A Form Guide for TUC Congress

#tuc12 In a historic first the TUC this year gathers in Brighton and starts it deliberations on the Sabbath. The Presbyterian influence on our great movement must be waning and no one has mentioned the issue of double time for delegates. Plus ca change.......

Our Congress message to Beecroft & Burley - Bugger Off!

#tuc12 In the first debate of Congress, there was an early intervention by UNISON when NEC member Gordon McKay seconded Composite 3 on Employment Rights (which had been moved by Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey). Gordon said that UNISON would not stand aside as the jobs of public service workers who support the sick and vulnerable are privatised and their employment rights are attacked. He ended a powerful anti -Tory speech with a 'bugger off' message to venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft and right wing MP Aidan Burley who are fronting the Con Dem attack on trade union and workers rights.

The union case for an alternative must be relevant to the ordinary lives of workers - Barber

#tuc12 Congress is taking place at a critical time for trade unions and progressive campaigners but 'to win the argument for an alternative we need to relate our arguments to ordinary lives' says TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, in his preview of Congress - a more grounded approach than the turbo-charged media rhetoric of some other union leaders: 'Growing disillusionment with government policies gives us a new audience for our message. Congress gives us the ideal launchpad to make October 20's march for A Future That Works a huge challenge to the politics and economics of permanent austerity.' http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/123588

Congress Voices 2012 - It’s that time of year again!

#tuc12 The TUC is providing a useful one-stop shop for news and views on its 2012 Congress which starts in Brighton tomorrow – a must read website during the next week:
http://www.congressvoices.org/congress-bloggers/