Frank Gray

Unite has long campaigned for improvements to public procurement and the greater use of social value conditions to promote working rights, jobs and other social, economic and environmental benefits.

Unite therefore believes that a good work strategic objective must be hardwired into government’s procurement strategy to include criteria such as fair pay; participation and progression; wellbeing, safety and security; and voice and autonomy. Procurement levers should be used to ensure all suppliers and contractors pay at least the real living wage, embed worker voice through collective agreements, recognised trade unions, include clear commitments on health and safety, equality and training.

My role is to provide research to support our members objectives in the workplace.

This includes areas such as procurement where the conditions of contract linked to public spending have an impact on workers employment. I have been involved across the UK with government departments arguing for conditionality in procurement to deliver positive outcomes for workers delivering services. This has included construction focused campaigns aimed at embedding fair work, including widening participation and embedding collective bargaining agreements.