This week, we’re marking HeartUnions week, celebrating our precious trade unions, and the incredible work they do every day in improving the lives of working people.

Trade unions were formed when working people saw unscrupulous bosses undermining their pay, their rights and their working conditions, and they said no more.

So many of the rights and protections that we take for granted today were only secured by the work of our trade unions. From anti-discrimination legislation, to improved pay and working conditions, to the minimum wage -; our unions have played a vital role in shaping employment today.

And today, with an unscrupulous Tory Government continuing to undermine workers’ rights, our unions are more important than ever.

So I’m proud to be a trade unionist and a former union employee, and this HeartUnions week, I’m reaffirming my commitment to our unions, and their work to protect and enhance workers’ rights.

You can read more about HeartUnions week here: https://www.tuc.org.uk/about-heartunions-week