60 years ago this week. Labour’s 1964 Election Manifesto on worker’s rights
The 1964 General Election took place on 15th October. Labour won with a majority of 4 seats. Harold Wilson became Prime Minister.
The Election sits 60 years (ish) between the formation of the Labour Party in 1900 and the 2024 Election victory.
The Labour Manifesto was released on 10/11th September 1964. Below is the section on worker’s rights. By the time Labour left Office in 1970 some progress had been made on most of it.
The Manifesto was launched by Harold Wilson with a 15 minute Party Political Broadcast…
The Election result on 15th October 1964 was much tighter than expected with Labour winning 317 seats, the Tories 304 and the Liberals 9. Labour had a majority of 4 seats. No other parties were represented in Parliament.
To this end we shall implement a charter of rights for all employees. This will include:
(a) The right to compensation for loss of job or disturbance.
(b) The right to half-pay maintenance during any period of sickness and unemployment.
(c) The right to first-rate industrial training with day and block release for the young worker.
(d) The right to retraining for adult workers.
(e) The right to full transferability of pension entitlements.
(f) The right to trade union representation and proper safeguards against arbitrary dismissal.
(g) The right to equal pay for equal work.
We shall also strengthen the factory inspectorate in order to reduce accidents.
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