We are asking the First Minister to take heed of the motion passed unanimously by the 2019 STUC conference to ensure that powers:
• to provide state aid to workplaces threatened with closure;
• take public utilities such as rail, bus and power fully back into public ownership; and
• require public sector contractors to recognise trade unions and collectively bargain wages
are retained by the Scottish Government as part of any EU withdrawal deal.
The need to retain these powers has become urgent because with the UK formally leaving the EU, the kind of future relationship that Scotland and the UK will have with the EU is currently being negotiated.
Depending on the agreement reached, it may be impossible for Scotland to offer state aid, nationalise enterprises or require businesses to recognise trade unions in future, powers we believe are necessary for Scotland to flourish.