This report analyses engagement with UK trade unions on Basic Income (BI). Unions ‘firefighting’ issues such as pay erosion, workplace disputes and job cuts lack time to engage with long-term transformative ideas such as BI, prioritising proposals they believe a Labour government might consider. They also believe policy change must stem from members. They identify 6 arguments against BI:
- It is not economically feasible
- It enhances scope for employer exploitation
- It threatens trade union relevance
- It could undermine other policies that unions do support, such as Universal Basic Services
- It may undermine public sector jobs
- It is subject to misconceptions among members
However, several areas of support for BI did emerge:
- It protects against automation and AI
- It strengthens workers’ bargaining power
- It supports equality and social mobility
- It re-opens an ambitious social vision
Unions emphasised several conditions that must be met before taking a definitive pro-BI stance:
- Demonstration of economic, labour market and public service feasibility from large trials
- A clear, credible and progressive funding model
- Assurance against exploitation
- Support from members to indicate institutional social feasibility
- Government interest to indicate political feasibility
Importantly, greater Green New Deal engagement means that demonstrating BI’s ability to support a just transition could increase union support.