THROUGHOUT the past two centuries trade unions have played an undisputed leading role in improving pay, terms and conditions for all British workers. 

During this period the world has undergone huge social and political change, seen wars, changing geographical borders and undergone rapid technological development. 

This process is one of constant evolution and in order to continue to be at the vanguard of the labour and trade union movement, trade unions have to adapt with it.

While much changes, much stays the same. The evils of exploitation still haunt working people. While ordinary men and women struggle to make ends meet, politicians of the right demonise and seek to tie the hands of those who pursue better for their members. 

A general malaise in the population has added to the woes of the movement, with many people totally disengaged and simply trying to stay afloat. 

The trade union movement as we know it is at a crossroads.

After 13 years in the shadows, the Conservative Party, having painted itself as reformed under David Cameron, emerged in 2010 to head up a coalition, having failed to win a majority in the House of Commons. 

The modern facade was dropped pretty quickly and this right-wing government has rolled up its sleeves and set to work vigorously attacking ordinary people ever since.

Tory ideologues, with the support of their Lib Dem bedfellows, have intensified and implemented an agenda to roll back the welfare state and the rights of ordinary people. 

These are gains that have been made over generations by the labour and trade union movement. 

Their “red tape challenge” seeks to hack away at health and safety law yet, ironically, in other legislation, they have unnecessarily increased the bureaucratic burden on trade unions.

Make no bones about it, this is a deeply unpopular government. Yet we live in strange times. 

Despite the absurdity of the situation, an openly Thatcherite party of the hard right has emerged to prey on discontent and has picked up votes even from our own ranks. 

In this age of complex problems, with complex causes and complex solutions, the snake oil salesmen willing to provide simple answers — or, more accurately, someone to blame — is gaining support where it never should.

Having seen and been politicised by what Thatcherism did to my community, I am certain that it holds no answers to our future.

The trade union movement has throughout its history shown that it is up to the challenges that change presents. 

It seems somewhat appropriate, in this, the centenary year of the start of World War I, to mention one such change. During that conflict, the number of women trade union members increased by a whopping 160 per cent as more than a million women joined the workforce. 

A hundred years on, women make up the majority of trade union members.

Throughout our history we have had some fantastic trade unionists, be it at national or local level, and today is no exception. 

I have no doubt whatsoever that the current leadership and membership will continue to drive forward the change we need to make the workplace and the world a fairer place as has happened for generations.

A fine example can be clearly seen in the GMB’s fairer movement campaign, which acknowledges that migrant workers aren’t stealing our jobs but are being actively recruited by unscrupulous employers who want to exploit cheap labour, and, as things stand, are allowed to get away with it. 

Surely this is a more responsible solution than that offered by the rabid right?

As a trade unionist and Labour MP, I am convinced that by working together we can not only win the general election and put a stop to the monstrous actions of the current government but we can build a future that we can be proud to have the next generation inherit. 

We can end the race to the bottom and begin the climb to the top, we can deliver better wages, terms and conditions and we can build the social institutions of the future. 

But we can only achieve this by working as a unified body, Labour and unions together.

I understand the discontent felt by many trade unionists with regards to the Labour Party. I have felt it myself. 

The trade unions are the beating heart of the Labour Party and perhaps, while the Collins review was initiated for the wrong reasons, it has redressed the balance somewhat between the two organisations. 

It feels to me that the unions can no longer be treated like the drunken uncle at a party and that a more mature relationship can now be allowed to develop and prosper.

Everything we have ever won has been won through struggle. If we aren’t being attacked by the mainstream media, then we probably aren’t doing our jobs right. 

We must continue along the path we are on, fighting all forms of discrimination and righting the wrongs of exploitation. The past we inherit, the future we build. 

Ian Lavery is Labour MP For Wansbeck and chair of the trade union group of Labour MPs.