Nearly six in ten (59 per cent) of people have stated that they support the election of worker representatives onto the boards of large companies, a new poll published by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has found.
Coinciding with the release of the government’s green paper on corporate governance on November 29, the TUC has determined three ‘key tests’ in which the Prime Minister must meet to keep her promise on placing workers on company boards.
- Worker representation on the board must be a legal requirement for companies over a minimum size;
- Representatives must be company workers, not anyone else given a remit to speak for workers;
- Workers who sit on the board must be elected by the workforce, not appointed by anyone else.
Frances O’Grady, TUC general secretary, said: “Workers on boards is a policy that’s tried, tested and proven in many other countries. And it will work for Britain too, helping us build a stronger and fairer economy.
“[Today] we’ve shown Theresa May that the public backs her flagship policy – and that should give her the confidence to take on the big business elites. Her other proposals on cracking down on corporate misbehaviour are welcome, but on their own they’re not enough.
“This is about giving workers a say in the decisions that affect them. It’s about making Britain’s businesses more successful by bringing in ideas and insight from the workforce. And it’s about building an economy which works for everyone, not just those at the top.”
Access the report here
