Trade Union Congress 2024: Wednesday

Last day of TUC 2024 in Brighton. For once it was bright and sunny! Good to hear my UNISON branch colleague (the shy and retiring) Lola Oyewusi, give a confident and clever speech, were she used her mobile phone torch light to make her point. The TUC President, Matt Wrack, afterwards remarked on the "unusual" nature of her speech! 

It was also brilliant, that the Labour Government published that day plans on finally getting rid of "no fault" evictions and "better bus services". 

I signed the petition at the PCS stall on the campaign to reinstate 3 union reps sacked by the Civil Service for their trade union activities. 

At the close of Congress, Matt was given the TUC Gold Badge and a well deserved vote of thanks. I rushed off to the station to try and get back to London in time for a series of online meetings and calls with HR and members. I had to stop off briefly at Gatwick airport to make one online meeting. Never a dull moment. 

Trade Union Congress 2024: Tuesday

(better late than...) Day 3 for me started with a windy run along Brighton prom and back. Apologies but due to a number of reasons (including a furry of urgent calls and messages from my UNISON members regarding a pending deadline about proposed changes to terms and conditions) I did not make notes about Congress for the last 2 days. 

Highlights was the well received speeches by our Labour Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and our General Secretary, Christina McAnea, as well as a number of other UNISON and other speakers. 

I went to a lunch time fringe on "The digital trade union" organised by @digitcentre . I was late due to on online @unisonclarion meet on T&Cs. In that meeting with members we discussed setting up a WhatsApp group. When I arrived at fringe they were discussing merits of TU WhatsApp!

After close of Congress I went to a fringe on the new Governments proposed changes to employment rights run by ACAS. Fascinating discussions. I made a point that there is such a power imbalance at this moment between workers and employers (in favour of employers) and that we need the proposed changes to take place before we can really discuss improving the relationship and possible partnership between trade unions and employers.