Report from Annual Congress 2013

Eastbourne Trades Council secretary, Dave Brinson, was at the TUC Congress last week, as part of the NUT's delegation.  This report is taken from his blog www.DaveBrinsonNUT.blogspot.com

I was proud to represent the NUT on our delegation to the TUC Annual Conference in Bournemouth last week. This sees the representatives of the 54 affiliated unions come together to debate policy and campaigns for the Trade Union movement in the coming year.

Lesley Mercer of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists was the President for the year, and welcomed delegates to her Conference, with the theme “Jobs, Growth and Fair Pay”

Frances O'Grady, the new General Secretary, and the first woman to occupy that position, gave a barnstorming speech, where she set out the pledges that she wants our supporters to make for the forthcoming general election:

"I'm going to tell you what should go on a pledge card. And, today, I challenge politicians from all parties to say where they stand on it.

First, decent jobs. It's time to restore that goal of full employment, and give a cast iron jobs guarantee for the young. Full employment is the best way to boost the economy, drive up living standards and generate the tax that we need to pay down the deficit. And let's be clear, the reason why low-paid jobs are growing is because people have no choice but to take them. That is wrong. Employers should compete for staff. Not the other way around. Now, George Osborne will say - but how are you going to pay for it? Well, of course the best way to pay for it is by getting economic growth. That's why we need to invest in an intelligent industrial strategy for the future. But if the Chancellor wants to talk numbers here's a big one. According to the Rich List, since the crash, the 1,000 richest people in Britain increased their wealth by no less than £190bn. That's nearly double the entire budget for the NHS. So when they ask how we'll pay for it, let's tell them. Fair taxes - that's how.

One of the best ways to create jobs and apprenticeships would be to build new houses. And that's pledge number two. One million new council and affordable homes. Our country has a desperate shortage of housing. That means landlords rake it in and the housing benefit bill rockets. It drives up the cost of a buying a home, and puts people in more debt. So cut the waiting lists, stop another bubble and let's build the homes young families need.

Pledge number three: fair pay - and new wages councils to back it up. Of course the national minimum wage should go up and we need tough enforcement. But take one look at company profits and you'll see that there are plenty of industries that could, and should, pay more. That's why we need new wages councils, so unions and employers get around the table and negotiate. That's the way to guarantee not just a minimum wage, not just a living wage but a fair wage, and fair shares of the wealth workers help create.

And pledge number four could be the most popular one of all. Let's pledge that the NHS will once again be a public service run for people and not for profit. Let's make adult social care a community responsibility by bringing it together with the NHS. That would save money because good social care helps elderly people stay at home when they want to be, instead of in hospital when they don't. And while we're about it, let's have a proper system of care for our children too. So instead of shrinking the welfare state, let's strengthen it. That's the way to build a stronger economy too.

And five - fair rights at work. No more union busting. No more blacklisting. And no more zero hours. Instead we need decent employment rights; strong unions with the freedom to organise, and a bit more economic democracy. We already work with the best employers, keeping workers healthy and safe, giving them the chance to learn new skills, guaranteeing fair pay and fair treatment.Through the worst of the recession, we made thousands of agreements to save jobs and keep plants open. And let me say this, I believe there isn't a boardroom in Britain that wouldn't benefit from giving ordinary workers a voice." You can read the full speech here.    

The three days of Conference saw a range of debates- with Education very much on the agenda- both challenging the cuts and attacks from Gove and the coalition at home, and also solidarity with teachers and trade unionists abroad- Christine Blower told conference about the imprisonment of Colombian Trade Unionist Huber Ballesteros. He was supposed to be a guest at the congress, but has been imprisoned in Colombia for his trade union activities.

My friend Annette Pryce from the NUT Executive representing LGBT Teachers spoke twice in the debates on equality, including highlighting the scandal of Section 28 style policies being introduced via the back door by Academies and Free Schools.

Labour Leader Ed Miliband addressed congress, and made some welcome pledges on tackling zero-hours contracts and moving towards a Living Wage. In response to a question from NUT Presdient Beth Davies, he confirmed that an incoming Labour Government would give Local Authorities back their powers over planning school places.

The congress fringe also discussed a range of issues- from blacklisting, Living Wage and the future of the NHS (great appearance from Andy Burnham), to international issues such as Cuba, Venezuala and the fate of Colombian Trade Unionists.

As a Trades Council secretary, I was pleased that Conference agreed to enhance the role of the local trades councils (such as mine in Eastbourne) in the life of the TUC.