This month I met with various trade unions to hear about the work they’ve been doing to support my constituents here in Manchester, as well as workers across the North West.

I took part in a very informative roundtable with the NAHT Manchester branch this month in which we discussed how schools can better embed anti-racist teaching into the curriculum, as well as teachers’ experiences returning to the classroom as lockdown restrictions have lifted. I look forward to continuing these conversations and to hosting a number of events with the Curriculum Charter’s endorsers, especially for the schools that have signed up, in the coming months.

In my meeting wit the TUC North West we discussed our COVID response in the region and the return to the workplace as lockdown restrictions ease. Lynn Collins, Regional Secretary for the North West, briefed MPs on how we can build back better here in the North West, and we also discussed growing the union movement, tackling discrimination, campaigning, building class unity and winning a new deal for working people.

The TUC have been working hard throughout the pandemic to make workplaces safe for all while fighting for real flexible working and proper mental health support. We discussed just some of their ongoing campaigning around the cladding scandal on high rises, as well as divestment of pension funds from fossil fuel companies. I’m really proud of the work trade unions are doing here in the North West and I will continue to support their campaigning as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.