TUC Congress 2025: Day 4

 

Last day of Congress. I was up early to go for final jog along the prom but it was raining, so being very much a fair weather runner, I went to the hotel gym instead. 

Congress started as usual at 9.30am beginning with the the latest "Union wins video", then a powerful debate on Composite motion "The Crisis in Palestine", which was followed by an address from the International Speaker – Shaher Saed from the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions. 

Then controversial motions on Climate change and a "Just Transition" requirement amendment (carried) followed by "Reform of the TUC". 

As with the "Wages not Weapons" motion previously, there was a clash between predominantly public sector unions and private sector unions on the Just Transition amendment. 

While in the debate on the "Future of the TUC" seemed me more about the role of the TUC - should it act as the national UK trade union or its traditional role to facility a UK federation of independent unions? Again some great speeches, some not that comradely, on both sides of the argument. The motion was clearly lost.   

There was also a number of important motions on disability issues followed by 6 Emergency motions. 

Check out the programme for Congress business here https://www.tuc.org.uk/Congress2025/programme-business-congress-2025 and results here https://congress.tuc.org.uk/motion_type/all_motions/#sthash.RRkjFVlf.bgWohJM8.dpbs

Final business of Congress was the traditional vote of thanks and award of a Gold Badge (and Congress bell!) to the outgoing President, Mark Dickinson, who had been a marvellous Chair of Congress. Efficient, fair and supportive of first time speakers. By coincidence he reminded me of my former Branch Chair, Tony Power, in looks and temperament.  

Next years President is the General Secretary of the Prison Officers union, Steve Gillan. Who Mick Lynch, from the RMT cheekily suggested would deal with any dissent in the TUC General Council by locking the door until they agreed a line. 

After close of Congress there was a rush to the hotel to pick up luggage, then I walked to the station (no rain) and was able to get into the rear first class coach of the Thameslink train (no need for upgrade on this carriage only) with 2 other UNISON delegates from London for further debate (and gossip)

Trade Union Congress 2024: Monday

(better late than never) Day 2 of TUC started for me with a session in the hotel's gym followed by a jog along a damp and windy Brighton prom. Congress started at 9.30am. First item again was a short general video celebrating "Union wins"  including UNISON pay and conditions victories for workers.

Motions to be debated this morning where themed around "Winning a better future for working people" with debates on wider schools, education, health & safety, prisons, teachers pensions, transport, merchant navy & "The future of football and the need for player engagement" (moved by the PFA - the most highly paid trade unionists in the UK). 

Next the TUC General Secretary address by Paul Nowak. He spoke passionately about his joy at the end of 14 years of Tory rule. He welcomed the increase in trade union membership by 90,000 in the last year and the repeal of anti-strike legislation by the new Labour government. He said it shows the difference, unity and solidarity makes. "Keir Starmer and this government has the interests of workers at heart in a way that the Tories never had". 

He spoke about a recent visit to Ukraine. He visited destroyed factories, blocks of flats and children hospitals. He attacked the far right such as the Putin apologist, Farage, as as not being patriots, they are frauds. He reminded Congress of his speech last year that his grandfather Joe, was a migrant who served in the Polish Air Force in the second world war. 

He welcomed that that there was positive relationships with good employers and we will use new rights to hold bad bosses to account. To put Amazon and every other anti union, anti worker employer on notice, "our movement is coming for you". 

Next debates themed "Protecting the right to strike and winning the New Deal". A number of interesting points about the need to control those employers who may pay lip service but do not believe in social dialogue and must be brought to heal. End the current "Wild West" in UK employment law.  

Congress finished slightly late for lunch to finish business. I went to the "COVID19 Enquiry - the story so far" fringe and listened to speakers from Thompsons solicitors, UNISON (Gloria Mills), TUC, NASUWT and bereaved families. 

Congress reopened at 2.15pm. Theme was "Building a Fairer Economy". More motions on the economy, fair tax, pay, North sea, Industrial strategy, union recognition, climate, Europe, UK steel, Royal mail  and public interest.  Some of  them motions have been composited (merged to save time). 

UNISON spoke against Composite 5 moved by Unite regarding the use of fossil fuels since it was felt that it went against our conference policies over climate change. Other Public sector unions also spoke against. The Unite right to reply stated that we had to retain a variable fossil fuel industry until transition takes place or we will simply run out of fuel to cook our food and heat our homes. It went to a card vote. UNISON had 1,187,000 votes (the biggest affiliate). In Favour 2,712,000 v 2 457,000 for Against. Composite was  carried. 

Motion 20 "Relations with Europe" moved by Prospect was another controversial one. The TUC General Council read out a statement on the motion (written in classical TUC speak). The RMT opposed on grounds that if we were in EU (or had "dynamic alignment" to their social legislation) the anti-privatisation laws currently being passed by the UK would be illegal. Motion was carried overwhelmingly. 

At end of conference I went to the Labour Unions fringe which was packed. Unfortunately the main speaker, Angela Rayner MP could not attend but we had a number of excellent speakers at the fringe. 

"Comrades, Courage and Forward" - Support the RMT Strikers for Fair Pay & Job Security

 

Tomorrow members of the RMT union will be taking a second day of National strike action to support their claim for Fair Pay and Job Security. After years of wage restraint, the Railway employers are only offering a 2% wage increase this year, increasing to 3% if the unions agree to "new working practices" (such as compulsory redundancies). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61890526

Inflation is currently 9.1% so do the maths. Even if the RMT members accepted the full 3% they will be agreeing to a 6.1% pay cut (and the prospect of compulsory redundancies). Inflation is predicted to rise to 11% this year. 

I believe that the RMT have called for a 7% increase, which appears more than reasonable (and is still below inflation). 

Obviously it is too early to know what will happen. However, it is a lesson to workers and the wider Labour movement that the chief way you can deliver successful strike action is to have high density of trade union membership like in the RMT. 

The more of us in the union at work, the better the deal we will always get. 

Picture above is of the West Ham Strike Committee of the National Union of Railwaymen (predecessor union of the RMT) in 1919. Check out the motto on the Banner "Comrades, Courage and Forward" 

https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2012/10/national-union-railworkers-west-ham.html

Remembering Bob Crow

This is an article I wrote for Inside Housing 

"I think like everyone I was shocked yesterday morning to learn of the sudden death of RMT Railway union leader  Bob Crow. I was actually on a train at the time when I heard the news, the same line on which I occasionally use to see Bob while he was on his way home to his East London social house that the media used to hate so much.

Like many trade unionists I was a huge admirer of what he was able to achieve for his members even though I didn’t always agree with everything he said.

Inside Housing has asked me what union housing representatives can learn from his example.

I think a huge amount.  I won’t pretend that unions in the housing sector have the industrial muscle and bargaining power that the rail unions have, since they have the ability to bring their industry very quickly to an absolute halt. There are at least three lasting interrelated legacies I think that Bob leaves to us.

First and foremost Bob believed that you must have a strong collective voice to stand up for your rights at work. The interests of the employer and the employees are not always the same and if you are passive and do nothing, then don’t be surprised if you get walked all over.  There is a massive power imbalance in the workplace and strong, independent and accountable trade unions are needed to tackle this imbalance and restore equilibrium.

The second legacy from Bob is union density. Bob knew what our grandmothers and grandfathers knew and has now been often sadly forgotten. It is very simple but true. The more of us in the union - the better the deal we will get. Bob drove up union density in the RMT and increased his bargaining power so all members benefited. It is indeed the case that workers are ‘Better Together’.

The third legacy to housing unions is what I would call adopting the Bob Crow mind set. That housing workers must be prepared to fight and take industrial action if necessary. Industrial action can take many forms but you must consider the ultimate weapon of strike action. It is no use just complaining about cuts in your salary or pension, reductions in sick pay or unfair redundancies. All of us must be prepared to stand up and do something about it.

Never forget you cannot depend on employment law or your employer to protect you at work. You can only depend on your fellow workers and your union.

Last night I was at a Unison regional meeting representing housing workers and it was proposed that we send the RMT and his family our condolences and we should hold a minutes silence for Bob.  I suggested that a minutes silence would not be apt for Bob and that instead we should all stand up together and make passionate speeches for a minute instead. We decided to send condolences.
John Gray is a housing officer and Unison committee member"

London Underground Strike

The first 48 hour strike has just started. Checked out here TSSA account of the background to the strike rather than the Tory media (or the KGB Standard).

Arwyn Thomas reinstated: London tube strikes off

Sacked London Underground driver and RMT activist, Arwyn Thomas, has been reinstated and the strikes due next week have been cancelled.  I had thought that Arwyn (left) had been stitched up by his management based on the evidence from the interim Employment tribunal. I had posted this here.

Arwyn was held to have been unfairly dismissed in the full tribunal and the Underground has agreed to reinstate him. I don't know the full details of the outcome but this is on the RMT wedsite here and this is the version being put out by the right wing Evening Standard here that I read last night on the way home from UNISON conference in Manchester.
Hat tip Col. Roi.

Newham Trades Council relaunch: What was Good, Bad and at times Ugly

Last night I went to the relaunch of Newham Trades Council which took place inside the Town Hall Council Chamber. I was late due to another meeting and missed the opening speeches by NUT General secretary Christine Blower;  PCS assistant General secretary Chris Baugh and
Steve Hedley from the RMT. Steve had left by the time I arrived.

I must admit to being impressed with the turn out, which pretty much filled the Council Chamber. People were  making contributions as I took my seat.  Most of which were very good and constructive.  Pointing out that we must build unity to defeat this Tory led coalition. I was surprised though that quite a few of the speakers admited that they did not live or work in the borough.

However, there were some extremely silly and sectarian grandstanding going on.  Repeating almost word for word in some instances, the Tory lies that Labour Council cuts are all unnecessary and are only being carried out to embarrass the government.  I could imagine the Evil one himself in the corner chuckling to himself at some of the comments made.  How anyone thinks they can build opposition by splitting and wreaking is beyond me?  I'm more than happy to have a row with such people but I would rather be fighting Tories.  Honest!

Overall there were many good points made and of course it is entirely legitimate to constructively criticise the Party and hold elected representatives to account.  However one contributor ended his thoughts by calling for people to stop voting Labour.  There was some clapping to this. My response is yes, if you do not agree with Labour, then don't vote Labour.  It is a free vote. No one is forcing you to vote Labour in the borough with the biggest Labour vote in the entire country.

Chris and Christine made excellent closing speeches.  Chris reminded everyone that the anti poll tax campaign was successful because everyone was under attack and everyone was united in opposition.  While Christine pointed out the ludicrous situation that there is no legal requirement for a school to have a library but there is for a prison to have one. Both of them urge support for the likely Pension's strike on June 30th and look forward to possible further strikes over Pensions involving all the public sector unions later on in the year.

I thought this was on the whole a successful meeting and well done to Newham Trades Council Secretary, Peter Smith (left of picture) for a well organised and well chaired event.  This could be the basis of a successful relaunch of the trades council.  But not if some just want to use it to bash Labour.  We must agree on what we can agree and leave the rest to be fought over elsewhere and another day. I didn't stand up and say my piece last night out of respect for the speakers present.  Because a good meeting would have just descended into a shouting match (both ways).  But I doubt I would hold my tongue again.  It also desperately needs the centre left to participate and not stay away because they cannot be bothered to go to a meeting and be lectured by those they consider (rightly or wrongly) to be weirdo la la fantasists. 

We should also recognise that the majority of workers in Newham are not in the public sector and many desperately need our help to organise.  Our fight over the Tory cuts affects everyone, but we must also support and campaign on bread and butter trade union issues in Newham such as Living wage plus, trade union recognition and health & safety in small businesses.  As the UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis said, Trade unions were not created for the good times, we were created for the bad times.  That bad time has come under this Government.  We need to organise centrally and locally in the Labour movement. Newham Trades Council has a proud history and I hope a bright future.   

Why the RMT is striking now over Arwyn Thomas

I've just sent off a message of protest to London Mayor, Boris Johnson and Transport for London via Labourstart.

Trade union activist Arwyn had been dismissed for alleged swearing and name calling on the picket line.

I must admit that I had been surprised that they were taking strike action before the outcome of the full tribunal hearing.  I could fully understand them doing so if afterwards if TFL didn't reinstate him.  However, rather than relying on the London Tory press I had a look at the Labourstart link and this article explaining the reasoning by London RMT.

This reminds everyone that there has already been an employment tribunal decision on whether Arwyn has been victimised for this trade union activities.  This was found in his favour.  I have also read this tribunal's decision on the 221 pages of evidence presented to it before granting him what is called "interim relief".  I would recommend that before anyone condemns this strike that they read the nine page decision. 

Arwyn is a leading London RMT activist.  He was acting under the instructions of his full time officer at the time investigating safety concerns about untrained staff being used as strike breakers. At worse he is accused by management of using a single swear word and calling someone a "scab" for crossing a picket line. An independent witness described him as being "a bit disrespectful" but not aggressive. Arwyn has 29 years of "unblemished service" he had been "regretful and apologetic for his actions".

The tribunal Chair pretty much ripped to pieces the decision by London Underground to dismiss him. It is clear that the RMT smell a rat.  I agree.  There is no way he should have been dismissed on that evidence. They think if the final tribunal finds that Arwyn was partly to blame (which he freely admits) then LU will simply refuse to reemploy him on that basis.  Mayor Boris needs to stop being a bystander, get his finger out and bring his out of control LU managers to heal.

“On the buzzer” in the Royal Docks By-Election

Yesterday evening I was sent out to canvass Britannia Village on behalf of Labour Candidate, Steve Brayshaw. I was with Cllr Paul Brickell (my ward Councillor) and fellow trade union member, Salim Patel (see left). Salim is a “Train Captain” and member of the RMT.

Our part of the village that we had to call at that night was all private housing blocks with staircase door entry systems - which can be pretty frustrating to canvass. Many residents were out (or looked out of window and pretended to be) and those who answered were most reluctant to let anyone into the block. But you quickly got quite use to talking to people over the entry phone. It is I suppose similar to telephone canvassing but slightly more personal.

I had a number of reasonable conversations with people and was able to leave a card to those who were receptive. What I found a little concerning is the number of residents who said they have never voted in any elections beforehand, local or national. They seemed to be genuinely surprised that anyone was asking them about their past and present voting intentions. These are all relatively expensive flats and apartments. It is not either a student area. We “politicos” of all Parties need to try harder on engagement I think.

It was encouraging that some of them said that they are not Labour supporters but would be voting for Steve at the by-election due to people they know who are endorsing him.

The most difficult contact I had that night was meeting up at Ward HQ and fending off Steve’s very friendly but utterly disobedient pair of “Fred” Basset hounds whose sole object in life is to jump up on you and try to lick you to death. I warned them that if they did not behave I would set “Mike Law” on them but they paid me no heed whatsoever.

Picture left is from Monday's top canvass team Pearson, Amarjit and Pat.

Anti-Union Managers exposed!

Following my post last week on why the RMT union is so “stroppy”.

Top UNISON steward, Paul Mcc has sent me secret photographs from his mobile of who he thinks are the 4 managers responsible for the threatened victimisation of trade union members.

He is not sure obviously, but thinks they fit the general description.

Anyone got any other clues or ideas on putting "names to faces"? They must be pretty distinctive?

last spotted in Chelmsford.

(remember libel laws apply folks!)

No wonder the RMT are so stroppy

A very sensible and reliable person contacted me to discuss what he had overheard while travelling recently on a London underground train. He was sitting next to four “suits” who were wearing what appeared to be either Network Rail or their contractor’s identification badges. These people were managers who were loudly discussing company business, regardless of who was sitting next to them.

It was in the afternoon so they may have had a long liquid lunch. However, my contact was astounded to hear these managers openly discuss how they will get rid of the RMT (the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) members in a forthcoming reorganisation. They boasted about how they will be sitting on the interview panels and ensure that RMT members will not be successful in getting jobs.

Now, I may not be over impressed with the RMT Leadership over various issues, but this does make you think about the reasons why the RMT are militant. If their managers are so arrogant that they feel they can openly boast about sacking people on the basis of their trade union membership then faced with such rubbish no wonder the RMT believe that they have to be so stroppy. I think this is called “Cause and effect”?

An audience with Keith Hill MP

“Should I stay or should I go?” I doubt if Gordon Brown is listening tonight to the 80’s punk rock band “Clash”, while making up his mind about whether or not to go to the country. There again, I haven’t heard his “Desert Island Discs” selection, so who knows.

Yesterday, we had the unexpected pleasure of former Housing Minister and PPS to Tony Blair, Keith Hill MP, (Streatham CLP) giving a Parliamentary report to UNISON Labour Link London regional committee. UNISON has a new Constituency Development Plan with Streatham CLP.

It was a “tour de force”, by a naturally “larger than life” retiring MP (he has announced he is going to stand down at the next election – whenever that may be) who until very recently had been at the very heart of government and was now obviously enjoying his new found freedom after years of purdah.

The topical bit was Keith’s view on whether or not there should be an election at this moment (Thursday AM). That Labour was “poised at the cusp of a possible general election but it was not a foregone conclusion” was no surprise.

Nor was his view that Brown will consider the mixed bag of 3 public opinion polls that were announced this morning (for example “The Guardian” with the Tories on level pegging with Labour) but also that there are influential private Labour Party polling data available to the Party only at the same time.

A good reason to have an election now could be to circumvent the flood of Ashcroft money that the Tories have planned to pour into marginal seats over the next two years. Keith says that Ashcroft believes that this money alone would make a huge difference to the election result.

Against this is the fear that the public may feel that they have been unfairly manipulated (or Mugagbe-ised as he put it) into an unnecessary Parliamentary contest and the Tories could play on this. Let’s wait and see.

I must admit that being a housing bod, I had been rather unmoved with Keith’s stuff while as a Housing minister. Check out this weeks “Inside Housing” for a flavour. However, once we moved off the speculation about the election it was a treat to be meet someone who could “walk and talk” at the same time (OK he was sitting down – but you know what I mean).

In response to questions about present day “difficulties” between the Unions and the Labour Government, Keith reminded us that before he was an MP, he had been a Labour Party adviser who had been present at the last NEC meeting that Harold Wilson had attended in 1976. Later he was the parliamentary advisor to the forerunner of the RMT for 16 years (obviously before Bob). He’s been about.

His view was that despite present day difficulties (more style than substance in his view) that the present day affiliated unions had actually more contact and influence over the Party than the Union barons in the 1970s. In the 1970s the unions were dismissed and ignored, while nowadays with the Warwick agreement there is actually unprecedented involvement and co-operation.

He also suggested that the Labour Party National Policy Forum (which has taken over many not all of the functions of conference) may well not work effectively for grass roots Party members but gives the unions the opportunity to exercise real and unprecedented influence. I agree on the opportunity bit.

I remember asking PM Tony Blair a question at a Labour Party National Policy forum last year about the relationship between the government and the trade unions and he replied that actually it was better than at any time in the history of the movement. Every other Labour Government including Atlee’s had been stricken by bitter and self destructive industrial disputes. I’m not sure that this is totally fair but I can see the argument. No doubt the CWU will have a different view.

There was a good debate over pensioner incomes. Keith believes that average Pensioner incomes have actually gone up by more that if the earnings link with wages had been introduced in 1997. He was very proud that 1.1 million pensioners had been brought out of poverty with a 73% increase in real income.

This was the first time that I had heard a coherent argument about Labour’s housing policy. OK, Probably my fault for not listening but maybe not. Keith explained that due to the failure by the Tories to invest in maintenance and supply during their 18 years of power, Labour in 1997 faced a massive dilemma that they could not afford to improve homes as well as improve supply at the same time. They decided that the priority was to improve homes to a “decent standard” which took £25 billion to do so and are now on tract to be completed. This is why now, Gordon is going to spend significant amounts on new build to make up supply.

Keith also described “Early Day Motions” (EDM) as a “debased currency”. There used to be only 400 odd per year, now there are over 2500. Instead of asking your MPs to support an EDM congratulating Oldham Athletic, you should ask them to write personally to Ministers on particular issues. Makes sense if they will do it I suppose.

I didn’t agree with everything Keith said but it was a pleasure to engage (lovely New Labour term) with a charming, relaxed, cheerful and enthusiastic real human being.

If there is a general election, and of course there will be a Labour Party victory, I hope that Lord Hill of Streatham (or whatever) is invited back to our committee to give his next parliamentary report.

Murder not Divorce? – Labour Party and Trade Unions

It was good to see Tony Woodley (T&G Unite Joint General Secretary) take a well deserved swipe at George Monbiot (photo left - as in extreme) in yesterday’s Guardian. Monbiot, otherwise known as “Moonbat”, is the Stowe public school educated son of a deputy Chair of the Tory Party, who had the cheek in an article on Tuesday, to lecture trade unions on “Class” and affiliation to the Labour Party.

He called trade unions “Turkeys led by chickens, they will never stop voting for Christmas”. He also offensively claims that the unions would still support the Labour Party even if it turned itself into a neo-fascist party!

The “evidence” he presents for this accusation appears to be the appointment of Digby Jones by Brown as a minister promoting trade. I think that this is a wrong decision, however, hardly grounds to disaffiliate.

He confusingly accepts that “some important victories have been won since 1997” e.g. minimum wage, better pension protection etc. But he then dismisses them as unimportant because the so-called “list of defeats” is much longer.

I think that the distain that Monbiot has for such an issue as the living wage is important and gives you an understanding of where he is coming from. If you are brought up in a wealthy middle class family then obviously the issue of low pay is not something that you can relate to in any meaningful way. Unlike trade unionists, who do not usually come from privileged backgrounds. They often have first hand experience of how vitally important the minimum wage is for real families and workers, struggling to keep themselves out of poverty. It is interesting that he also completely ignores tax and pension credits. The huge amount of money that Labour has poured into the pockets of poor people in this way means nothing to him. Obviously more needs to be done, but Monbiot is not concerned about these key working class issues.

Equally the incredible financial stability and relatively high employment rates under Labour is also not apparently of any importance. Neither does he mention the huge resources that a Labour government has pumped into the NHS, schools and children’s services. I have been attacked by some over bringing up this real “class” issue. The argument is that you should only debate the policies not the background of the person. I am sorry but I just cannot agree with this proposition. Attacking the personality of a person is usually wrong but I think politics are personal; they are shaped by your family and your background. I am not saying that middle or upper class people cannot comment on trade union issues. Everyone is entitled to their views, however I would recommend that they stick to what they know – which in Monbiot’ s case would appear to be climate change not trade unions.

Tony Woodley also attacked Monbiot for not proposing any alternative to Labour and ducking the question of whether or not a Tory government was a good thing or not. The RMT and the FBU may have been expelled or left the Party. However, at many Labour Party events I have attended during the last few years there has usually been a “lobby” outside by RMT members leafleting or protesting about various things and asking us to bring up this motion or that. What is the point of them being out of the Party but still turning up to Party events asking for things to be done? As Tony put it “you do not win arguments from the outside”.

It is also a fact that within the Labour Party there is a (small?) body of opinion that would love to end the link between the Party and the unions. They would prefer state funding of parties without any pesky trade unionists making problems.

Now, it is not always sweetness and light in the relationship between trade unions and the Labour party, nor should it be. There are major differences over privatisation, trade union and employment rights etc. When you compare these differences to that between the Tories and trade unions then you realise these differences are small. Trade unions recognise the abyss of Tory rule and also I think many would agree with me that, rightly or wrongly, if the Labour Party is seen to be the “creature” of the trade unions then the Party will never be elected or form another government.

Finally, as Jack Jones, the great leader of the Transport and General Workers' Union said in 1971 when asked to sum up the relationship between unions and the Labour party: He replied that he could imagine "Murder yes, divorce never."