1. UWS-OXFAM PARTNERSHIP POLICY FORUM: 18 TH NOVEMBER 2014 Realising Social Justice: People, Politics and Policies

2. Katherine Trebeck (Oxfam GB): Chair/Facilitator Francis Stuart (Oxfam Scotland): Introduction Chik Collins (UWS): Context Mike Danson (Heriot Watt University): A Perspective on Opportunities Group Discussions and Feedback

3. Francis Stuart Background to UWS-Oxfam Partnership “For a more equitable and sustainable Scotland” Launch - October 2012 1. Research 2. Student Placements 3. Policy Forum Website: uwsoxfampartnership.org.uk

4. Report on Policy Forum 2, 2014: Focus on Inequality Rise of the top 1-2%

5. The gap is set to grow Labour market trends Global race to the bottom on corporation and income tax rates Technological change – ‘computerisation’ Wealth extraction

6. The impact of four policies on aggregate wages, UK, 2012 Source: S Lansley and H Reed, How to Boost the Wage-Share, TUC, 2013, p 45 Gross increase in wage bill for each item Percentage of wage gap closed for each item alone Cumulative effect of combining the policies National Minimum Wage increased to £6.60 per hour £1.0bn1.2% Living Wage paid to 50 percent of employees currently below it £3.2bn3.9%4.5% Extension of collective bargaining coverage £13bn15.7%20.2% Reduced unemployment £4.1bn4.9%25.1%

7. Decent work Living wage Zero-hours contracts and general lack of security and poor working conditions Wage ratios Equality as priority of Government National Performance Framework Socio-economic duties Public Procurement Tax Income tax Land value tax Inheritance tax Social protection Higher benefit levels Reverse welfare cuts Citizens Income Participation-public & private Participatory Budgeting Employee ownership

8. Chik Collins Social Justice: A Contested Terrain SJ: “the distribution of benefits and burdens in a community”. Social democratic tradition: ‘equality’ without ‘radical equality’ - ‘proximity’. BUT: Multiple takes on the ‘value’ of the concept and of its substantive content and implications: Hayek/Neo-Liberals Marxists/Socialists Environmentalists/Greens Feminism Social democratic tradition: Legitimacy of organised working class power in politics and society to reduce inequality and achieve greater ‘proximity’ or ‘justice’

9. Two decades of ‘social justice’ Commission on Social Justice (1994) Social Justice: Strategies for National Renewal “A hand up rather than a hand out” – ‘flexible’ labour markets and social/community enterprise ‘Social justice’ via the market – not ‘politics’. Post-1997: Social Inclusion and Exclusion Devolution: Social Justice: A Scotland where everyone matters – with milestones/progress indicators. Abandoned c. 2003/2004: ‘Closing the Gap’ becomes ‘Closing the Opportunity Gap’ 2004: Centre for Social Justice – saving people from the harm caused by ‘dependency’, by rendering them destitute … “unleashing the work of change in people’s lives” (quite!)

10. The contemporary terrain of ‘justice’ 20 years of ‘justice’ as ‘adaptation to the market’ sees intensification of inequality and ‘injustice’; Dominance of ‘adaptation’ agenda and confusion of marginal amelioration with pursuit of ‘justice’; Contesting the contemporary terrain of ‘justice’ – People, Politics and Policies ……