yes vote on September 18th provides the organised labour movement in Scotland with the greatest opportunity we have ever had to abolish the anti-trade union laws and build a movement which can effectively challenge unscrupulous bosses, improve terms and conditions and drive-up living standards.
Some colleagues in the trade union movement have raised concerns that independence may drive a wedge between workers north and south of the border. I believe the opposite is true.
We rightly pride ourselves in being an internationalist movement, where we can learn from as well as provide solidarity to brothers and sisters around the world. By voting Yes on September 18th we can become a beacon of light to those workers in Liverpool, Bangalore and Marikina, giving them confidence to fight back.
The UK has one of the lowest trade union densities in the western world, with less than one third of workers covered by some form of collective agreement. If we put our minds to it, we could enshrine within the Scottish constitution, the right of every worker to be represented by a trade union via a national collective bargaining framework. With sectoral agreements on pay and conditions we could drive up the living standards of millions of working people across Scotland.
By voting Yes on September 18th, we could break the chains that have tied the hands of the trade union movement for 30 years by abolishing the most restrictive trade union laws in Europe.
Independence will not bring about these changes in and of itself. A Yes vote is only the beginning of a long process to transform Scotland for the people who work and live here but it’s a necessary one.
The STUC still remains the greatest force for change in Scottish society. Let’s use the leverage we have to build a better society for our members.
Bryan Simpson is a young call-centre worker from Glasgow and is an active member of the Radical Independence Campaign. He represents young members on the Executive Council of Unite the Union and is writing in a personal capacity.
Trade Unions for Yes 