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Summary Pressure groups fact file
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Sectional/interest – Trade Unions Congress Cause/promotional – MENCAPSectional pressure groups represent the interests of a Cause pressure groups promote a particular issue. Usually
particular group within society. have a shared interest in something. Members of cause
pressure groups can be drawn from across society.
The Trade Unions Congress is a federation that represents
trade unions in England and Wales. 48 trade unions are MENCAP works with the government ‘to help them
affiliated with the Congress and the pressure group has about understand the issues people with learning disabilities face’.
5.5 million members. They are a sectional pressure groups as They are a promotional pressure group because they
they represent a particular group in society, which is people promote a particular issue (learning disabilities) and
in trade unions, they therefore stand up for trade-unionist members are drawn from all parts of society to promote this
rights to make sure they aren’t being exploited. cause.
A few examples of the TUC’s achievements are: All campaigns centre around getting equal rights and
In 1970 the Equal Pay Act made it illegal for women oppertunities for people with a learning disability and
to be paid or treated differently to a man doing the tackling discrimination – some current campaigns include:
equivalent job. #ListentoUs – a campaign about mental health
In 1999 the National Minimum Wage was needs for people with learning disabilities following
established to protect low-paid workers. the coronavirus pandemic. The focus is to get the
In 1999 limits were put on working hours for health attention of policymakers to make sure this
a safety reasons, there were also minimum holiday important campaign doesn’t go ignored.
entitlements. Treat Me Well – working with the families and
In 2007, the no-smoking ban was introduced in people with learning disabilities to improve quality
public areas in response to union arguments that of healthcare within hospitals.
workers were risking their health.
In 2019, MENCAP called for the government not to forget
They continue to successfully work with the government on people with learning disabilities from the social care debate.
issues to do with worker’s welfare. Recently, the question MENCAP have the correct resources, as they are a big charity
was asked in debate with parliament if the government were with economic resources to make a change, they however do
going to discuss with the TUC how trade unions can work not have much ideological compatibility with the government
with the Government to level up the economy. The TUC as they have to argue to even get paid attention to, they also
wants to be an independent representation of the working have a lot of popularity and expertise from the numerous
class in Parliament. years of campaigning.
Insider – Royal College of Nursing Outsider – Charter 88
An insider pressure group has privileged access to Since outsider pressure groups do not gain access to political
government decision making. Good relations with decision decision making, they need to achieve influence in other
makers. ways. This means that they have to gain the attention of the
government by winning public support.
The RCN is a high-profile pressure group that relies on the
media and government on making changes to policy. The Charter 88 was a British pressure group that advocated for
RCN ‘Educate & Protect’ and are the largest professional electoral and constitutional reform and owes its origins to
body providing educational, wellbeing and workplace support the lack of written constitution. It was originally created by
for nurses. They also provide legal support to nurses too. It 348 Liberal and Social Democratic British intellectuals and
has 435,000 members. activists. They signed a letter to thr New Statesman magazine
as ‘a general expression of dissent’ following the 1987
The RCN work with Westminster, the Scottish Parliament, General Election victory of the Conservative party. 5000
Welsh Parliament, and the Northern Ireland Assembly to put signatures were published in the Observer and an
nursing on the top of the political agenda. They work with all organisation was formed which created a Charter in which
political parties and elected representatives and have the public was able to financially contribute to and sign.
consultations, briefings, open letters and position statements
to gain evidence from members to see what needs to Charter 88 was regarded as a Potential Insider, Outsider
change. group which meant that the group may achieve insider status
but are lacking in terms of support or experience. After 1997,
The RCN worked on the Health and Social Care Bill, and it has they became an insider group.
now received Royal Assent and is an act of parliament
following it approval from the House of Commons and House The group failed however, as in 2003 the organisation was
of Lords. In this way the pressure group has been a success as financially failing and there were lots of resignations and
they were able to pass legislation due to the sheer numbers redundancies. The chair of Charter 88, Paul Hirst also died
of support across the country for change. suddenly. Charter 88 found itself in a crisis and therefore had
to shut down.
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