Unite Viewpoint

Back from the TUC at Brighton and having had time to reflect on proceedings here's my take on it. Much of the build up prior to the Congress was the response of the unions to issues such as the windfall tax, attacks on visiting Labour politicians. However, having attended every Congress since 1994 (and a few more before), delegates do recognise that there are the set peice debates, but there is a lot of work done by unions on the nuts and bolts of the world of work, with debates on health & safety, employment law, learning and skills and many issues that specialist unions wish to debate in what used to called "the workers parliament". However, you can't escape the expected and unexpected clashes between politicians and trade union officers. At this years Congress we were treated to Alistair Darling. The Times described his much trailed Tuesday speech as "indescribably boring". Actually, veteran Industrial Correspondent from The Mirror commented in his end of Congress speech, where the press comment on the week said: "No it wasn't, Darling's speech was describably dull." Harriet Harman concentrated on equalities and the unequal society, but had to pull back some of the tougher stuff for fear of upsetting the CBI and employers. It is reported that she toned down an attack on the class system by removing quotes from her speech to the TUC on government plans to tackle inequality. Harriet had been expected to say that social class rather than gender, race, sexual orientation or disability was the main reason why people failed to reach their full potential. "What overarches all of these is where you live, your family background, your wealth and social class." Instead she confined herself to two examples: showing how six-year-olds from the middle classes were already ahead of more able peers from working-class backgrounds, and how very rich men now live longer than poorer women. John Denham the minister for BERR gave a crumb of comfort with the uppping of the NMW for young workers with weekly earnings for apprentices in England will be increased from £80 to £95 per week from August 2009. This rise will benefit an estimated 26,000 people, about 10% of apprentices. As I said - welcome but crumbs of comfort compared to the issues we now face in manufacturing and on learning and skills. The best debate and speeches of the Congress were on the final day, when Derek Simpson Joint GS of Unite, moved the most important motion of the week on the European Court Judgements that could do so much damage to industrial relations in the UK, will undermine working peoples right to take industrial action to defend their employment and will damage the whole concept of social Europe. Leading in the debate Derek outlined the consequences of the judgements for collective bargaining and national agreements and put forward compelling arguments for strong political action across Europe to get the judgements reversed. He stressed there is now the need to mobilse unions and our members at every level, and at every meeting to explain the judgements and the effect they will have on working people. This is the nuts and bolts stuff that the public don't see but is vital to the work of trade unions. Unite of course were involved in many of the debates - the health service, public sector pay, health and safety, energy, the economy, transport, foriegn affairs and I seconded the NUJ's motion on the ownership of the press - which Print Week have turned into this week's comment peice. The Congress Fringe has got better each year - with an opportunity for delegates to listen to speakers on a wide range of issues. Highlights for me this year were the traditional Monday fringe meeting of the Liason Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions, with some fine speeches on the ECJ Judgements, Public Sector Pay etc from Derek Simpson, Billy Hayes, Christine Blower, Paul Kenny, Frances O'Grady Tuesdays Morning Star fringe was again packed to hear Derek Simpson, Bob Crow and Mark Serwotka get into a real political debate about the way forward for trade unions and the Labour Party. Good news for Morning Star readers as well - the paper will be moving to a 16 pager weekdays and a 20 pager at weekends, with full colour plus there will be a re-vamped website. Once again delegates turned out for the Remploy fringe meeting chaired by myself. Other Unite sponsored fringe meetings were well attended including the event to discuss developments in Bolivia, which Unite and the Graphical Sector are playing a big role, Justice for Columbia and support for the imprisoned Miami Five. This year saw the ending of a number of Congress "fixtures and fittings". The traditional cricket match between the press and the General Council has now ended. Having played in a few (very badly too) I am not surprised. The TUC has lost many of its better players - John Edmunds, John Monks, John Sheldon, Bill Morris and the journo'\s just got younger with fresh from university reporters hurling the ball at you at 90 mph! The traditional end of Congress knock-about "vote of thanks" from the press is going as industrial coverage is cut back by newspapers for who second rate celebs, Big Brother and increasing profits are now paramount - and this was also Tony Dubbins' last Congress. More tributes to Tony at some point later, (he has the Labour Party Conference in two weeks time to go as yet) but I know many delegates told me they will miss him. Tony's presence at the TUC has been massive. He is currently the longest serving GC member and has been a friend and confident of John Monks and Brendan Barber TUC General Secretaries. As was commented on Monday at the LCDTU meeting, it was Tony who traditionally moved the first big set peice motion at the Congress on employment rights, with the President announcing "I will now take Composite One, Employment Rights to be moved by Tony Dubbins of the GPMU." Game on!