* Green co-leaders Sian Berry and Jonathan Bartley give first speech to Autumn Conference
* Berry and Bartley announce support for paid training leave for workers as part of vision to overhaul world of work
* Sian Berry: “People need to be supported to thrive and grow while they are at work”
* Greens also reaffirm ambition to become England’s third party
* Jonathan Bartley: “Today we are putting the other parties on notice - it’s our ambition to become the third party in Britain”
In their first speech to Green Party Autumn Conference [1] new Green co-leaders Sian Berry and Jonathan Bartley will pledge paid training leave for workers.
The policy would enable workers to learn new skills or pursue personal development within working hours, putting lifelong learning at the heart of employment.
The announcement is part of the party’s plans to revolutionise the work of work, and follows Berry and Bartley’s call for a Free Time Index to measure how much leisure time people in Britain have [2]
Research has found that investing in training and personal development has the potential to decrease staff turnover and encourage career progression within the company. [3]
In their speech to Autumn Conference Berry and Bartley will also set out their vision for the party including the ambition to replace the Liberal Democrats as England’s third party.
Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party, is expected to say (check against delivery):
“People need to be supported to thrive and grow while they are at work. Lifelong learning should be available to everyone. Yet current employment law only allows workers in companies with over 250 employees to ask for unpaid training leave. [4]
“Greens would change all that, so no-one has to feel stuck in one job for life. All workers should be able to grow and learn throughout their careers, get trained in the things they need to know for their next job, improve how they do the one they have, or learn a new skill or trade.
“Today we are promising to fight for paid training leave for every worker. With the right political will we can transform employment into more than just work.”
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, is expected to say (check against delivery):
“Our influence grows when we win - so today we are putting the other parties on notice. It is our ambition to become the third party in Britain.
“Every green vote amplifies our voice and our ideas and makes others sit up and listen. Every green vote sends a message. So we will get out on our streets, knock on every door and fight for every last vote to win the change we need to see.”
ENDS
For more information contact: press@greenparty.org.uk / 0203 691 9401
Notes:
The full speech will be available at at 2.15pm: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/
Green Party members will soon gather in Bristol for Autumn conference to hear from the party’s new co-leaders Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry, vote on party policy, and debate issues from climate change to Brexit.
Green Party Autumn Conference will be held from 5 to 7 October 2018 at Bristol City Hall, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR.
Co-leaders’ speech by Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry: 2pm, Friday 5 October 2018.
https://www.go2hr.ca/training-development/employee-training-is-worth-the-investment