“it’s unlikely that the Green Party can foster any sort of working-class politics” because the commentariat insists on falsely portraying them as merely a woke university-educated middle-class party. And, yes, as you mentioned, they have not recruited many working-class union members, even though many of their older members moved to the Greens from the old Alliance Party/New Labour.
The Greens have a concise working-class policy. In many ways, they are more Labour than Labour in redistributing our wealth from the landed wealthy to the middle class and poor by hitting capital for the first time since National banned our land tax in 1990. Their policy on labour relations is also about as working class as anyone these days.
including:
“Guarantee minimum wage increases at least in line with inflation.
Provide all working people with a right to redundancy pay, and ensure progress on income insurance centres the need for equity for low wage and insecure workers.
Move to default union membership so people automatically join a union when they start a new job, and can then opt-out.
Legislate for a right to solidarity strikes and political strikes.
Implement stronger protections for contractors and ensure they can be covered by Fair Pay Agreements and join other industry-specific collective bargaining; while also strengthening collective bargaining frameworks for employees.” Etc.
I think that we need to dispose of the tired old cliché that the Greens are just professional-class recyclers and tree huggers. They are our most working-class advocates in generations.
“it’s unlikely that the Green Party can foster any sort of working-class politics” because the commentariat insists on falsely portraying them as merely a woke university-educated middle-class party. And, yes, as you mentioned, they have not recruited many working-class union members, even though many of their older members moved to the Greens from the old Alliance Party/New Labour.
The Greens have a concise working-class policy. In many ways, they are more Labour than Labour in redistributing our wealth from the landed wealthy to the middle class and poor by hitting capital for the first time since National banned our land tax in 1990. Their policy on labour relations is also about as working class as anyone these days.
including:
“Guarantee minimum wage increases at least in line with inflation.
Provide all working people with a right to redundancy pay, and ensure progress on income insurance centres the need for equity for low wage and insecure workers.
Move to default union membership so people automatically join a union when they start a new job, and can then opt-out.
Legislate for a right to solidarity strikes and political strikes.
Implement stronger protections for contractors and ensure they can be covered by Fair Pay Agreements and join other industry-specific collective bargaining; while also strengthening collective bargaining frameworks for employees.” Etc.
I think that we need to dispose of the tired old cliché that the Greens are just professional-class recyclers and tree huggers. They are our most working-class advocates in generations.