Somewhere in Britain, there must be an enthusiastic young trade unionist happily packing a bag and a briefcase as they get ready to make the journey to Liverpool for this year’s trade union “Parliament”, the Annual Congress of the TUC; prepared for the cut and thrust of serious political debate and the opportunity to represent their trade union at the movements premier event; willing to embrace new ideas and learn how to represent their shop floor colleagues more effectively; politically astute enough to know their Karl Marx from Groucho, and able to spot the difference between socialist principle and revolutionary ranting, (I was that young trade unionist- you were that young trade unionist and -we are all Spartacus)
Elsewhere crusty old veterans have had to reset their internal satnav so that they don’t end up in Brighton, knowing that there are precisely 1335 minutes of congress to be endured till home time on Thursday (excluding fringes, which they always do). So for the benefit of both the veterans and the virgins let’s look at this year programme and try to pin point the possible pin pricks of excitement that could waken even the most dedicated nocturnal socialite while being thought provoking for the more socialist.
Monday
Monday could reasonably accurately be described as UNISON day. First though, out of the stalls is the General Secretary of the TUC Brendan Barber.
What can you say about his address? It may be long, cautious and conciliatory, it may be short cautious and conciliatory but it will be cautious and conciliatory-this beast won’t change his spots.
Will there be a reference to the need to work with all political parties? (code for we know there will be a Tory government) Or will we “acknowledge that we are moving into testing times for trade unions” (meaning we already know the Tories won’t talk to us so how do we justify our existence for the next XXX years?) You, the delegate get to make up your own mind, unless of course, you happen to go to the tea bar afterwards and get a TV camera stuck in your face. Whatever your private opinion, on these occasions the words “competent”, “ wide ranging”, “solid foundations” and “providing context for our debates” can be rearranged into a suitable response. On no account use the word “brave”. The left will think that you have right wing tendencies and the right that you are taking the piss.
The debates then begin, on the subject of the health service (52) . We will deplore the government, denounce privatisation, and demand changes. It will be worthy, ideologically correct and passed overwhelmingly.
The next composite is on the BNP . UNISON’s focus is on local, joint union campaigning within local communities based on “developing an economic and social programme that delivers for the working class”. That seemingly innocuous phrase contains within it a truly devastating critique of the past three terms of a Labour government and is crucial to an understanding of where BNP support is coming from.
Debate however is more likely to focus on a sentence of the PCS motion, on the urgent need for a national demo. PCS provide no rationalisation of this demand, so it must be deemed self evident.
Given the nature of the increasingly fragmented British political system, it is difficult to know what is meant by “national”. Given the experience that UNISON has gained over the past few years fighting the BNP, it would seem that to turn communities against the fascists involves intense local community campaigning.
Is a “symbolic” national walk through the streets an adequate substitute? In a week where the BBC has decided to “normalise” the BNP as a political party, the size of the task facing those of us who seek to defeat these odious racists has become so much greater...
The afternoon begins with the Labour Party sororal delegate, so no need to rush back. Business begins with the discussion on pensions (25-31), both public and private. Recent announcements from the Tory opposition should add a touch of real fire to this debate and when the GMB motion (with UNISON amendment) is passed, the General Council must seriously invest in the necessary campaigning.
The President will then address congress, in the perfect after lunchtime snooze time slot.
This is followed by the “Public Services” (48-51) debate with the Equalities dimensions discussed afterward.
The afternoon finishes on the Health and Safety agenda,
Tuesday
Having debated Public services generically, Tuesday begins with attention drawn to individual services starting with Education in schools, followed by Higher Education and Further Education before moving on to Social Services and Child Protection and the Children’s Workforce and from children to prisons, all worthy, and worthy of congress time. No doubt there will be fiery speeches, but the speeches are to the converted.
In the middle of these debates Motion 8 crops up. The placement seems curious as this motion is on Trade Union membership and how it can be improved across the board. But we all support organising, so that’s all right then.
The morning finishes again on Health and Safety issues including the vexed and important one of the dangers of stiletto heels.
PM the agenda begins on the financial services industry (21-22). Hopefully the important “senior government figure” who is attending that afternoon will be in the hall at that point and can pick up some ideas that a Labour Government could actually implement.
Similarly the Housing (37) debate could also prove fruitful as a source of inspiration and could even prove a vote winner. The rest of Tuesday deals with digital and broadcasting policy, but no doubt all attention particularly from the media will be devoted to the reception given to our visitor and events in the hall will be anti climatic.
What message will the government bring? An optimist would hope a road to Damascus moment, based on UNISON’s earlier demand for “developing an economic and social programme that delivers for the working class”. Even a realist would hope that our senior figure would have read the agenda and have some points of agreement with us.
And what if the worst happens? What if the message is that Labour is keeping right on to the end of the road, with no retreat and no surrender? What is certain is that hall side tantrums and petty protests achieve little. The silence and very much muted applause that greeted Blair confounded not only the press and media but made the point that the trade union movement was not prepared to be associated with his policies.
Wednesday
It is difficult to be excited about the early Wednesday agenda. In the morning discussions will take place on transport and the environment (36-47), and the equality conferences agenda but will there is likely to be only one area where opinions will differ. Balpa (47) want an end to the increases in air passenger duty based on its impact on working families, and its effect on the air industry. However the impact of the aviation industry on climate change is well documented. Which of these irreconcilable objectives will congress choose?
Rights at work are the topic of the afternoon. Necessary debates on the Posted Workers Directive, temporary workers, agency staff and employment rights, the minimum are at the core of trade unionism.
Then Congress will discuss the POA motion. No doubt there will be those in the hall who welcome a call for organised street demos and strikes breaking the anti trade union laws.
But for the rest of us, whose members are worried about their wages and pensions and whether they will continue to have a job, or be made redundant and whether they can still afford their bills, such calls seem irrelevant, and have as much relationship to reality as an episode of the Simpsons.
For those concerned with the international solidarity agenda, late Wednesday afternoon will provide a decent debate. The FBU have placed a motion (76) on the agenda that reflects the Palestine policy adopted at UNISON conference earlier this year.
However the amendment from the GMB attempts to gut the motion on the basis of a more “even handed” approach. Is there an equivalence between an all out military assault using heavily armoured weapons and the use of home made fireworks?
When Histadrut support such attacks do they not deserve the condemnation of all trade unionists? Why should Britain continue to supply Israel with arms to enable them to continue with such attacks? Perhaps the GMB could tell us?
And given the success of consumer blockades against the apartheid regime in South Africa, should we not use them against another rogue state that ignores international law and UN resolutions? We await the GMB explanation.
Thursday
The best always comes to those who wait. The morning starts with motion 84 (CWU) on political representation of members. This motion condemns new labour on various grounds, so no change there then. However it goes on to call for a conference of unions to discuss “effective political representation.”
Throughout the affiliated union movement there are discussions taking place on the relationship between unions and the party and it is a matter for individual unions to decide. The unspoken assumption of the CWU motion is that the link with the Labour Party needs to be replaced, but with what? Can the TUC, which has no role in the Labour Party play such a role?
From breaking the link with the party Congress moves on to the People’s Charter. The RMT motion is amended by Unite and the amendment accepted. It calls on unions to build support for the principles of the Charter in communities and workplaces and as the basis for fighting for progressive policies within the labour party.
In its terms the motion identifies the broad aspirations of the labour movement, but seems likely to be opposed by the General Council, on the basis that it is uncosted and unrealistic. UNISON seems unlikely to support the General Council.
Then we discuss an NUT call for a further national demo and industrial action on the NUT political programme.
Just to round things off Congress will discuss workers in adult entertainment. Before anyone gets the wrong idea, the Equity motion deals an interpretation of the licensing sections of the Police and Crime Bill.
Then it’s off to the pub and another 51 weeks till it starts again. Oh bliss.