Heart Unions Week and the contribution of trade unions

That this House marks Heart Unions Week and celebrates the long and proud history of the trade union movement in improving the lives of working people across the United Kingdom; recognises that unions have been central to securing landmark advances including safer workplaces, limits on excessive hours, fairer pay, holiday and sick pay entitlements, protections for women and minority workers, and the principle that people should have a collective voice at work; notes that unions have repeatedly played a vital national role in times of crisis, including sustaining essential services and supporting workers through major industrial and economic change; further recognises the continuing importance of collective bargaining and workplace representation in tackling insecurity, exploitation and discrimination, and in raising standards across entire sectors; welcomes progress in strengthening employment rights and supports the full delivery of a new settlement at work which is fit for the modern economy; and encourages those who are not yet members of a union to consider joining, so that working people can continue to secure fairness, dignity and opportunity in the workplace for generations to come.