Building solidarity: A vision for Green trade union relations

As the Green Party stands at a crossroads in British politics, we are putting ourselves forward as joint candidates for Trade Union Liaison Officers on the Green Party Executive. With Labour abandoning its traditional base and the far-right exploiting workers’ legitimate grievances, there has never been a more crucial time for the Green Party to demonstrate that we are the true home of social justice and workers’ rights.

Our partnership brings together over fifteen years of combined trade union experience, spanning both grassroots activism and professional union work. Paul has dedicated over a decade to frontline trade union activism within Equity, progressing from the Young Members Committee to London South Branch Chair and Secretary, and serving on the union’s executive Council. During the pandemic, he chaired the Southbank Centre PCS Branch, successfully protecting jobs and securing improved redundancy packages while leading campaigns across arts institutions. Paul also founded Equity for a Green New Deal, creating a national network of creative industry activists driving environmental reform.

Kate brings five years of professional trade union experience across policy, employment rights, and campaign departments. She currently leads AI policy development at UNISON, previously served as equalities officer at the Royal College of Midwives, and managed campaign and activism development at Equity. Her expertise spans policy creation, employment law, and strategic campaign management, while maintaining grassroots connections through her role as Young Members Officer at her Unite branch.

We find ourselves in a unique political landscape. Labour has shifted toward centrist politics that capitulates to right-wing media narratives, while Reform UK attempts to capture working-class frustration through populist rhetoric that blames migrants while serving billionaire interests. The real enemies of working people are not refugees or immigrants, but the 1% who profit from growing inequality while workers face stagnant wages, insecure employment, and a cost-of-living crisis. Organised workers and their unions are our natural allies in building collective justice for everyone.

The Green Party has always championed social justice and workers’ rights, and now is the time to strengthen these foundations. As your Trade Union Liaison Officers, we will build meaningful relationships across the trade union movement – from local branches and grassroots activists to national executives and international solidarity movements. Our approach recognises that effective trade union relations require both understanding union structures and demonstrating genuine commitment to workers’ interests.

Central to our vision is preparing workers and unions for the challenges of the climate crisis. As temperatures soar and extreme weather becomes more frequent, employment laws must catch up to protect workers’ health and safety. Simultaneously, we must champion a just transition to a low-carbon economy – one that creates sustainable, well-paid jobs while ensuring no worker is left behind. This means retraining programs, community-led renewable energy projects, and industrial strategies that put workers at the centre of our green transformation.

We believe the Green Party must present a real, meaningful socialist alternative grounded in policies that shift the balance of power toward working people. This means supporting collective bargaining, strengthening employment rights, and ensuring that the wealth created by workers’ labour benefits everyone, not just shareholders and executives.

Trade unions have always been at the forefront of progressive change, from winning the weekend to advancing equality legislation. As the climate crisis intensifies and inequality deepens, we need these alliances more than ever. The Green Party’s commitment to social and environmental justice aligns perfectly with trade union values of solidarity, equality, and collective action.

Through our complementary experience we are uniquely positioned to strengthen these vital relationships. The Green Party can be the political voice that organised workers need: brave enough to challenge corporate power, committed enough to fight for real change, and principled enough to put people and planet before profit. Together, we will help make that vision a reality.

Paul and Kate are standing as joint candidates for Trade Union Liaison Officers on the Green Party Executive