Food and Events

Although originally famous for its pig farms, Hampstead's lofty position, high above London, soon brought it a reputation for health and prolonged life. The fashionable flocked here - so many in fact that there aren't enough blue plaques to go around - and they have kept on coming.The weight of celebrities who throng the pavements mean that Hampstead's less obvious and glitzy pleasures are often overlooked. If you want to win a spot-the-celebrity quiz, ignore nightclubs like Stringfellows or Tramp. The sure-fire way to success is a wander through Hampstead in north London. Boy George, Michael Foot, John le Carre, Melvyn Bragg, Glenda Jackson - the star-studded list of Hampstead residents goes relentlessly on This is not new. It does not mean an end to disagreement or discord at the workplace, but this can still take place against a shared interest in their firm's success.After so many years of injustice at work and growing social divisiveness there are urgent reforms which we look to a change of government to deliver - although none that is not taken for granted in most other European countries. But more important is that the next government bequeaths a new, lasting settlement that once again recognises the right of working people to have a voice at work and in the corridors of power.The writer is general secretary of the Trades Union Congress..

It compels us to campaign nationally and to work locally, for our influence depends on our ability to serve and involve trade unionists at the workplace.Social partnership is closely connected to the stakeholder model of the economy, which argues that employees, the local community, customers and suppliers have a legitimate interest in the governance of companies, which can help to counter the short-termist pressure from shareholders and help companies to become good corporate citizens, concerned for their local environment and employee relations as well as their bottom line. It therefore encourages the TUC to win allies from industry and other legitimate interests before we seek remedies from government. That is why social partnership recognises the rights of large interest groups to participate in decision- making.Second, social partnership rests on the belief that we can achieve agreement on common aims for both the country and the individual firm It encourages dialogue and a search for national consensus. First, itdepends on a pluralist and inclusive view of society. So many on the right tell us that only the authoritarian capitalist models of some of the East Asian and Pacific Rim economies can now deliver prosperity We reject that pessimistic view. Economic success is not only compatible with diversity, tolerance and democracy in society, and at work, but in a free society depends on them. Once again, I am visiting all the political party conferences this year.Social partnership rests on two closely connected views of how society should be organised.

In particular, we want to see the extension of citizenship to the workplace, so that employees no longer leave their democratic rights at the workplace door.That is why, since we relaunched the TUC last year as a campaigning organisation, we have made great efforts to engage with employers, interest groups and MPs of all parties. We must look to build social partnership as the guiding principle for relations between employers, employees and government, both at national level and within the individual firm. I do not want this to be a special deal with the Labour Party. That will then only last as long as the next Labour government. It is no secret that I would hope this will be a considerable period of time, but after more than 15 years of opposition the trade-union movement knows it cannot put all its eggs in the Labour basket.Instead, I would want the national mood that would follow any change of government to be used to construct an entrenched set of relationships that can endure changes in government because they are clearly of benefit not only to employees but to the economy and society as a whole. To press for a repeat of the past few years, but in reverse, so that favoured trade-union leaders replaced the business cronies that currently have special access to government, would be even worse.My message to TUC delegates this week will be that we need to construct a new set of relationships for how the country does its business.

Even if we wanted to, the institutions and conditions that made the post-war settlement work have gone for ever. In turn, that reinforces the widespread failure by worried voters to appreciate even the genuine improvements in the economy, which are now threatened by that very lack of confidence. The root of the Government's problems lies at the workplace.Neither past model of government-union relations is helpful in mapping out the relationship that trade unions need to develop with a future Labour government. Not only do people fear for their jobs, their insecurity feeds into a reluctance to make long-term commitments to mortgages or other big purchases.