Let’s talk about fairness.

The trade union movement in Scotland doesn’t think it’s fair to have workers trying to make ends meet through multiple jobs with poverty pay.

It's not fair that for workers stuck on a zero hours contract, they have no idea what income they’ll have from one day to the next.

It's not fair that those at the top echelons of our society continue to accrue mass wealth whilst those at the bottom have to fight for the scraps of the table.

It’s just no’ fair.

Realising this and in no small part thanks to the campaigning of the trade union movement, the Scottish Government established the Fair Work Convention in 2015. It was bold and ambitious in its plans but, in reality, the government has fallen way short of the mark. They pledged that by 2025, Scotland would lead the world in delivering fair work with workplaces that offer effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect for the labour force.

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We’re obviously not, although we are trying. An Alma Economics report commissioned by the Fair Work Convention concluded that, whilst there had improvements such as a reduction in the proportion of employees earning less than the Real Living Wage to 9% and a near halving of the gender pay gap since 2016, these advances are uneven and insufficient.

For example, Scotland still lags behind other nations on key indicators like the disability employment gap and effective voice in workplaces.

If I am to give the Scottish Government some credit, their intentions are noble and their........

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