CONGRESS 2017 GENERAL COUNCIL REPORT Copyright © 2017 TUC

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For more copies of this publication, please contact TUC Publications on 020 7467 1294 or email [email protected] Bulk discounts may be offered. Parts or all of this report may be made available for dyslexic or visually impaired readers, on request and at no extra cost, in an agreed electronic format or in accessible formats such as Braille, audio tape or large print. For more information, please contact TUC Publications as above. CONGRESS 2017 GENERAL COUNCIL REPORT The 149th Annual Trades Union Congress 10–13 September 2017, Brighton CONTENTS

SECTION 3 TUC General Council Members 2016–17 07 RESPECT AND A VOICE AT WORK General secretary’s introduction 08 3.1 Introduction 34 SECTION 1 3.2 Employment rights and THE ECONOMY the Trade Union Act 34 3.3 Equalities 35 1.1 Introduction 12 3.4 Tackling insecure work and 1.2 The economy and labour market 12 the Great Jobs Agenda 38 1.3 An unbalanced economy 12 3.5 Workers’ voice 40 1.4 Working time 16 3.6 Health and safety 40 1.5 Housing 17 3.7 Migration and domestic workers 43 1.6 Environment, energy and 3.8 Decent work and Playfair 43 industrial policy 18 3.9 Global supply chains 44 1.7 Corporate governance and workers’ capital 20 1.8 Corporate governance and SECTION 4 executive pay 21 GOOD SERVICES 1.9 Pensions 23 1.10 Tax 25 4.1 Introduction 46 1.11 Trade 25 4.2 Public sector pay 46 1.12 International development 26 4.3 The NHS and social care 48 1.13 Learning and skills 26 4.4 Education 49 1.14 Low pay, the national minimum wage 4.5 Further education and skills 50 and the living wage 28 4.6 Justice 50 4.7 Public Services Liaison Group 51 SECTION 2 4.8 Public Services Forum 51 BREXIT 4.9 Transport 51 4.10 Devolution 53 2.1 Post-referendum campaign 30 4.11 Social security and a decent safety net 54 2.2 ETUC 30 2.3 After Brexit 31 SECTION 5 2.4 Article 50 32 STRONG UNIONS 5.1 Introduction 56 5.2 Trade union membership 56 5.3 Supporting stronger unions 56 5.4 Young people 58 5.5 TUC Education 60 5.6 Unionlearn and the Union Learning Fund 66 5.7 Global union organisations 67 5.8 Global solidarity 67 5.9 English regions 71 5.10 Wales TUC 73 5.11 Trades councils/UWCs 74 SECTION 6 TUC ADMIN AND ORGANISATION 6.1 Developing the TUC 76 6.2 Our people, learning and development 76 6.3 Congress House improvements 76 6.4 Congress Centre – a valued venue 76 6.5 IT strategy and information services 76 6.6 Affiliations and mergers 77 6.7 Congress awards 77 6.8 Congress 77 6.9 General Council 78 6.10 Senior staff and internal structure 78 6.11 Women’s Conference 78 6.12 Black Workers Conference 79 6.13 Disabled Workers Conference 79 6.14 LGBT+ Conference 80 6.15 Young Workers Conference 80 6.16 Trades Councils Conference 80 6.17 TUC Trade Union Communications Awards 81 6.18 TUC finances 81 6.19 TUC library 82

OBITUARIES 84

APPENDICES

1 Attendance 88 2 Committee membership 90 3 Accounts 94 4 Disputes between unions 110 5 TUC rules and standing orders 112

Index 127 Index of resolutions 130 The TUC brings together 5.6 million working people who belong to our 49 member unions. We support trade unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living. Every day, we campaign for more and better jobs, and a more equal, more prosperous country.

Mary Bousted TUC Congress President 2017 TUC GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS 2016–17

Sheila Bearcroft MBE Maria Exall Christine Payne Jane Stewart GMB CWU Equity Unite

Mary Bousted Sue Ferns Dave Penman Claire Sullivan ATL Prospect FDA CSP

Tony Burke Larry Flanagan Dave Prentis Niamh Sweeney Unite EIS UNISON ATL

Jane Carolan Steve Gillan Roy Rickhuss Mohammad Taj OBE UNISON POA Community Unite

Gail Cartmail John Hannett Tim Roache Chris Tansley Unite Usdaw GMB UNISON

Mick Cash Philipa Harvey Linda Rolph Horace Trubridge RMT NUT Advance Musicians’ Union

Mike Clancy Sally Hunt Maggie Ryan Steve Turner Prospect UCU Unite Unite

Brian Cookson Chris Keates Brian Rye Dave Ward NASUWT NASUWT UCATT CWU

Manuel Cortes Annette Malcolm Sage Simon Weller TSSA Mansell-Green GMB ASLEF BDA Kevin Courtney Eddie Saville Fiona Wilson NUT Len McCluskey HCSA Usdaw Unite Nick Cusack Mark Serwotka Tony Woodhouse PFA Seán McGovern PCS Unite Unite Tony Dale Jon Skewes Matt Wrack Usdaw Roger McKenzie RCM FBU UNISON Craig Dawson Eleanor Smith Frances O’Grady GMB Gloria Mills CBE UNISON TUC General Secretary UNISON Neil Derrick Liz Snape MBE GMB Micky Nicholas UNISON FBU Mark Dickinson Michelle Stanistreet Nautilus International Ged Nichols NUJ Accord © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk INTRODUCTION FRANCES O’GRADY GENERAL SECRETARY

“The TUC and unions helped shaped the territory on which the general election was fought. Our movement-wide campaigns put public services, pay cuts and job quality centre-stage.”

his was the year the Labour’s bold programme, For Although the future is uncertain, Conservative government the many, not the few, struck the TUC will stay focused on T decided to do the double a popular chord. It included the priorities set out in our – pull the trigger on Brexit and promises to extend public proposed campaign plan: an then call a snap general election. ownership and deliver a fair economy that works for working But events didn’t turn out quite deal at work, echoing our own people; great jobs for everyone; as planned. long-standing policies. While and a stronger movement that on 8 June the Conservatives delivers for young people too. The prime minister had wanted remained the largest party, they This means keeping jobs and a the general election campaign were denied an overall majority, guaranteed level playing field for to be all about her ‘no deal is let alone the landslide pollsters workers’ rights at the forefront better than a bad deal’ version had predicted at the start of of Brexit negotiations. We must of Brexit. But voters, it seems, the campaign. A scramble to continue to make the case for had other ideas. They wanted secure a ‘confidence and supply’ real investment in public services to talk about funding for the deal with the DUP ensued, and building a consensus for NHS, schools and other public sealed with a £1bn price tag. an industrial strategy to boost services, pressure on pay Conservative hopes of strong productivity. That way we can packets and, with the worrying and stable government now look share the rewards more fairly spread of insecure contracts, somewhat optimistic. and deliver decent jobs in the urgent need for decent the parts of Britain that need jobs. Significantly, this election The TUC’s job is to represent them most. campaign also saw a new and advance the interests of generation of social-media-savvy working people regardless of We aim to build a broad alliance young voters mobilise and cast the party they voted for and who for decent work. We want to go their ballot for the first time. holds the keys to Number 10. further than the Taylor Report We are proud of our members and see greater employment The TUC and unions helped and the work they do – and protection for all, a ban on zero- shaped the territory on which never more so than when we hours contracts and a crackdown the general election was fought. were shaken by the terrorist on bogus self-employment. We Our movement-wide campaigns attacks in Manchester, at London will continue to challenge the put public services, pay cuts Bridge and in Finsbury Park, and discrimination and harassment and job quality centre-stage. the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower. faced by too many workers TUC polling immediately The lives lost and the terrible and fight for equality in after the general election also impact on those who survived the workplace. showed that calls to lift the must never be forgotten. Nor public sector pay cap and will we forget the incredible ban zero-hours contracts won bravery and dedication of strong support right across the firefighters and health and political spectrum. emergency workers, who risked their own lives to save others. Congress 2017 General Council Report 09

Catherine McKinnell MP at the heartunions week parliamentary reception, Portcullis House, Westminster © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk INTRODUCTION FRANCES O’GRADY GENERAL SECRETARY

Frances meets Austrian chancellor, Christian Kern © Bundeskanzleramt Fotoservice, Österreich If we are to deliver for all working people, we will also need to deal with our own challenges. According to the latest official figures, trade union membership has fallen. The bulk of membership losses can be explained by public sector job cuts, but we know that even where unions have recognition agreements, in both the public and private sector, membership density is far too low. And we must tackle a growing generation gap: just 16 per cent of young workers aged 21–30 are members of a trade union – and two in five union members are aged over 50.

If our traditional models of union organisation are not reaching those who would benefit most, “This means We will help unions and their including those young people members meet the challenges on the frontline of insecurity, keeping jobs and posed by automation and the then let’s have the courage to a guaranteed new digital economy. And, now build new ones. After all, the more than ever, we need to be best retort to the government’s level playing on the front foot in calling for draconian Trade Union Act field for workers’ a £10 national minimum wage would be for the movement to and an end to the public sector grow bigger and stronger. And rights at the pay cap which, our analysis has if the economy is increasingly forefront of Brexit shown, would leave midwives digital, then we must be too. and teachers more than £3,000 negotiations.” worse off by 2020. Across the Next year the TUC will be board, Britain still needs that marking its 150th anniversary. pay rise. We are ambitious for What better time to celebrate working people and believe our proud history, start building that everyone should have the our future and change the world right to a great job. That means of work for good. fair pay and pensions, for sure: but it also means a safe and healthy working environment with access to learning and skills and genuine opportunities to develop and progress. Our new Great Jobs campaign will take that message into both Westminster and the workplace. Job insecurity: one of four key weaknesses in the UK economy identified by the TUC © Echo/Getty Images SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY

1.1 Introduction

he TUC wants to see decent jobs, pay and T living standards right across the country. Unfortunately, The amount of unsecured consumer debt at the end of 2016 this year showed the economy is still letting working people down. The economy survived 1.2 The economy While the UK economy survived the shock of the initial decision and labour market the initial shock of the Brexit to leave the EU, warding off vote, these weaknesses have the immediate downturn that Throughout the year the TUC become more apparent many had feared. But the fall has made the case for economic throughout the year, leaving the in the value of the pound has policy to support decent jobs economy ill prepared to weather seen prices rise, and the return and pay, producing regular any further instability caused by of the pay squeeze that has hit analyses in order to highlight the Brexit negotiations. workers hard. With job insecurity the extent to which government still high, and no sign that stark policy is falling short. regional inequalities in pay and 1.3 An unbalanced prospects are being reduced, it’s In our submissions to the economy clear that we have a long way to Autumn Statement and Budget, go before we see an economy and in our discussion around Spending cuts were originally that works for everyone. industrial strategy, we have expected to last until 2014–15, highlighted four key weaknesses but the government now intends The TUC’s work this year has with the UK economy: that they will continue until at focused on making the case for least 2021–22. the policies that could deliver ȓȓ an economy that is better prospects for working dominated by household As a result, economic activity people. We’ve made a case consumption, and lacks both overall remains weak and for a Brexit deal that protects government and private unbalanced. GDP grew by rights and jobs, investment in sector investment that could only 1.8 per cent in 2016, the the economy and an industrial drive growth and productivity; weakest for four years. Since strategy to deliver decent the financial crisis GDP growth work, particularly in the areas ȓȓ exceptionally weak pay has averaged 2 per cent a year, that have lost out most from growth, with pay not set to much lower than the long-term deindustrialisation and poorly return to its pre-crisis levels average before the crisis of 2.8 managed globalisation. And until well after the end of per cent (see Figure 1). we’ve worked hard to make sure this parliament; that the voice of working people The lack of government (and is heard in debates about how ȓȓ sharp regional disparities business) investment in the to deliver a more productive that see certain parts of the economy means that growth economy with decent jobs at country bearing the brunt has become increasingly reliant its heart. of these economic changes; on consumer spending. Figure two-thirds of jobs created 2 shows that in 2016 consumer in the north-east since 2011 demand accounted for virtually have been insecure; and all (95 per cent) of GDP growth. Even ahead of the financial ȓȓ a rise in insecurity at work. crisis, the reliance on consumer demand was not so extreme; in fact it has been more extreme Congress 2017 General Council Report 13

Figure 1: GDP growth (per cent)

8

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1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Figure 2: GDP expenditure measure, contributions to growth (percentage points)

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-2 Household Business investment Other Government Net trade Other investment -4

-6

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Source: ONS and TUC calculations SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY

“The OECD currently predicts that real earnings in the UK will fall by 1.4 per cent in 2018. This decline means that the UK real wage performance in 2018 will be equal worst with Finland.”

on only five occasions since the public sector finances is to take around £5,000 a year worse off war (2002, 1992, 1986, 1962 measures that will strengthen, than they would have been had and 1958). not weaken, the economy. pre-crisis trends continued.

The current reliance on The OECD currently predicts consumer spending is leading The longest pay squeeze that real earnings in the UK will to worrying levels of unsecured in living memory fall by 1.4 per cent in 2018. This household debt. Data from decline means that the UK real the Bank of England show TUC analysis has repeatedly wage performance in 2018 will total consumer credit (that is, shown the decline in real be equal worst with Finland in excluding both mortgages and earnings has no precedent for the OECD (the UK is marginally student loans) has been growing at least 150 years. While the worse on an unrounded basis). by an annual rate of over 10 per run up to the 2015 election Mexico and Italy are the only cent for at least a year and a saw a brief period of earnings other counties expected to half. TUC analysis of ONS figures growth, working people are now experience declines. Across all has found that total unsecured facing a pay squeeze again. OECD countries, the average debt (i.e. not mortgages) was The most tangible impact of the real wage increase is expected £360bn at the end of 2016, well vote to leave the EU has been to be +1.1 per cent. above its peak of £290bn before the reduction in the sterling the 2008 crisis. exchange rate and the knock-on Those working in the public effect to the price of imported sector are being hit even harder. Even on its own terms goods. CPIH inflation has risen Over the last three years, pay government policy has not from a low of 0.3 per cent in growth in the public sector has succeeded. The overriding 2015 Q2 to 2.2 per cent in 2017 fallen short of that in the private objective has been to reduce the Q1 with the latest figures (for sector as a result of an initial public debt as a share of GDP. June) showing CPIH inflation at pay freeze and subsequent pay But the impact of spending cuts 2.6 per cent. Real earnings were cap. The latest figures show has been to reduce economic back in negative territory in 2017 annual pay growth of only 1.4 growth, meaning lower than Q1 and the latest figures (for the per cent. On the basis of current expected tax revenues. While three months to May 2017) show projections, real pay in the the coalition government set real pay falling by 0.5 per cent. whole economy will return to its out to see public debt peak pre-crisis level in 2021, but at in 2013–14 at 70.3 per cent of In cash terms real wages are that point those working in the GDP, the current government still around £20 a week below public sector will be facing real expects to see debt peak at their pre-crisis peak in 2007, earnings of around £50 a week 88.5 per cent of GDP this year, when normally wages would below the peak. falling to just below 80 per be expected to rise each year. cent in 2020–21. As the TUC The Institute for Fiscal Studies has consistently argued, the estimated that (on an annual right method to improve the basis) households in 2020 will be Congress 2017 General Council Report 15

Figure 3: Real earnings, annual growth (per cent)

5 CPIH Nominal earnings Real earnings (CIPH) 4

3

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-3

2006 Q1 2006 Q3 2007 Q1 2007 Q3 2008 Q1 2008 Q3 2009 Q1 2009 Q3 2010 Q1 2010 Q3 2011 Q1 2011 Q3 2012 Q1 2012 Q3 2013 Q1 2013 Q3 2014 Q1 2014 Q3 2015 Q1 2015 Q3 2016 Q1 2016 Q3 2017 Q1

Source: ONS

Figure 4: Real wage growth forecast, 2018 (per cent)

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Italy Spain Japan Korea Israel Latvia Finland MexicoGreece France Austria Ireland IcelandCanada Estonia Poland Norway Portugal SloveniaBelgium AverageSweden Hungary Australia Euro area Denmark Germany Switzerland Netherlands LuxembourgUnited States Czech Republic United Kingdom Slovak Republic

Source: OECD SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY

The number of people who face insecurity in work in the UK

Regional inequalities The rise of insecure work Further analysis carried out by the TUC during 2017 on who is While workers across the Despite a welcome increase in undertaking these types of jobs economy are experiencing a employment, since the financial suggests that the increase in fall in their living standards, crisis employment growth has insecure work is compounding continuing regional imbalances been characterised by a rise existing labour market mean that your pay and in less secure forms of work. disadvantage, with women, prospects are still determined to While more recent growth minority ethnic groups and those a large extent by where you live. in employment has seen the in poorer regions of the UK more number of full-time employee likely to be working in this way. Over the first half of the 2000s jobs increase, overall they the share of the economy have contributed to only 40 accounted for by London and per cent of the net increase in 1.4 Working time the south-east fell modestly. employment since 2008. The But from a low point of 34 per share of full-time employees as a The General Council has cent in 2006, it has risen yearly proportion of all in employment campaigned for working people to 37.8 per cent in 2015. A still remains below pre-recession to have decent hours and simple projection issued ahead levels: achieving the equivalent patterns of work. Far too many of the general election showed share today would still require employers still take little account London and the south-east more than half a million more of what their employees actually accounting for 40 per cent of the full-time employee jobs. want. One key goal has been UK economy in 2022. London’s to reduce underemployment; rate of employment growth has In December 2016 we published some three million employees also been more than twice as the report Living on the edge, currently want to work more high has the rest of the country highlighting the growth in hours. The numbers are since 2012. insecure work. Our analysis beginning to fall, but not showed that there are 3.2 million fast enough. But even within the faster people who face insecurity in growing areas of the country, work in the UK, either because A second strand has been the benefits of growth remain they are working on a contract to promote flexible working. unevenly distributed. Within that does not guarantee decent There is a huge unmet demand London, for example, Enfield employment rights (including for access to flexitime and Southgate was the fourth zero-hours contracts and agency homeworking. The TUC has worst constituency in the and casual work) or because campaigned on these issues, country for low pay, and in the they are in low paid self- including Commute Smart Day constituencies of Chingford & employment (earning less than in November and National Woodford Green and Harrow the government’s national living Work from Home Day in May, West almost half the population wage). In total this is one in ten and is currently undertaking earns below the living wage. of those in work. research with young parents about their access to flexible working and other family friendly working practices. Congress 2017 General Council Report 17

Figure 5: Net employment growth since 2008 (millions)

2.5 Employees working full-time Employees working part-time 2.0 Self-employed people working full-time Self-employed people working part-time Total 1.5

1.0

0.5

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-1.5

Jul-Sep 2008 Jul-Sep 2009 Jul-Sep 2010 Jul-Sep 2011 Jul-Sep 2012 Jul-Sep 2013 Jul-Sep 2014 Jul-Sep 2015 Jul-Sep 2016 Jan-MarApr-Jun 2008 2008Oct-DecJan-Mar 2008Apr-Jun 2009 2009Oct-DecJan-Mar 2009Apr-Jun 2010 2010Oct-DecJan-Mar 2010Apr-Jun 2011 2011Oct-DecJan-Mar 2011Apr-Jun 2012 2012Oct-DecJan-Mar 2012Apr-Jun 2013 2013Oct-DecJan-Mar 2013Apr-Jun 2014 2014Oct-DecJan-Mar 2014Apr-Jun 2015 2015Oct-DecJan-Mar 2015Apr-Jun 2016 2016Oct-DecJan-Mar 2016 2017

Source: ONS

The TUC has also campaigned Our work included lobbying at 1.5 Housing against dangerous and excessive the European level, bolstering working time. The number of support for existing UK The TUC’s work on housing has people working more than 48 legislation and arguing for been guided by Composite hours a week has increased better enforcement. In addition, Resolution 12 and Resolution 63 by 300,000 (10 per cent) since the thirteenth annual TUC from the 2016 Congress. 2010. In the last year, the Work Your Proper Hours Day in cooling economy has led to February called for an end to The TUC has continued to press a fall of 70,000 in the number excessive unpaid overtime, as on a range of housing issues, of employees breaching this employees do £33.6bn of free including building more homes key health benchmark, but 3.3 work annually. in both the private and social million still exceed it. sectors, the conditions for using public sector land, price stability SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY

“The number increased by 21,000 last year, to science and innovation, along but the number of social homes with the importance attached of houses built constructed increased by only to vocational education and increased by 21,000 480, and local authorities built skills. However, we argued a total of just 1,730 homes. The that the green paper should last year, but the UK is still mired in a housing include an ‘eleventh pillar’ that number of social crisis and only a strong role for recognised the importance the public sector can address of worker voice in driving up homes constructed the problem. productivity, and ensuring that increased by all jobs deliver decent pay and working conditions. only 480.” 1.6 Environment, energy and industrial policy Building on this theme, we called for trade union and affordable mortgages TUC work on environment, engagement to protect the for buyers, rights for tenants energy and industrial policy quality of apprenticeships, an and the regulation of private during this Congress year has established trade union role in sector landlords. been guided by Composite the proposed new sector deals, Resolution 3 (Supporting a and a focus on fair procurement. The TUC’s 2016 Budget modern industrial strategy), We argued that to protect and submission argued that housing Composite Resolution 4 (Steel), enhance our manufacturing should be a priority area for Motion 10 (The impact of sectors, it is essential for the UK more government funding, and automation on employment), to continue to enjoy the benefits noted that rising housing costs Motion 39 (Music co-operatives), of membership of the single were seriously increasing the Motion 60 (Maritime jobs, European market after Brexit. cost of living. The TUC therefore skills and the future), Motion And we pointed out that in order welcomed the November 2016 64 (Channel 4), Motion 65 to deliver better jobs across the announcement of a £23bn (Transparency and accountability country, we need a focus on National Productivity Investment of broadcasters on diversity), improving productivity in the Fund, which promises more Motion 66 (Performers and current low paid service sectors, investment in housing in mental health) and Motion 67 as well as expanding the number the future. (Free TV licences for over-75s), of high productivity jobs. all of which were passed at Also welcome is the promise Congress 2016. In April, the general secretary to stop letting agents charging and a group of senior union tenants excessive fees. However, officers met the Secretary most government housing policy Industrial strategy of State for BEIS to discuss continues to be underwhelming industrial strategy. or negative, with a further In April 2017, the TUC made a extension to the right to buy substantive submission to the We used a submission to the scheme planned. government’s Green Paper on Labour Party’s consultation Industrial Strategy. This green on industrial strategy and the Housebuilding increased in paper consisted of ten pillars, Department for Business, Energy the year to April 2017, but covering issues that included and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) the number of ‘starts’ has investing in science, research select committee’s inquiry on still not recovered to pre- and innovation; developing the same subject to reinforce recession levels. Furthermore, skills; upgrading infrastructure; these points. the government is still failing and delivering affordable those who need social housing. energy and clean growth. We The number of houses built welcomed the emphasis given Congress 2017 General Council Report 19

The much delayed project to construct a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point finally gets approval © Matt Cardy/Stringer/Getty Images

The TUC has supported the steel unions as they sought to protect their industry in the last Congress year, attending the Labour front bench’s steel roundtables and the launch of Steel 2020, the report of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Steel and Metal Related Industries, as well as stressing the importance of steel in our industrial strategy submissions. We were represented on the panel at a House of Commons meeting of the Industrial Communities Alliance, alongside Nick Hurd, the industry and climate change minister, and Stephen Kinnock MP.

The TUC has supported the development of the Hinkley nuclear power station and unions have secured a framework agreement with EDF and are working to develop learning opportunities across the Angela Francis of the Green Times, Benny Vinther of the area. The landmark agreement Alliance. In January 2017, the Danish trade union federation covers all aspects of work and TUC made a submission to the 3F, Konstanz Scharring of the union engagement and reflects government’s consultation on its Society of Motor Manufacturers a commitment to leave a lasting Emissions Reduction Plan, citing and Traders, and Kate Bell of legacy after the power station issues including the importance the TUC. is built. of carbon capture and storage technology, the need for a The TUC office has participated just transition to a sustainable in events organised by the Sustainability economy, the importance of Aldersgate Group, to which green skills and the evidence, Lord Heseltine, the former The Trade Union Sustainable from Germany and Denmark, of deputy prime minister, and Lord Development Advisory the role that social partnership Deben, chair of the Committee Committee (TUSDAC) has mechanisms can play in helping on Climate Change, have made continued to develop trade to deliver a ‘green’ future. presentations. We were also union arguments around energy represented at the Investing and climate change, and to link November 2016 saw the in Sustainable Development this to industrial policy. Guest launch of the TUC policy paper conference organised by Italian speakers at TUSDAC meetings Powering Ahead: how the trade unions in advance of a this year have included the UK can learn from Europe’s meeting of G7 environment (then) Labour shadow business environmental leaders, at which ministers in Bologna, Italy. secretary Clive Lewis, Michael Nick Hurd MP gave the keynote We continue to serve on the Jacobs of the Institute for Public speech. Other speakers included Energy Intensive Users Group Policy Research (IPPR) and Peggy Hollinger of the Financial within BEIS. SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY

Science and technology Entertainment industries 1.7 Corporate governance and The TUC has launched a new The TUC has continued to workers’ capital workstream on digitalisation support the work of unions in during this Congress year. TUC the entertainment and creative Trade Union Share Owners policy staff have contributed sectors. A TUC representative (TUSO), an initiative bringing to a conference organised has attended quarterly together union funds for by the Trade Union Advisory Federation of Entertainment voting and engagement in line Committee to the OECD (TUAC) Unions meetings to give a with trade union values, has called Digitalisation and the TUC update to attendees, continued to call on investors World of Work, as well as to the covering issues such as TUC to tackle poor corporate OECD Forum 2017, at which arguments against privatisation employment practices. digitalisation was a key topic. and for proper investment A research paper based on this and employee diversity in the policy theme will be published creative sector. TUC General Sports Direct during the next Congress year. Secretary Frances O’Grady met The TUC office participated with the Creative Industries As noted in last year’s Congress in a conference, entitled Federation in May 2017 to Report, in 2016 TUSO and Unite Digitalising Manufacturing discuss issues of mutual interest. filed a shareholder resolution 2016: Policy, End Users and In March 2017 she wrote to calling on the board of Sports Society, at the Manufacturing the European Commission to Direct to commission an Technology Centre in Coventry formally raise the TUC’s concern independent review of human in November 2016. at the proposed merger of 20th capital management at the Century Fox and Sky, citing company. The resolution was The TUC has continued to a threat to media plurality in filed with the support of the argue the case for UK science the UK. staff pension funds of the TUC, and, in particular, for the UK to UNISON and the Borough of continue to enjoy the benefits of Islington and Prospect’s general Horizon 2020, the EU’s largest Transport fund. TUSO engaged extensively ever research and innovation with investors in the run up to programme, after Brexit. In Transport and transport the Sports Direct AGM on 7 March 2017, Tim Page from the infrastructure are vital September 2016, putting the TUC office spoke at the launch components of a functioning case for the resolution. of a report by Prospect entitled economy. TUC work on transport The Implications of Brexit for is governed by resolutions The AGM was attended by Science: experiences from addressing safety and public TUSO representatives. Janet the frontline, alongside Hilary ownership, which we believe are Williamson, chair of TUSO, Benn MP, Mary Creagh MP and important to a strong economy spoke in support of the Iain Wright MP, respectively that provides great jobs for resolution. A total of 53 per cent the chairs of the House of everyone. Further details on of independent shareholders Commons Brexit Committee, TUC work on aviation and rail voted in favour of the TUSO Environmental Audit Committee and bus transport are covered resolution (stripping out the and BEIS Select Committee. in the Good Services section of votes held by the company’s this report. founder and chief executive Mike Ashley, who held around 55 per cent of the company’s shares). This is the highest vote Congress 2017 General Council Report 21

Unite and Community members recruiting Sports Direct workers in Derbyshire © John Harris/reportdigital.co.uk

status among environmental, social and governance key performance indicators as an official document of the global labour movement.

1.8 Corporate governance and executive pay

Executive pay

In September, the TUC published research showing that it took Britain’s highest paid chief executive less than 45 minutes to earn what an average UK worker earns in a year. The TUC on record for an employment- respectively. TUSO was pleased analysis showed that median related resolution in the UK. to welcome the GMB into its total pay (excluding pensions) of An additional 10 per cent of membership in April 2017. top FTSE 100 directors increased independent shareholders by 47 per cent between 2010 abstained, making a total of 63 In July 2017, TUSO held a and 2015 to £3.4m, while per cent who failed to support seminar for investors on the average wages for workers rose management on the resolution. hotel sector. This highlighted just 7 per cent over the same TUSO’s role in the AGM was issues including non-payment of period and are still lower in real widely covered in the media. the statutory national minimum terms than before the financial wage, excessive working hours, crisis. In 2010, the average FTSE Talks between Unite and Sports health and safety concerns, 100 boss earned 89 times the Direct management have taken bullying and harassment and average full-time salary, but this place since the AGM and there breaches of international had risen to 123 times by 2015. have been some improvements standards on freedom We made the case for measures in the company’s employment of association. to tackle excessive executive pay practices, though this remains in our submissions to the BEIS work in progress. The Committee on Workers’ select committee inquiry into Capital (CWC) Taskforce on corporate governance, and the Sustainability Ratings, of which government’s green paper on Other campaigns the TUC is a member, published the same subject. Guidelines for the Evaluation During the year, TUSO met of Workers’ Human Rights and with representatives from the Labour Standards in May. The GMB and the NUJ to discuss CWC guidelines, which set shareholder strategies to out key indicators to measure support the GMB’s campaign corporate performance on at ASOS and NUJ’s campaign labour standards, were endorsed on regional newspapers at a meeting of the Council of Global Unions in February 2017, giving them unique SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY

“The committee report, published in to its original commitment to introduce workers on company March 2017, called for workers on boards board and published research to become the “new normal” and quoted showing that six in ten people support worker representation extensively from the TUC’s evidence.” on company boards, with only one in ten opposing it.

Workers on boards worker directors per board. It In December, following calls for worker directors boards discussions at the November During her Conservative to operate alongside collective Executive Committee, the TUC Party leadership campaign, bargaining with trade unions, hosted a roundtable for unions Theresa May pledged to with direct representation to discuss the government’s introduce worker and consumer and negotiation over workers’ green paper and our response. representatives on company interests remaining the role In February, before the boards. She repeated this of unions. consultation closed, the TUC commitment several times as and the secretary of state prime minister. In September, the BEIS for BEIS, Greg Clark, jointly select committee launched hosted a roundtable, bringing In October, the TUC published an inquiry into corporate together representatives from All Aboard: making worker governance, covering directors’ unions, business, investors and representation on company duties, executive pay and the thinktanks to discuss the case for boards a reality, which sets out composition of boards. The workers on boards. The February the case for elected workers TUC gave evidence at the Executive Committee agreed on company boards and our opening oral evidence session the TUC’s response to the proposals for implementing in November, and in December green paper, which urged the this. The report argues it is a the general secretary gave oral government to stick to the prime matter of natural justice that evidence on workers on boards. minister’s original commitment workers should be included in We also submitted written to introduce workers on boards, discussions that affect their jobs evidence to the inquiry. The setting out the case for worker and livelihoods. It also argues committee report, published in directors. The response also that the inclusion of workers March 2017, called for workers argued for reform of executive on boards would improve the on boards to become the “new pay and directors’ duties quality of decision making, normal” and quoted extensively and for the establishment bringing a worker’s perspective from the TUC’s evidence. of a standing Corporate to bear on boardroom Governance Commission discussions, challenging In November, the government and the development of a groupthink and encouraging published a green paper on framework through which boards to take a long-term corporate governance reform, companies could be held to approach to company success. covering executive pay, account for non-compliance with strengthening stakeholder voice directors’ duties. It presents evidence from and private companies. Instead Europe and discusses UK of introducing mandatory The general secretary, along precedents for worker board worker directors it proposed the with senior representatives representation. The report establishment of stakeholder of the Institute of Directors, argues for a legal requirement advisory committees and/ the International Corporate that worker directors should or designating non-executive Governance Network and the comprise one-third of the board directors to speak on behalf Institute of Chartered Secretaries of companies with more than of workers. The TUC called and Administrators, sent a letter 250 staff, with a minimum of two on the government to stick in January to the prime minister Congress 2017 General Council Report 23

Workers at the Mini plant in Cowley protest against the closure of the final salary pension scheme © John Harris/reportdigital.co.uk calling for the government to create a mechanism that would allow company stakeholders to find remedy in the event of a company not complying with directors’ duties.

The general secretary is a commissioner on the IPPR’s Commission on Economic Justice, launched in November, and is co-chair of its corporate governance working group. The commission published a working paper on corporate governance in July.

1.9 Pensions

The TUC has continued to make the case for decent workplace and state pensions to allow all workers a good standard of living in their old age. Ours is a vital voice in the face of a divisive narrative of intergenerational conflict being pursued by some; with a numbers of people leaving the we have argued strongly for government intent on cutting workforce well ahead of current retention of the triple lock for public spending and employers state pension age. uprating of the state pension too often willing to do only the that ensures it rises by at least bare minimum to allow workers This was followed up by a 2.5 per cent a year. The job of to provide for their retirement. submission to the formal review bringing the state pension up process in December 2016 to a reasonable standard has arguing that increasing state not been achieved: it is still one State pension pension age could force many of the lowest in the developed older people onto working world. Meanwhile millions of The TUC has been at the age benefits. The TUC has also pensioners remain in poverty. forefront of the opposition to called for assistance for those But the biggest beneficiaries increases in state pension age women born in the 1950s who of the continuation of the and for retention of the triple are experiencing hardship triple lock would be today’s lock that has been gradually due to acceleration of state young workers, thanks to the raising the state pension. pension equalisation. compound effect of increases. An initial submission to the government-initiated review of We have continued to oppose state pension age in summer attempts to divide workers 2016 highlighted the large through claims of generational unfairness and conflict. In line with Composite Resolution 1, SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY

Workplace pensions

Ensuring that current workers build up decent workplace The number of people who receive benefits from a private pension entitlements, a form sector, defined benefit (DB) pension scheme of deferred wages, continues to be a focus of TUC work. We have led efforts to urge the Pensions’ (DWP) conclusion that government decision not to government to improve on there is no general problem with allow NEST to offer retirement the initial success of automatic companies being able to afford income products. enrolment into workplace DB provision. There is therefore pensions by increasing coverage no case for removing member The security of retirement and contribution levels. The consent for changes to accrued savings is a crucial issue. government was committed by benefits. In line with Resolution Any scandal could deter the statute to a limited review of the 13, we have argued that millions of new savers who have policy in 2017. We successfully provision of decent workplace joined pension schemes via pressed for a broad review that pensions, whether DB and DC, automatic enrolment. We were looked at issues including, in requires the continuation of supportive of the aims of the line with Resolution 18, the upfront pensions tax relief. Pension Schemes Act, which will situation of millions of low-paid introduce minimum standards and part-time workers, most of Also, in line with Resolution for master trusts, a form of them women, missing out on 13, we have pressed the pension scheme particularly pension contributions because government on the problems popular with employers meeting their wages fall short of the caused by its ‘freedom and their automatic enrolment earnings trigger. choice’ agenda in workplace duties. However, we pressed pensions. In October we MPs and peers for greater clarity Meanwhile, we have sought to made a submission to the in legislation on issues such defend good-quality defined DWP consultation on whether as establishing a provider of benefit (DB) pensions from the state-backed National last resort so that if a scheme attack. The TUC gave oral and Employment Savings Trust collapses members can be written evidence to the Work (NEST) should be allowed to assured that their savings will go and Pensions Select Committee provide retirement income to another operator. inquiry into DB pensions. While to members. There is strong the provision of DB pensions evidence that savers are has declined since the 1980s, struggling with the decision- Public sector pensions more than 11 million people making process at retirement. are receiving, or will in time There is also early but growing We remain active on public receive, benefits from a private signs of a market failure in the sector pensions. We have sector DB pension scheme. It absence of modern retirement pressed HM Treasury to is therefore vital to stop further income products that meet ensure there is a clear role falls in DB provision in the people’s desires in retirement, for trade unions in the latest UK. Meanwhile, ensuring that including for an income for round of scheme valuations. those schemes open to new life. We need well-researched, We also lobbied government members remain so should be properly governed retirement and regulators to ensure that a policy priority. In a submission income default pathways. This a Scheme Advisory Board to the consultation on the will almost certainly require is established for the Civil green paper “Defined benefit government action to overcome Service Scheme. pension schemes: security and the reticence among pension sustainability” we supported providers to be the first movers. the Department for Work and We were very critical of the Congress 2017 General Council Report 25

1.10 Tax “The TUC campaigned for CETA

The TUC has continued not to be used as a template for any to press the case for a tax post-Brexit UK-EU agreement.” system that supports fair and sustainable growth. We have commissioned research into parliament in February, the Japan how tax reliefs could be better general secretary wrote to MEPs used in order to support the urging them to vote against The TUC and the Japanese aims of an industrial strategy, the deal, as did the ETUC. trade union confederation and to focus on delivering more Even though the deal went Rengo agreed to campaign for and better jobs. We have also through, strong opposition was trade deals between the UK continued to question the need registered. The deal still requires and Japan to contain binding for corporation tax cuts at a ratification in the UK parliament protections for workers’ rights, time when public services are to fully come into force so the full exemptions for public significantly under pressure. TUC continues to campaign for services and no special courts for MPs to oppose the deal. foreign investors. We continue to work with Rengo and the 1.11 Trade The TUC campaigned for CETA ETUC to highlight the need not to be used as a template for the EU-Japan trade deal In line with a resolution from for any post-Brexit UK-EU currently being negotiated to the 2016 Congress, the TUC agreement, advocating instead also contain such provisions. engaged with the Department for any future UK-EU deal – of International Trade to call and UK trade deals with other for post-Brexit future trade countries ¬– to protect workers’ Africa remedies to be developed by rights and public services, with the UK government that ensure no special rights given to foreign The TUC’s International protection for the steel sector investors through investor-state Development Group (IDG) from trade dumping, as well as dispute settlement (ISDS). met with officials from the protections for other sensitive Department for International sectors such as ceramics, glass The TUC promoted these Trade and the Department for and cement. Responding to proposals in oral evidence to the International Development to campaigning by the TUC and Commons International Trade highlight concerns about the the ETUC, in December the Select Committee, at the OECD lack of protections for workers European Commission agreed conference on international in EU Economic Partnership not to grant China market investment in March, in meetings Agreements currently being economy status and to retain with government officials, on negotiated between the EU and protections from dumped goods social media and in collaboration a number of African regional from China. with the UK Trade Policy blocs, in line with the position of Observatory. We also submitted ITUC Africa. The TUC has called evidence to the House of Lords for future UK trade agreements North America international trade committee with such countries to provide stating that future trade deals binding protections for workers The TUC joined unions across with the USA must not replicate and support sustainable Europe in a demonstration the Transatlantic Trade and development goals, particularly against the EU-Canada Investment Partnership (TTIP), the goal on decent work. Comprehensive Economic which the TUC opposed due to and Trade Agreement (CETA) the threats it posed to workers, in Brussels in October. When public services and democracy. CETA came before the European SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY

1.12 International The TUC continued to produce by the Independent Panel on development a monthly online bulletin, Technical Education chaired by International Development Lord Sainsbury. The TUC’s work on international Matters, reaching over development continued to be 5,000 readers. There were significant changes overseen by the IDG, chaired by to national skills bodies in the General Council spokesperson past 12 months, including the Gail Cartmail. The group met in 1.13 Learning and skills closure of the UK Commission November (including a special for Employment and Skills and IDG union-only meeting on the Over the past year the General preparations for the launch of Ethical Trading Initiative), March Council has continued to the Institute for Apprenticeships and July, bringing together highlight the need to boost in April 2017. The TUC union international officers and investment in learning and skills welcomed the establishment of friendly NGOs. It discussed to support economic growth and the Institute and the subsequent matters such as trade, business to help more workers achieve decision to extend its remit and human rights including their full potential at work and in to cover technical education, in the electronics industry, their personal lives. As a result of but expressed concerns that updates on the 2030 sustainable Brexit the UK faces a challenging appointments to the Institute’s development goals (SDG), future outside of the EU and board did not include anyone modern slavery, public sector improving the nation’s skills with a union background. privatisation and the Playfair is vital. The TUC has also expressed campaign, some of which are concerns that there is no longer covered elsewhere in this report. However, a range of findings any union representation on point to an inadequate response the Construction Industry This was the first year all by employers, with their Training Board. governments were expected investment in training falling to report on national progress by around a half since the General Council members and towards meeting the 2030 mid-1990s, and one in three TUC staff are represented on SDGs, which include targets admitting to training none of a number of skills bodies, in and indicators on decent their staff. The number of adults particular those with a remit for work, gender equality, social attending further education major infrastructure projects. protection and the reduction (FE) colleges also continues Gail Cartmail, assistant general of inequalities between and to decline, with the latest secretary of Unite, is a member within countries. In response, annualised data showing 11 of the Heathrow Skills Taskforce the ITUC is collating country- per cent fewer adult learners and Kevin Rowan, head of by-country evidence of compared to the previous year. Organisation and Services progress on the issues most at the TUC, is a member crucial to unions. Given the UK Preparations for implementation of the Strategic Transport government’s failure to develop of the Apprenticeship Levy in Apprenticeship Taskforce. its own national action plan April 2017, and the ramifications (NAP) and that it offers little of this measure for employers for unions to engage with, the and the workforce, has Apprenticeships and TUC is exploring how to hold it continued to dominate the skills young people accountable through a shadow policy agenda. Last year the NAP and has contributed to the government also announced The General Council has Office for National Statistics’ plans for a major reform of given its support to some key consultation on which statistics technical education on the basis reforms of apprenticeships, are necessary for it to collect of the recommendations made in particular the measures to for reporting. drive up employer investment through the levy and new Congress 2017 General Council Report 27

Union support for high-quality apprenticeships was the major theme of this year’s unionlearn annual conference, held at Congress House in July © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk procurement regulations. Unionlearn has provided a range of briefings and resources for unions to help them take advantage of these reforms by negotiating with employers to maximise the number of high-quality apprenticeships.

However, the General Council has also identified shortcomings in the government’s policy approach. These include the lack of union voice in new institutional arrangements, slow progress in tackling poor-quality apprenticeships and widening access to under-represented groups, and the potential for the interaction of the levy and with the recommendations In light of the Apprenticeship the public sector apprenticeship of the Sainsbury Panel. In the Levy, earlier this year the target to lead to undesired 2017 Budget the government government consulted on the outcomes unless safeguards are announced it would increase future role of the Construction put in place. funding by £500m a year Industry Training Board and once all the new technical Engineering Construction A number of TUC submissions qualifications were available. Industry Training Board. The and evidence on apprenticeship TUC response recommended policy were produced that the scale of the challenges throughout the year, including Workforce skills facing these sectors meant that responses to the government’s a separate levy and grant system consultation on the strategic The General Council has should be retained. remit of the Institute of consistently called on the Apprenticeships and an inquiry government to balance the The government is currently on apprenticeships undertaken increased investment in taking forward changes to by the Parliamentary Sub- apprenticeships with more English and maths functional committee on Education, Skills funding for FE and adult skills. skills qualifications, and and the Economy (the TUC also The TUC Budget submission unionlearn continues to make gave oral evidence to this pointed out that the government the case for ensuring that sub-committee). would be making major savings these qualifications are highly as a result of introducing the levy, accessible to working people. We submitted evidence to which replaces state funding for Unionlearn also welcomed the the Public Bill Committee apprenticeships with revenue announcement by government considering the Technical and from levy-paying employers. The last year that it would be making Further Education Bill that submission made a strong case training in basic digital skills highlighted support for the for using these savings to boost free for adults lacking relevant broad thrust of the proposed the opportunities for adults qualifications. Other aspects reform of technical education. to retrain or upskill, especially of the work of the TUC and However, it also stressed people on a low incomes who unionlearn on education and the need for government to are averse to taking out an FE skills can be found in Sections increase funding levels in line student tuition loan. Three and Four. SECTION 1 THE ECONOMY

Table 1: National minimum wage rates, 2016–17

Age bands April 2016 October 2016 April 2017

25 and above £7.20 £7.20 £7.50

21–24 £6.70 £6.95 £7.05

18–20 £5.30 £5.55 £5.60

16–17* £3.87 £4.00 £4.05

Apprentices** £3.30 £3.40 £3.50

*Over statutory school leaving age. **This rate applies to apprentices under the age of 19 and older apprentices in the first year of their course. Other apprentice are entitled to the appropriate age-based rate.

1.14 Low pay, the supports our aim for the NMW further increase in resources, and national minimum wage to reach £10 an hour. The TUC for a prosecution strategy for and the living wage also argued that the highest rate aggravated offences. should be extended to apply The General Council’s work on to 21- to 24-year-olds and that The trade union commissioners minimum and living wages has younger workers should see on the LPC for 2016–17 were been guided by Composite the pay gap narrow as quickly Kay Carberry CBE, John Hannett Resolution 6 and Resolutions 16 as possible. and Brian Strutton. and 49 from the 2016 Congress. *Over statutory school leaving age. **This rate applies to Living wage National minimum wage apprentices under the age of 19 and older apprentices in the Support for the voluntary The TUC has sought to develop first year of their course. Other living wage (LW) standard the national minimum wage apprentice are entitled to the has continued to increase. (NMW), both via media and appropriate age-based rate. Many unions representing lobbying and by engagement low-paid workers support this with the Low Pay Commission The TUC continues to press campaign and use the rates (LPC). A number of trade unions for stronger enforcement. The in their pay claims. The Living also took part in the LPC’s 2017 NMW Enforcement Group Wage Foundation reports that regional visits. has met regularly to discuss the number of accredited LW developments. This brings employers grew to 3,300 in the The General Council has together unions, advice year to June, an increase of 26 continued to campaign for a agencies and the lead civil per cent. The TUC took part in significant increase in the NMW. servants from BEIS, the LPC, the Living Wage Week campaign The TUC’s latest submission to HMRC, the Gangmasters in November 2016 and has the LPC, in July 2017, noted and Labour Abuse Authority campaigned to build support for the government’s target of 60 (GLAA) and the director of the LW. In addition, we are also per cent of median earnings Labour Market Enforcement. represented on the Living Wage by 2020 (currently estimated at Some progress has been Foundation and the general about £8.60 per hour) but urged made, with the government secretary is a member of the it to go forward to reach £10 again increasing the budget Living Wage Commission, which as quickly as possible. The link for this work, which is starting has worked to strengthen the between low wages and health to deliver results. Yet there is methodology and governance has important implications in no room for complacency. We of the LW. the TUC fight for higher pay and have therefore campaigned for Workers’ rights could suffer as a result of the government’s Brexit negotiations © Charlotte Graham/ Guzelian SECTION 2 BREXIT SECTION 2 BREXIT

he 2016 Congress “The TUC aim was to maintain all adopted Composite existing workers’ rights, including those T Resolution 1 on the European Union, Composite guaranteed by European law and the Resolution 2 on making a success of Brexit and Composite judgments of the European Court of Justice, Resolution 7 on protecting and to ensure that British workers have the worker and trade union rights. These opposed the likely attacks same or better rights as workers in the rest on EU-derived employment of the EU in the future.” rights and the threat that the UK becomes a low tax, low wage economy after Brexit. that British workers have the secretary of state for Exiting the The resolutions also called for same or better rights as workers European Union (DExEU), and trade union involvement in the in the rest of the EU in the the permanent secretary of that negotiations on leaving the EU future. A second TUC objective department; with Keir Starmer, so that the terms of Brexit reflect was to retain the best possible the shadow secretary of state, trade union priorities. Congress access to European markets and the shadow ministerial also supported the rights of all for goods and services, to team; as well as Sir Tim Barrow, EU nationals to remain as well safeguard investment and well- UK permanent representative to as the rights of UK nationals paid, skilled jobs. And third, the the EU. living on the continent, and TUC wanted to combat racism opposed the rise of racist and xenophobia, including and xenophobic attitudes through a migration system that 2.2 ETUC following the referendum. In does not undermine terms and line with Resolution 84, the conditions and does not divide The TUC has also worked TUC continued to work with communities. The TUC called closely with colleagues in Liberty, the British Institute of for transitional arrangements the European Trade Union Human Rights and Amnesty after the UK has left the EU, to Confederation (ETUC) to lobby International to call for the allow for negotiations for a new their governments and the retention of the Human Rights relationship with the EU to be general secretary has met with Act and to ensure that the completed and implemented. government representatives UK remains a signatory of During that period existing EU (in some cases heads of the European Convention on rules should continue to apply. government) from Austria, Human Rights. The TUC published a report Belgium, France, Germany, setting out this case in Brexit: a Ireland, Italy, Malta and Sweden. new deal for working people. The general secretary has also 2.1 Post-referendum briefed EU institutions on the campaign With these priorities the TUC TUC position in meetings with set out to influence the UK the leaders of most political The primary objective of the government as well as EU groups in the European TUC post-referendum campaign institutions and governments Parliament as well as its lead was to ensure workers should across Europe, so that the negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, not pay the price for Brexit. The negotiating mandate would European Commission President TUC’s aim has been to maintain reflect trade union demands. Jean-Claude Juncker and all existing workers’ rights, The general secretary met the the European Council lead including those guaranteed prime minister in the autumn negotiator Didier Seeuws. A by European law and the to outline our priorities, and meeting with the European judgments of the European throughout the year has met Commission’s negotiator Michel Court of Justice, and to ensure regularly with David Davis, Barnier is being arranged, and Congress 2017 General Council Report 31

A protester holds up a placard during a demonstration outside Downing Street © Jack Taylor/Stringer/Getty Images Media reaction to the prime minister’s twelve-point plan for Brexit © Leon Neal/Getty Images

Affairs Committee inquiry into the migration arrangements necessary after Brexit and the general secretary appeared he has met with the ETUC 2.3 After Brexit before the Commons DExEU General Secretary and tweeted Select Committee, which later afterwards that workers’ Ahead of the Conservative Party concluded there was a need to rights will be at the heart of conference in September, the stay in the single market. the negotiations. TUC called on the prime minister to clarify what would happen to In January the TUC gave oral In October the ETUC adopted a workers’ rights after Brexit and evidence to the Commons statement welcoming the work welcomed her announcement International Trade Select the TUC had done on the right that existing rights would be Committee focusing on future to remain for EU citizens living maintained. We did, however, trade arrangements between the and working in the UK, and also express concern that the UK and the EU: the committee’s our commitment to securing the guarantee did not extend to report later argued that no deal same right for British citizens keeping up with rights in the rest – i.e. crashing out of the EU into living and working in the rest of the EU after Brexit. a World Trade Organisation- of the EU. In November, ahead based relationship – was in fact of the Autumn Statement, the The TUC has submitted a bad deal and that membership TUC published a report A Fairer evidence to a House of Lords of the European Free Trade Deal on Migration: managing inquiry about the impact of Association (EFTA) was a better better for Britain calling Brexit on trade, sectors and option. We also exposed the for an expanded Migration regions, with evidence gathered risks of the chancellor’s indicated Impact Fund. from unions; given oral evidence strategy that if the EU did not to a House of Lords Home agree favourable terms for the SECTION 2 BREXIT

UK in the future relationship “We assessed government and Supreme Court with the EU, the UK would cut to amend existing rights without corporate taxes and regulation the negotiating parliamentary scrutiny. to regain competitiveness. mandate against In early April the European The TUC responded to the whether it Parliament adopted a resolution prime minister’s Lancaster House promoted good making a future trade agreement speech – the first clear indication conditional on the UK’s of the country’s negotiating jobs, protected continued adherence to EU objectives, including that the workers’ rights and social standards, thanks to TUC UK would seek to leave the lobbying. At the end of April the single market in order to control living standards, European Council’s negotiating migration – and the white paper and managed guidelines echoed this that followed. We assessed the language, stating that any future negotiating mandate against migration better.” relationship must ensure a level whether it promoted good jobs, playing field and encompass protected workers’ rights and measures to prevent an unfair living standards, and managed a statement on the Article 50 competitive advantage through migration better. Following negotiations calling for the UK’s fiscal and regulatory practices. the Supreme Court’s judgment continued compliance with EU that parliament needed to vote workers’ rights; a transitional Ahead of the General Election, on the triggering of Article arrangement; the right to remain the TUC pressed parties to 50, and the publication of the for both EU and UK citizens; pledge that UK workers’ rights European Union (Notification and a role for trade unions in will always keep up with the rest of Withdrawal) Bill, we called the negotiations. The TUC, with of the EU, as well as prioritising on MPs to demand a clear the support of ETUC and unions good jobs. plan from the prime minister around Europe, sought to see on how she would protect these points reflected in the EU working people from the risk negotiating mandate, arguing of their workplace rights falling that the rest of Europe would behind those in the EU; on how also suffer if the government devolved governments would implemented its ‘plan B’ of a low be engaged in the negotiations; tax, deregulated economy; and and how the common travel published a Work Foundation area with Ireland would report on this. be maintained. The notification of the UK’s intention to begin the process 2.4 Article 50 of leaving the EU was sent on 29 March. The TUC argued In March the European Union that the letter contained no (Notification of Withdrawal) guarantee that employment Bill was passed, providing the rights would be upheld and that government with the authority EU citizens would have a right to invoke Article 50. Many to remain. Following publication amendments that the TUC had of a white paper on the Great lobbied for – on workers’ rights, Repeal Bill (intended to transfer future jobs and transparency in EU law into national law), we negotiations – were ruled out called for a non-regression Bike messengers of order. The ETUC adopted clause to limit the ability of the – just some of the 3.2 million people who face insecurity at work © Hinterhaus Productions SECTION 3 RESPECT AND A VOICE AT WORK SECTION 3 RESPECT AND A VOICE AT WORK

3.1 Introduction “The Trade Union Act received Royal

Respect and a voice at work Assent on 4 May 2016 and many of its has remained a priority theme provisions are now in force. The act for the General Council over the course of the last 12 represents the most serious attack on months. Our campaigning and the rights of trade union members policy work on a wide range of issues, from trade union and in a generation.” employment rights, to equality and combatting discrimination in all its forms, to health and Trade Union Act political funds and wide-ranging safety, to workplace learning powers for the certification and trade union education, to The Trade Union Act received officer (CO). solidarity with workers around Royal Assent on 4 May 2016 the world, has placed respect and many of its provisions are The TUC has continued to resist and voice at work at the heart now in force. The Act represents the new restrictions, responding of what we do. Following on the most serious attack on the to government consultations from the groundbreaking work rights of trade union members in on new codes of practice on on workplace sexual harassment a generation. picketing and industrial action in 2016, the TUC has carried ballots, new CO model rules out further research which As soon as the Bill was on political funds and the shows that many of the same introduced, unions joined CO’s new enforcement powers issues highlighted by the Just together to campaign to defeat (see Composite 16). The TUC a Bit of Banter report, such as the government’s proposals or, prepared parliamentary briefings widespread discrimination, a where this was not possible, to on new regulations on when the sense of powerlessness, and damage, dilute and delay them. 40 per cent threshold will apply barriers to accessing rights and and the transition period for justice, are common themes In response, the government political fund opt-in rules. amongst BME, disabled and was forced into key concessions, LGBT workers too. Through including: The TUC has run roundtables work on issues such as autism for affiliates to assist unions to in the workplace, accessible ȓȓ an independent review on respond to the Act in a strategic apprenticeships and migrant e-voting in industrial action and timely manner. We have workers’ rights, the General ballots also prepared regular briefings Council has provided union for unions and reps and a new reps with the tools to support ȓȓ delaying any cap on facilities e-learning tool. marginalised groups within for union reps for at least the workplace. three years Blacklisting ȓȓ scrapping the public sector 3.2 Employment rights ‘check-off’ ban, where unions Blacklisting remains a pressing and the Trade Union Act cover the costs. issue in the UK. The General Council has continued to Our work in this area has been While unions made significant call for stronger blacklisting guided by Composite 16, and progress, the Act is still regulations. In line with Resolution 22. damaging and divisive. It Resolution 22, the TUC has also includes serious restrictions, raised concerns about increased including arbitrary thresholds in surveillance of workers by the strike ballots, new restrictions on state. During debates on the Congress 2017 General Council Report 35

The TUC has campaigned against employers forcing women to wear high heels as part of a work dress code or uniform © Seb Oliver/Getty Images 3.3 Equalities

Women

Resolution 76 referenced the impact of the Trade Union Act on women trade union members who featured in the public-facing posters for the campaign against the Trade Union Act. The TUC Women’s Committee identified organising women in trade unions as one of its priorities for last year and began work on mapping existing research and planning activities and training courses to support women in unions. The committee is engaged in organising sessions for women reps and activists on the importance of women’s participation in trade unions as a capacity-building project.

In furtherance of Resolution 80 on appropriate footwear in the workplace, the TUC has continued to highlight both the health and safety risks and the discriminatory aspect of employers forcing women to wear high heels as part of a work dress code or uniform. The TUC issued press releases on this issue in February and again in April 2017, making the argument Investigatory Powers Bill, we ruled out from the day of the that a requirement to wear high briefed politicians and pressed judgement, and workers who heels could amount to direct for amendments. have paid them since 2013 will discrimination. The House of have them refunded. Commons Petitions Committee and the Women and Equalities Employment tribunals Committee joint report in Acas January 2017 concluded that In a huge victory for working some workplaces continue people, in July the Supreme Christine McAnea of UNISON to have discriminatory dress Court ruled employment tribunal was appointed to the Council codes despite laws banning it. fees were unlawful, in a case in summer 2017, joining Mike The report acknowledged that brought by UNISON. The court Clancy (Prospect), Paul Nowak the government’s approach of found that fees were restricting (TUC) and Sally Hunt (UCU). expecting employers to educate access to justice. Fees were themselves around the law SECTION 3 RESPECT AND A VOICE AT WORK

“The report found regional training events for Trust, Voice4Change and union officers and awareness- academic institutes such as that over half of all raising workplace posters are the Centre for the Dynamics of working women being developed at the time of Ethnicity, which aims to promote writing. Sexual harassment and progressive race equality and had experienced workplace bullying of women immigration policies. some form of sexual was a prominent issue at the TUC Women’s Conference The TUC has continued to work harassment at 2017 and the TUC Women’s with affiliates and with migrant some point in their Committee are taking this work rights organisations to highlight forward. The report found that the impact of the Immigration working lives.” over half of all working women Act 2016 on migrants and had experienced some form of union members working in sexual harassment at some point public services. In pursuance and workplaces dress codes in their working lives, increasing of Congress Resolution 83 was not working and that the to two-thirds of young women. on the Immigration Act, we government must do more to However, less than 20 per cent are undertaking a project to promote the law on gender of women who had experienced increase the effective use discrimination in the workplace. sexual harassment had reported of TUC resources to tackle it to anyone and less than one discrimination and support The TUC continues to work per cent had reported it to their migrant and Black workers by with the government and trade union rep. trade union branches in key affiliates to bring about the regions. The project will develop recommendations of the an eNote with unionlearn on report, and push for further Race equality ‘preventing discrimination concrete changes such as the and supporting migrant and the strengthening of the HSE’s The TUC Race Relations BME workers’ to teach trade guidance to clarify the duty Committee worked on a union reps. It will include key on employers to also protect range of race equality issues, elements of the law covering the health and wellbeing of prioritising its efforts to immigration and employment workers. The TUC Gender and improve the organisation and status; provide guidance on Occupational Safety and Health recruitment of black workers. ways to collectively bargain to (GOSH) group issued guidance In pursuance of Composite ensure migrant workers and on gender and health and safety Resolution 8 challenging the others aren’t discriminated in April 2017 which includes politics of hate, the Committee against as a result of immigration information on discriminatory continued the work to highlight legislation; and encourage dress codes. the problems of racism in the increased participation of the UK by supporting and migrant workers in trade unions Emergency Resolution 1 helping to coordinate the to advocate for their rights. In highlighted the problem of fourth annual Stand Up to line with Composite 15, which workplace sexual harassment. Racism demonstration in highlighted the impact of the Following the launch of the TUC London commemorating refugee crisis on children, report on sexual harassment, the International Day for the TUC supported the Dubs Just a Bit of Banter, in August the Elimination of Racial amendment that set up a 2016, we produced guidance Discrimination on Saturday 17 scheme to allow unaccompanied for members and guidance for March 2017. The event was well refugee children to come to the union reps on the subject of attended. The TUC is continuing UK and will campaign for the workplace sexual harassment. to develop joint links with anti- scheme to be re-established An online training course was racist organisations including following its closure by launched in June 2017 and Hope Not Hate, the Runnymede the government. Congress 2017 General Council Report 37

A ‘wedding reception’ is held in London’s Soho in solidarity with Northern Ireland’s march for marriage equality © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

The TUC has also highlighted LGBT workers ensuring confidentiality and the problems that Black workers addressing discrimination. face in the labour market Resolution 28 called on the TUC Further work was done during through publishing a number to campaign for LGBT equality LGBT History Month and on of reports. The report Let’s Talk in the workplace and wider the International Day of Trans about Racism publicised the society. The TUC launched a Visibility Day. The TUC has results of the survey of over wide-reaching survey to obtain also continued to develop 5,000 workers undertaken evidence of the discrimination partnerships with key LGBT by the TUC, which explored and prejudice LGBT people still organisations such as Galop, experiences of racism in the experience in the workplace. supporting its call for parity in workplace. The TUC’s Insecure The results were highlighted law for perpetrators of LGBT work and ethnicity report in the run-up to Pride 2017. hate crime, and Stonewall. highlighted the disproportionate This is coupled with campaign The TUC provided input into effect of casualisation on Black work on key dates. On Trans Stonewall’s Workplace Equality workers in the labour market. Remembrance Day the TUC Index questionnaire. The Is Racism Real? report published its reps’ guide on highlighted the result of polling supporting trans workers in the carried out by the TUC to workplace. The guide covered highlight the race discrimination issues such as negotiating for faced by Black workers in the trans members to have time labour market. off for medical appointments, SECTION 3 RESPECT AND A VOICE AT WORK

TUC Disabled Workers Committee highlighted the issue of autism © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

Disabled workers

Resolution 27 on hidden conditions called on the TUC to take action to support workers with autism. The National Autistic Society reports that there are around 700,000 people in the UK living with autism – that’s more than 1 in 100. People with autism experience specific barriers in the workplace. The TUC has published a guide written by the co-chair of the TUC Disabled Workers Committee on autism in the workplace, including the adjustments people would need. The guide is rooted in the social model of disability, which looks at the barriers people face in the workplace and how these need to be addressed for disabled people to live and work independently and with dignity. The guide makes clear that any workplace policy impacting disabled workers this issue on the International no sign of relenting. The TUC must include them in collective Day of Disabled People and has also highlighted this issue bargaining processes, including noted that in the Journal of in government consultation their involvement within union Epidemiology and Community responses and will continue to structures. The TUC Disabled Health it was reported that as support calls for change. Workers Committee also people were assessed through highlighted this issue during the work capability assessment Disability History Month in and moved from Incapacity 3.4 Tackling insecure a post entitled: “10 barriers Benefit to Employment and work, and the Great autistic workers face and how to Support Allowance, it led Jobs Agenda overcome them”. to extra cases of reported mental health problems and Our work in this area has been The TUC Disabled Workers additional prescribing of guided by Resolutions 18 and 19 Committee is involved with antidepressants. Each additional and Composite 18. the Labour Party in developing 10,000 people reassessed in a manifesto on autism and an area was associated with During 2016/17, the issue of neurodiversity. an additional two to nine insecure work has returned to suicides. Organisations ranging the top of the political agenda. Resolution 70 on work capability from Mind to Disabled People In October 2016 the prime assessments called on the TUC Against the Cuts are now calling minister commissioned Matthew to campaign to highlight the for the test to be replaced by Taylor to undertake a review of links between the assessments a more humane alternative, employment practices. and suicide. The TUC raised but the government shows Congress 2017 General Council Report 39

Matthew Taylor speaking at an event last year. Trade unions were represented at meetings to discuss his review of employment practices © Roger Parkes/Alamy Stock Photo SECTION 3 RESPECT AND A VOICE AT WORK

The TUC has sought to lead the “The TUC has sought to lead the debate debate on how best to tackle insecurity at work throughout on how best to tackle insecurity at work the year, publishing a wide throughout the year.” range of research. In December we set out new TUC research showing how 3.2 million people work. It also sets out reforms to represented by a union and face insecurity at work, and employment law, enforcement trigger collective consultation this number has risen sharply policy and tax and social security arrangements, requiring elected (by 27 per cent) in the last five to provide better rights and representatives on company years. Throughout the first protections for everyone at work. boards, introducing sectoral half of 2017 we also published bargaining and restoring new commissioned research We used the June conference to Acas’s duty to promote that set out the impact on the launch our Great Jobs Agenda collective bargaining. public finances of the rise in – a major campaign to deliver insecure jobs, international better jobs and a voice at work In its response to the evidence showing that the that is set to run throughout the government’s Industrial UK’s experience of insecure next Congress year. Strategy Green Paper, the work is far from typical, and TUC’s key argument was that research showing that, while ‘gig the contribution of workforce economy’ jobs are on the rise, 3.5 Workers’ voice voice to boosting productivity most people facing insecurity at and building successful work are in traditional sectors, Promoting the case for workers’ industries and sectors should including hospitality, education, voice and the TUC’s proposals be recognised by including an and social care. We held four for strengthening it has been additional pillar – ‘workforce roundtable events with unions a central theme of our work, participation for successful and other policy-makers to reflecting Composite 5, Working industries’ – in the next rendition discuss the research, and harder not smarter, passed by of the strategy. ensured that trade unions were the 2016 Congress. widely represented in the town hall events held by Matthew The TUC’s work on corporate 3.6 Health and safety Taylor throughout the UK to governance has focused on discuss his report. promoting the case for workers During the year the General on boards and the TUC’s Council has campaigned We showcased this work in proposals for implementing to ensure that the health, a major conference in June, this, as set out in Section 1 of safety and welfare of workers publishing a new report The this report. is protected by strong Gig is Up: trade unions tackling union organisation and a insecure work that set out The TUC has put strengthening network of health and safety how the TUC believes that the workers’ voice at the centre representatives. This has balance can be shifted in favour of its proposals for tackling been done by prioritising the of working people to ensure that insecure work. This is reflected development of workplace everyone has access to decent in Living on the Edge, our organisation and the support work. The report shows how submission to Matthew Taylor’s given to affiliates and activists. trade unions have always been Review of Employment Practices at the heart of efforts to tackle in the Modern Economy. Its precarious working, and how recommendations included increasing workers’ voice must enabling unions to access be central to today’s attempt workplaces, strengthening to crack down on insecurity at workers’ rights to be Congress 2017 General Council Report 41

Asbestos is removed from a factory roof in Bristol © Paul Box/reportdigital.co.uk

the specialist press. A report on women and personnel protective equipment (PPE) was also produced in April 2017 following a survey of woman to find out their experience of PPE. The material was also used in Hazards magazine.

ȓȓ Stress. The TUC worked closely with the HSE on seeking to ensure that employers addressed stress in the workplace. A joint HSE/ TUC guide for union health and safety representatives on how to tackle stress was Supporting activities A survey of trade union health published during the year and and safety representatives was the TUC made a presentation The TUC produced a number undertaken and the results to the HSE summit on stress of resources aimed at published in a detailed report in in April 2017. In June 2017 supporting workplace activists, October 2016. a webinar on tackling stress in particular health and safety was held and uploaded representatives. This included on both the TUC site and an eNote on Organising and Campaigns other platforms. Health and Safety, and advice on time off for health and safety The General Council ȓȓ Asbestos. The TUC campaign representatives following the campaigned on a wide range of for new legislation requiring Trade Union Act. health and safety issues during the removal of all asbestos the year. It produced a range from all workplaces and In addition to a wide number of of resources for affiliates and public buildings in the UK resources and guides that were health and safety representatives by 2035 continued. The produced during the year used to support these campaigns. TUC worked with the All by activists the TUC produced Campaign activities included: Party Parliamentary Group a weekly e-bulletin on health on Occupational Health and and safety, Risks, throughout ȓȓ Gender. Working in Safety and other bodies to the year. cooperation with the gender seek to raise awareness of and occupational health and the problems of workplace Six meetings of the Union of safety group, which comprises exposure to asbestos. Health and Safety specialists representatives from various were held during the year. affiliates, the TUC published ȓȓ Occupational Health. The This is a forum intended to a detailed guide to gender promotion of issues relating discuss developments within and health and safety in to occupational health occupational health and April 2017. In addition a remained a high priority safety. Speakers included the checklist for use by activists during the year. In September chair of the Health and Safety was published. Both of these 2017 the TUC published Executive (HSE). were widely disseminated guidance on occupational by affiliated unions, and health provision and the also received publicity in accreditation of occupational SECTION 3 RESPECT AND A VOICE AT WORK

Protest by City of London cleaners after half the migrant workers were sacked by Thames Cleaning © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

physicians. This was followed by guidance, produced jointly with the British Occupational Hygiene Society, on occupational hygiene that was published in November 2016.

ȓȓ ISO 45001. During the year the International Standardisation Organisation sought, once again, to get approval for an international standard on occupational safety and health. In accordance with previous policy the TUC campaigned strongly against the current proposal, which could undermine health and safety protection and the role of the International Labour Organisation in providing standards for occupational health and safety.

In addition to these campaigns the TUC produced materials for events such as European Health and Safety Week in on health and safety based in the new representative was October, where a revised guide Borough. The TUC acted as the an employer. In accordance to inspections was produced, workers’ spokesperson for the with Emergency Resolution 6 and International Workers European trades unions on the to Congress, the TUC made Memorial Day on 28 August, advisory board until April 2017, strenuous representations to the when the TUC published advice when the government triggered government and this resulted and support on the general Article 50. In May 2017 the TUC in the new appointee being re- theme of the day and hosted a published a report in the health designated as an “independent” website of local, regional and and safety implications of Brexit. board member and the position national events. of a workers’ representative being re-advertised. Health and Safety Executive Europe In December 2016 the HSE The TUC sought to work with announced a new Work and The TUC continued to play a the HSE during the year. We Health Programme, which major part on trying to influence were represented on the HSE included the prioritisation of the health and safety agenda of board by Kevin Rowan, head of stress, musculoskeletal disorders the European Commission. This the Organisation and Services and lung diseases. Theses included active membership Department. A further workers’ priorities matched those of of both the Advisory Board of representative seat on the the TUC and affiliated unions the European Commission and board was filled in September and we sought to work closely the Board of European Agency 2016 by the government, but with the HSE in seeking to Congress 2017 General Council Report 43

ensure that the programme Chamber of Commerce, the CBI, to campaign for the UK to was effective and properly the Institute of Directors and ratify ILO Convention 189 on resourced. In addition to sitting British Future. domestic workers. on the programme board, the TUC facilitated a number of The TUC released the report The TUC continues to submit meetings between the HSE and Managing Migration Better for evidence to the Migration affiliated unions. Britain, which detailed action Advisory Committee, including needed from the government its review into teacher shortages, to address concerns about and held sessions for unions Industrial Injuries migration and prevent to provide evidence about Advisory Council exploitation and undercutting. migration in different sectors. These included establishing The TUC is represented by modern wages councils and Karen Mitchell (RMT), Doug increasing resources to statutory 3.8 Decent work Russell (Usdaw) and Hugh enforcement bodies such and Playfair Robertson (TUC Office). The as HMRC. three TUC nominees played an The ILO conference in 2017 active role in the work of the As called for by another discussed the fundamental council and in October 2016 a resolution from Congress 2016, principles and rights at work guide for unions to the industrial the TUC called for the chancellor (FPRW), labour migration and injuries scheme was published. to create an expanded version an instrument to promote the of the Migration Impacts role of employment policies Fund. We produced detailed and decent work in responding External bodies recommendations for this to disasters. fund, which included directing TUC nominees sat on a range more resources towards house The pillars of the FPRW – of external bodies including the building, health and education freedom of association, anti- Council for Work and Health services, skills training and discrimination and ending and the board of the Faculty supporting decent jobs in forced and child labour – are the of Occupational Medicine. areas that had suffered cuts basis for the ILO’s 2008 Social The TUC also continued to and significant increases in Justice declaration and hold work closely with the Hazards migration. We promoted these all ILO members, regardless of movement, the Institution of proposals in evidence submitted their ratification of international Occupational Safety and Health to the House of Lords Economic labour standards, to respect and other organisations in the Committee and the House and enforce those rights. The field of occupational health of Commons Home Affairs committee, on which Stephen and safety. Select Committee. Russell represented the TUC, produced conclusions to guide The General Council migration ILO efforts to protect what are 3.7 Migration and spokesperson, Mohammad Taj, recognised in the text as human domestic workers participated in the committee rights, with a new mandate to on migration at the 2017 ILO investigate the impact of non- In line with a resolution at conference. He called on the standard forms of employment Congress 2016, the TUC government to respect the and newly recognised forms campaigned for EU citizens labour rights of migrants, of discrimination. to have the right to remain in irrespective of immigration the UK. Advocacy included status, and an end to the ‘tied’ The ILO workers’ group, joint positions with the British visa for overseas domestic including the NUT’s Amanda workers. The TUC continues Brown (who was also elected as a worker member of the ILO SECTION 3 RESPECT AND A VOICE AT WORK

governing body), achieved a The Modern Slavery Act requires TUC’s evidence on board significant victory by finalising an many UK-operating commercial and recommended that the instrument concerning the role organisations to explain how government promote freedom of decent work in transitioning they tackle modern slavery risks of association in business supply from war to peace. The scope in their operations and supply chains and introduce new was extended to include chains. In the absence of a legislation to impose on UK disasters not only stemming central government registry, companies the duty to prevent from war and conflict, including the TUC has supported the human rights abuses in supply environmental disasters – a key creation of an independent civil chains and create a new offence demand of workers suffering the society-run Modern Slavery to punish those that do not. impact of climate change. Registry and has joined its Advisory Committee. The The TUC continued to work The labour migration discussion, TUC has helped establish the with ETI, the UK-based tripartite involved fierce disagreements, Alliance 8.7 global partnership, alliance of corporates, unions but ultimately workers, overseen by the ILO, to end and NGOs that promotes employers and governments forced labour, modern slavery, respect for workers’ rights agreed to a resolution that human trafficking and child around the globe, on which reflects the need to make rights labour as part of the sustainable Owen Tudor represents the TUC and access to remedy accessible development goals. along with ITUC, IndustriALL to all workers regardless and IUF representatives, to of status. refine its new strategy, which 3.9 Global supply chains promotes collective bargaining In the Committee on the and the development of a Application of Standards, the The TUC continued to promote better reporting system to TUC’s Hannah Reed led criticism rights for workers in global assess corporates’ actions of the UK government over supply chains. The call to action on promoting workers’ rights social security levels, as well that the 2016 ILO conference in their supply chains. The as intervening on cases such agreed went before the ILO’s ITUC is also finalising new as Bangladesh. governing body in November. materials on freedom of Despite agreeing to examine association to be used as part The TUC’s campaign for possible mechanisms to combat of a major education drive rights for workers building governance gaps, international to ensure that ETI corporate infrastructure for the 2022 World employers have slowed progress and NGO members are fully Cup, Playfair Qatar, held a day to a crawl, with a series of aware of how to respect this of action in October at football exploratory meetings stretching fundamental right. grounds around the country. out over three years before Fans, coordinated by the further action is considered. Football Supporters’ Federation, This leaves the ILO at risk of turned out to support the call for falling behind other international Qatar to respect fundamental bodies on the issue, including human and labour rights for the UN itself, which is examining all involved in preparing the a possible binding international tournament. Shortly afterwards, treaty, and the OECD, which the international construction is promoting a new due workers’ union BWI signed a diligence policy. deal to inspect and monitor stadium projects, giving unions In carrying out its Human legal access to Qatar’s migrant Rights and Business inquiry, workers for the first time. parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights took the Physiotherapist working at Royal Oldham Hospital, Lancashire © Lorne Campbell/ Guzelian SECTION 4 GOOD SERVICES SECTION 4 GOOD SERVICES

4.1 Introduction “The living standards of public service

The General Council’s work workers remain under attack as the on public services has been government continues to impose a one per guided by Composites 9–11 and Resolutions 29–33, 38, 39, cent cap on public sector pay rises.” 43–48, 50–54, 56, 57, 60 and 61 agreed at the 2016 Congress. Conservative parties played they provide – and making the In recent months we have a key role in voters’ switching case for fair pay, respect and the seen a change in rhetoric and their preferences during the value of public service workers. a relaxation of fiscal rules that course of the campaign. It is was heralded, at least in some clear that there is significant Six years of public sector pay media circles, as the end of public appetite for a change restraint has had a significant austerity. However, in both of direction. GQR/TUC polling impact on the living standards of the 2016 Autumn Statement conducted after the election 5.5 million public sector workers, and 2017 Spring Budget, the showed very strong support with the median public sector chancellor did not deviate from from both Labour and Tory wage over £1k lower in real his predecessor’s spending voters for ending the public terms than in 2010. plans and the spending squeeze sector pay cap. actually tightened in several Public sector pay is set areas, most notably with real In the wake of the election, to decline further as the terms per capita cuts in both the senior Conservative government adheres to a one schools’ budget and the NHS. politicians, including ministers, per cent pay cap on the public acknowledged the anti-austerity sector pay bill until 2020, The living standards of public mood among the electorate. resulting in cumulative real terms service workers remain under In its background briefing losses of pay of over £4k for attack as the government to the Queen’s Speech, the nurses, midwives, civil servants, continues to impose a one government signalled that it firefighters and a range of other per cent cap on public sector “will reflect on the message public service occupations. pay rises. Services are under voters sent at the general incredible pressure and election” and that it will “reflect Public sector employers are overstretched public service on this at future fiscal events facing an increasing recruitment workers feel increasingly such as this year’s Autumn and retention crisis. This point taken for granted. Meanwhile Budget”. The scope to force the has been acknowledged by employers are finding it tough to government into a change of both the teachers’ and NHS attract new recruits and hold on direction is more evident now pay review bodies, but neither to experienced staff. than at any time in the previous has been able to recommend seven years. a pay rise that deviates from the Treasury’s one per cent 4.2 Public sector pay In line with Resolutions 29, 31, cap, calling into question the 45, 50 and 53, the TUC worked independence of the pay The future of public services with unions across the public review process. featured as a key issue in sector to highlight the impact the 2017 general election. that pay restraint and job cuts Pay stagnation is affecting Polling suggested that health were having on public service the living standards of public and education were among workers – their lives, their sector workers, with increasing the top five issues for voters workplaces and the services numbers failing to keep pace and that spending plans set with the cost of living and out by both the Labour and relying on other forms of income Congress 2017 General Council Report 47

Britain Still Needs A Pay Rise campaigners, Westminster © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

either through accumulating is reducing disposable income “The TUC brought debt, seeking agency work or in local economies, exacerbated employment outside of the by large public sector job losses, public service sector. Increasing numbers of particularly in regions in the workers together public servants, particularly north, the Midlands and the in local government and south-west, with higher reliance with MPs in health, are now working at or on public sector employment, a number of marginally above the national weak local labour markets and minimum wage. Examples were higher unemployment. Conservative-held documented of NHS nurses constituencies in being forced to use food banks. This year the TUC brought public service workers together order to document Pay restraint also presents a with MPs in a number of the impact that pay false economy, not only within Conservative-held constituencies public sector organisations but in order to document the restraint, spending also the wider economy. Public impact that pay restraint, cuts and job losses sector employers, particularly spending cuts and job losses in the health and education were having. These workers were having.” sector, are relying on costly and spoke passionately about inefficient use of agency labour overstretched services, the in order to fill gaps created by amount of unpaid overtime due staff shortages. And pay restraint to staff shortages and declining SECTION 4 GOOD SERVICES

4.3 The NHS and of austerity on the NHS as well social care as actions that people can take. This includes an online guide LIFT The issue of public sector pay to the new sustainability and must be seen in the context of transformation plans (STPs) THE ongoing public spending cuts in each part of the country – CAP and, in line with Resolutions outlining the key impact of A fair deal for public 33, 44, 53 and 57, the TUC the plans and linking to local service workers continued to campaign for an activist groups. end to self-defeating austerity. In advance of the 2016 Autumn We pressed the case for a Statement, we jointly produced sustainable funding settlement the report NHS Safety: warnings but also closer integration of from all sides, which detailed health and social care in our more than fifteen different submission to the House of pieces of analysis from health Lords Select Committee on the unions and professional bodies Long-term Sustainability of the that pointed to the impact that NHS and Adult Social Care. spending cuts were having morale as increasing numbers on patient safety and service felt they were unable to meet We also used this submission, quality throughout the NHS. In demand, while at the same time as well as our submission to the addition, we published research seeing their wages falling well 2017 Spring Budget, to highlight commissioned with YouGov that behind the cost of living. the way that the spending cuts, showed that: combined with the absence of a The TUC report Lift the Cap strategic workforce plan, affect ȓȓ 70% of NHS workers said brings these cases together, the development and supply that reductions in staffing and along with more detailed of qualified staff in many parts resources are putting patient analysis of the impact of pay of the NHS. The termination of care at risk restraint on public services, training bursaries, combined and has enabled us to build an with uncertainty over the status ȓȓ 90% of NHS staff believe the effective case when lobbying of EU nationals working in the health service is under more MPs and ministers. In addition health services, was already pressure now than at any time to our lobbying strategy with having a significant impact in their working lives MPs in constituencies and on the training and supply of parliament, the TUC has called qualified nurses. ȓȓ three-quarters of NHS for an end to the pay cap and workers think resources and the ability for unions, employers The TUC has been working staffing in the NHS have gone and genuinely independent pay in partnership with the NHS down in the past five years review bodies to determine fair Support Federation and and appropriate pay awards in Health Campaigns Together to ȓȓ two-thirds of NHS staff each sector. This will be followed campaign for a fairer and more say their employer has cut up by regional rallies and events sustainable funding deal for the patient services to make planned for the autumn. NHS, including mental health financial savings. services. The TUC and NHS Support Federation have jointly The TUC is working in produced the NHS Funding partnership with the activist website at www.nhsfunding. network Health Campaigns info, which acts as a portal for Together, jointly hosting a range information about the impact of events on 5 July – the NHS’s Congress 2017 General Council Report 49

education unions to coincide with the meetings of the Public Services Liaison Group in The percentage of NHS workers who said that reductions in order to support coordination staffing and resources are putting patient care at risk with wider public services campaigning and the TUC Campaign Plan.

The meetings of the education unions have focused on

© Lorne Campbell/Guzelian developing strategic support for the main campaigning issues highlighted in the Congress resolutions on education, including opposition to the expansion of grammar schools and further measures designed to boost academies and free schools. The TUC has also supported campaigning on other key themes in these resolutions including: continuing attacks on the terms and conditions of all workers in the education sector; the education funding crisis; chaos in the school assessment system; and, increasing pressures on the workforce and students which adversely affect mental health and well-being.

In line with Emergency Resolution 4, the TUC response 69th birthday – with staff and BME communities, compared to to the Schools that Work for campaigners joining together to other EU countries, in line with Everyone green paper opposed raise the issue of underfunding Resolution 47. the central proposal to expand and the need for fair pay for grammar schools. The response NHS workers at hospitals across highlighted that all major the country. 4.4 Education research studies analysing the impact of extending selective We have also written to Over the past year the TUC has education show that this tends the health minister, Lord worked closely with affiliated to benefit wealthier families, O’Shaughnessy, asking him unions on policy and workforce discriminates against poorer to consider the government’s issues relating to education in families and undermines the approach to organ donation, line with Resolutions 33, 38, status and capacity of many registration and consent in 39 and 43, Composites 9–11, existing good schools in order to address the UK’s very and Emergency Resolution local areas. low rates of donation and E4. The TUC has continued to transplants, particularly among facilitate regular meetings of the SECTION 4 GOOD SERVICES

“We used our 2017 Spring Budget still facing a 3 per cent cut in per pupil funding to 2022, an overall submission to draw attention to research cut of 7 per cent from 2015. by the National Audit Office, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Education 4.5 Further education Policy Institute which showed that, despite and skills

government claims of record funding The TUC budget submission levels, per pupil funding was set to decline also made the case for increasing spending on further by 8 per cent between 2015 and 2020.” education (FE) and adult skills, including by using the savings the government will be making Other proposals in the green party manifesto to end universal from replacing state funding for paper included new measures school meals for infants. apprenticeships with the revenue to increase the number of from levy-paying employers. academies and free schools Throughout the year the General by using financial penalties to Council continued to make the Throughout the year the force more independent schools case that the government’s focus General Council continued and universities to sponsor and on further structural change to express opposition to the support such schools. There was matched by a failure to Higher Education and Research was also a proposal to remove address the real challenges Bill, which received Royal the restriction on faith- based facing schools. These challenges Assent at the end of April. free schools, which currently include a recruitment and The TUC submission to the limits faith-based admissions retention crisis fuelled by low white paper preceding the to 50 per cent. The TUC morale, increasing workload legislation had highlighted the response also opposed these demands, poor pay prospects, detrimental outcomes of the proposals, arguing that they real-term cuts to school budgets higher education (HE) reforms, would simply sustain the highly and unnecessary and poorly including driving student debt fragmented school system that implemented changes to up further by allowing for the government has developed assessment and the curriculum. future increases to tuition fees in recent years through its and significantly increasing structural school reforms. The TUC has also been active marketisation through the in raising the issue of cuts to expansion of for-profit providers. Before the 2017 general school budgets. We used our election was announced, it 2017 Spring Budget submission Other aspects of the work of had been anticipated that the to draw attention to research by the TUC and unionlearn on government would proceed to the National Audit Office, the education and skills can be enact the green paper proposals Institute for Fiscal Studies and found in Sections One and Four. by producing a white paper the Education Policy Institute and any necessary legislative which showed that, despite changes, such as removing government claims of record 4.6 Justice the ban on establishing new funding levels, per pupil funding grammar schools. However, the was set to decline by 8 per The TUC continued to work with Queen’s Speech did not include cent between 2015 and 2020. unions in the criminal justice any education legislation and Despite revised spending plans sector through the Speak Up for the policy to expand grammar in the Conservative manifesto Justice campaign, in line with schools was withdrawn, as was for the 2017 general election, at Resolutions 46, 54 and 55. The the proposal in the Conservative the time of writing schools are campaign calls for an integrated, Congress 2017 General Council Report 51

The expansion of Heathrow will create thousands of new jobs by 2023 © Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images publicly owned, accessible and accountable justice system.

Among other things, this year the Speak Up for Justice campaign has highlighted the impact of prison reform and prison officer numbers on safety and poor practice and standards by outsourced community rehabilitation companies. Using a combination of staff surveys, interviews and Freedom of Information requests, the TUC published the report Justice Denied, which details the impacts of the government’s reforms to legal aid and court services on access to justice.

We continue to work in partnership with unions and Prentis, general secretary of discussions are planned with the partner organisation We Own It UNISON and the General Cabinet Office regarding future to promote the case for public Council lead on public services. meetings of the PSF following ownership and to highlight the the general election. damaging impact of privatisation The primary focus of the PSLG and outsourcing of our public over the last 12 months has services, from the Land Registry been working with unions to 4.9 Transport to children’s services. develop guidance on changes to check off and facility time TUC work on aviation has We also backed the POA’s efforts resulting from the Trade Union been pursued in the light of to prevent the government Act, liaising with HM Treasury Resolution 61, Safety in the securing an injunction against over changes to public sector Skies, which was carried by the union’s advice to members exit payments, developing the Congress 2016. In October on undertaking voluntary duties, public sector pay campaign 2016, the TUC welcomed the and continued to support the strategy and responding to the government’s announcement POA’s efforts to overturn the devolution agenda. that its preferred scheme for ban on prison officers taking meeting the need for additional industrial action. airport capacity in the south-east 4.8 Public Services of England was a new north-west Forum runway at Heathrow. 4.7 Public Services Liaison Group Chaired by the minister for the In welcoming the decision Cabinet Office, Ben Gummer, in support of Heathrow, the The TUC’s work is overseen the PSF met twice in the past 12 TUC highlighted the quality by the Public Services Liaison months, covering discussions on jobs and apprenticeships that Group (PSLG). The group public sector apprenticeships, will be forthcoming, as well consists of representatives from devolution, sexual harassment as benefits for UK businesses the affiliated public service in the workplace and data in the supply chain. As we unions and is chaired by Dave management. Further supported the recommendation SECTION 4 GOOD SERVICES

The TUC has continued to campaign for a publicly owned railway © John Lawson, Belhaven/Getty Images Congress 2017 General Council Report 53

of the Airports Commission, the service could operate in the talks between ASLEF and GTR TUC also welcomed the tough context of the new devolved (Southern Rail) – this issue was new environmental standards authorities. We have also reported to, and discussed, at demanded by the Commission. produced a document refuting the General Council in February, Kevin Rowan represents a number of myths popularised and in subsequent meetings the TUC on the Heathrow by the train operating between the general secretary Procurement Forum. companies (TOCs). and senior officers of both ASLEF and the RMT. TUC work on buses was We have produced campaign pursued in light of Composite materials highlighting the 21 carried at Congress 2014. impact of inflation-busting 4.10 Devolution In April 2017 the Bus Services fares on consumers, who are Bill received Royal Assent. The entering their seventh year of Elections have now taken place bill was intended to improve depressed wages. for mayors in six of the new local bus services by allowing combined authorities and the local authorities to enter into The TUC has continued to TUC in partnership with unions enhanced partnerships or create support efforts to maintain and at a regional level is working to new franchises where there protect rail staffing levels and establish trade union voice in they consider it appropriate. to oppose actions that risk staff the new arrangements, in line The TUC, transport unions and passenger safety. In line with Resolution 30. and a number of civil society with Emergency Resolution 3 partners had all campaigned on the review of the London In Liverpool City Region, the for legislation to give local Underground ticket office newly elected mayor, Steve authorities the right to set up closure programme, the TUC Rotherham, has committed and run their own bus services. believes ticket offices should be to including unions within This was one of a number of retained and that the closures the combined authority’s positive measures introduced by have been detrimental to governance structure as well the Lords that were eventually passenger service, safety and as establishing a City Region removed by the Commons. accessibility. We continued Fair Employment Charter to call for the review to be and a Fairness and Social We also responded to a genuinely open-minded and Justice Advisory Board, with consultation on the guidance evidence-based, looking at all participation of unions through and regulations for the bill, aspects including: the particular the North West TUC. supporting partner unions to benefits of keeping ticket push for the most generous offices; the need for more staff In Greater Manchester, the interpretation of TUPE in light of growing passenger Workforce Engagement Board protections, and more robust numbers and security threats; and (health and social care- assessment of changes to and the risks to passenger safety specific) Workforce Engagement pension schemes. and accessibility of stations if Forum, established by the staff numbers are cut. Protocol for Working on Joint TUC policy on rail was carried Workforce Matters, have out in light of Composite 17 The TUC has continued to held quarterly meetings since and Resolution 59. The TUC support union efforts to bring January 2016. continues to campaign for rail back into public ownership rail renationalisation. In light and to oppose the imposition Themes of join interest for both of trends towards increasing of driver-only operations. In the WEB and the WEF in 2017 devolution, we have been January 2017, following a include developing Greater working with Transport for request from ASLEF to progress Manchester charters on issues Quality of Life to produce a resolution of their trade dispute, such as employment standards, report on how a nationalised the TUC agreed to co-chair ethical services, continuity of SECTION 4 GOOD SERVICES

service across health and social and DCLG. An initial meeting case for reversing these cuts care and commissioning and was held in April 2017. Unions in our submission to both the procurement. North West TUC were joined by the Local Autumn Statement and Spring is talking to the mayor, Andy Government Association, IPPR Budget. We have also continued Burnham, about taking these North, the National Council for to participate in the End Child initiatives forward. Voluntary Organisations and Poverty Coalition, enabling us NHS Employers. to highlight the impact of these In a unique arrangement, the cuts on children, in partnership West Midlands Combined There was strong sentiment with a wide range of charities. Authority (WMCA) has approved among these parties that central a co-opted observer seat for guidance on future devolution We have published two reports the Midlands TUC on its board. deals would be beneficial. The to discuss the future of the Initial meetings have taken organisations were supportive social security system. The first place, and unions also have of the TUC’s framework for looks at the extent to which seats on each of the authority’s action. The government was, the social security and back- commissions. The Midlands however, reluctant to adopt a to-work systems meet the TUC will be working closely central guide championing a aims of the Welfare Charter with the WMCA and unions on social partnership approach endorsed by Congress 2016. issues covered by the region’s to devolution, arguing that The second examines the case devolution agreement, including deals should come from the for and against a Universal Basic the adult education budget. It ‘bottom up’. In this vein, we are Income, with a particular focus has also submitted evidence to indeed continuing to use the on whether it could help meet the authority’s Productivity and framework for action as a model the needs of those in insecure Skills Commission. for engagement at the regional work. This report was discussed level, including in Yorkshire, at a seminar with unions and The South West TUC has had where the Leeds City Council others held as part of our productive engagement with leader Judith Blake has argued spring 2017 series on insecure the mayor of Bristol on the the TUC should form a part of a work. We also focused on the development of an employment devolved governance structure improvements to social security charter, along with a number of should a pan-region deal needed to support those in associated action plans. be agreed. insecure work in our submission to the Taylor review of modern Yorkshire and the Humber TUC employment, raising the issue held a devolution conference in 4.11 Social security and of how Universal Credit cuts will December 2016, where unions, a decent safety net impact particularly heavily on the local authorities and businesses self-employed, and the need for expressed support for a one- The TUC’s work on social better protection for low-paid Yorkshire deal. A task force led security and providing a decent workers in terms of sick pay and by the TUC is currently exploring safety net has been guided parental benefits. the idea in further detail. by Composite 13 on In-work Benefits and Basic Income, In May 2016 it was agreed that and Resolution 71 on the the Public Services Forum would Welfare Charter. bring social partners together to work on a set of guidelines Throughout the year, the TUC on effective consultation, has drawn attention to the governance and partnership impact of social security cuts, arrangements in devolution in particular within Universal deals that could then be Credit, on low-paid and promoted by the Cabinet Office vulnerable workers, raising the

Collective bargaining coverage in the private sector was 14.9 per cent in 2016 © Roger Moody/Guzelian SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

5.1 Introduction “Approximately 57 per cent of workers in

The Trade Union Act, the larger workplaces reported that a trade continuing impact of austerity, union was present where they worked, in particular in the public sector, and the growth of compared to 23.8 per cent of those in employment in sectors of smaller workplaces.” the economy with low levels of union density has meant that the last year has been a Union density also fell during compared to 28.5 per cent of challenging one for unions in the year to 23.5 per cent. This employees overall. Less than 1 respect of building membership was due to the decline in total in 20 employees aged 16 to 19 and maintaining the capacity membership and an increase in are union members and just 1 to support members via the total number of employees. in 10 of those aged between 20 workplace representation. Union density has fallen by more and 24 were members. Union than one-fifth since 2000. density among this age group The impact of this was seen in has fallen by almost 10 per cent the trade union membership After five consecutive years of since 1995. statistics published in May, growth, union membership in which presented the entire the private sector fell by 66,000 movement with a significant and density fell to 13.4 per cent. 5.3 Supporting number of challenges in terms Membership in the public sector stronger unions of its size, sector coverage and fell by 209,000 and density fell demographic profile. by just over 2 per cent to 52.7 The TUC continues to provide per cent. support to unions in organising, This section covers Composite recruitment, capacity building Resolution 14 on Digital Collective bargaining coverage and strategic development. Campaigning and Organising in 2016 was 26.3 per cent, and also Resolution 74 on representing a fall of 10 per cent During the year the TUC Facilities Time agreed at since 1996. In the public sector, Organising Academy moved to Congress 2016. it was 59 per cent and in the The Manchester College and has private sector 14.9 per cent. continued to provide training to union officers and organisers 5.2 Trade union Density among employees in on elements of organising membership larger workplaces was 31.5 and campaigning. During the per cent compared to 14.6 per year the Organising Academy The latest report on trade union cent in smaller workplaces. ran multi-union and bespoke membership was published by Approximately 57 per cent of versions of its 16-day Diploma the Department for Business workers in larger workplaces in Organising for the NUT and Innovation and Skills in May. reported that a trade union was PCS. The Organising Academy is During the year 2015 to present where they worked, developing an online version of 2016, union membership compared to 23.8 per cent of its Advanced Programme, which fell by 275,000 (4.2 per cent) those in smaller workplaces. it hopes to launch in early 2018. to 6.2 million. This was the largest single year fall in union Union members tend to In addition to support provided membership since 1995. be in higher age groups of by the Organising Academy, The bulk of this decline in the working population. In the TUC continues to support membership occurred in the 2016, around 39 per cent of union organising and strategic public sector. employees aged 50 or over were members of a trade union, Congress 2017 General Council Report 57

The new TUC website: improving our digital offer to unions and potential union members

development. Over the last year TUC has been working with a “Over the last year the TUC has worked with ATL, digital product design company CWU, NUT, PCS, NUT and SoR. to develop and improve the the TUC has been TUC’s digital offer for unions and working with a During 2016/17 the TUC ran potential union members. This another successful Leading work has enjoyed the support of digital product Change programme. Leading a number of TUC affiliates. design company Change is a development programme for union officers in The project is now at a pilot to develop and national and regional leadership product development stage improve the TUC’s positions run in partnership with and is being used in the field the Harvard University Labor & by Prospect (BECTU sector) digital offer for Worklife Program. There were and Unite. unions and potential 15 officers on the 2016/17 programme representing Resolution 74 called on the union members.” 11 affiliates. TUC to maintain its support for those unions in the public Composite 14 agreed at sector whose workplace impact of union representatives Congress 2016 called on the representatives are facing in workplaces and produced TUC to grasp the opportunities attacks on facility time. During a guide for union reps on presented by digital technology the year the TUC commissioned how to defend and improve in organising and representing a study by the University of facility agreements. workers. Over the last year the Leeds that demonstrated the SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

5.4 Young people The TUC supported: GMB with a campaign on Uber; Unite Over the past year the General regarding the fair tips campaign; “I FEEL LIKE Council has significantly Usdaw with Top Shop and Sir I CAN’T CHANGE progressed the campaign priority Philip Green; and a range of ANYTHING” Britain’s young core workers Reaching Young Workers. campaigns with Equity, NUJ, speak out about work BECTU sector of Prospect and The TUC has taken a targeted Action for Rail. Two digital approach to make the best leadership seminars were held. use of resources. The target group identified as young core The family-friendly rights work workers are: outlined in Section 2 of this report also has strong relevance ȓȓ workers aged 21 to 30 for Reaching Young Workers as many young core workers ȓȓ working in the private sector, have dependents. with a concentration on service jobs Refreshing the TUC brand and website supports this work by ȓȓ full- and part-time, but not in raising the profile and appeal and stakeholders, and facilitated full-time education of trade unionism among workshops with people from young people (see Developing across the movement. ȓȓ working on low or average the TUC). Appealing to, and wages, but not just the catering to the needs of, young The research findings were lowest paid or most exploited people are at the forefront of written up in a new report I Feel workers this work. Like I Can’t Change Anything: Britain’s young core workers ȓȓ having some stability in speak out about work. their jobs (around two Innovation and years’ service), such that young people All affiliates were invited to they might be in a position take part at different points. to think of organising or The TUC has worked with Those that have taken part so supporting others. consultants Good Innovation to far are: ASLEF, ATL, BFAWU, develop and test new models Community, CSP, CWU, Equity, The Young Workers’ Forum has of collective organising that are GMB, Musicians’ Union, strengthened over the last year. attractive for younger workers. NASUWT, Nautilus International, Ultimately the model that NUT, Prospect, Prospect (BECTU Heartunions week (8–14 shows the most promise will be sector), RCM, UCU, UNISON, February) portrayed young scaled up. Unite and Usdaw. The ideas workers prominently in social generated from across the media. The case studies The TUC interviewed over 100 movement and in collaboration selected supported messaging young workers to understand with young core workers were that is important to young the context of their lives and synthesised, built on and tested workers, such as getting ahead challenges at work. The insights with young workers fresh to the at work. The major news story this uncovered shaped the project. The best ideas were in the week was on insecure development of potential then taken out into the real work, an issue disproportionately solutions, along with desk world as prototypes to improve affecting young workers. research, interviews with experts them further. Congress 2017 General Council Report 59

Debating at the TUC Young Workers Conference © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

5.5 TUC Education “This year 562 trade union professional

TUC Education has an unrivalled officers were trained, combining more reach into Britain’s workplaces to flexible learning options with traditional provide high-quality education, training and support for trade classroom-based events.” union representatives from across the economy and from almost all TUC affiliates. This remission arrangements during exclusively – online education remains a comprehensive 2016. This, along with cuts in programme in 2017/18 and programme of training, even FE adult skills budgets, area beyond. This migration will be though paid release is under reviews and college mergers, underpinned by work already great pressure in both the public compounds uncertainties in being taken forward on eNotes and private sectors. the sector. Maintaining and and the Ufi Charitable Trust delivering a core education project, which is supporting In 2016 there was a service to affiliates remains a the TUC to migrate key TUC dip in the number of reps major challenge. Education courses online and participating in training to provide additional online 24,872, down 5,496 on the The TUC Executive Committee resources for reps. The offer for 2015 figure. established a short-life union rep training now consists working group to give some of classroom, blended and new This year 562 trade union consideration to the funding, online courses. professional officers were form and shape that trade trained, combining more union education should take flexible learning options over the next five years and TUC Education online with traditional classroom- beyond, maximising new modes based events. Programmes of delivery and engagement The Ufi-funded unionlearn include employment law, and retaining as much of the Transforming Open Online mental health at work and established offer as could be Learning project is key to project management. cost-effectively funded. As an implementing the TUC emergency stop-gap measure, Education strategy. A full following on the working online programme for reps is TUC Education funding group recommendations, TUC currently in development. The Education approached the purpose of this is to transform TUC Education is charged with trustees of the TUC Educational the union reps programme so providing a programme for all Trust, who agreed to funding of that it is freely available online union representatives with the £1.4m for the maintenance of and can be accessed as soon remit of building and supporting a network of college providers as a rep takes office at a time workplace organisation. It has from August 2016 to July 2017. and place most convenient been widely recognised by This funding was to anchor using a smart phone, tablet or successive governments that it is resources in supportive colleges PC. These programmes will be in the interests of the economy, to enable a programme for made available for wholly online employers, workers and their union reps to be offered as self-paced study or for tutor-led unions that representatives are flexibly as possible and to reach blended courses and to enhance properly trained to carry out out to union reps so far unable the delivery of classroom their increasingly complex and to make use of the service. programmes. Maximising the sophisticated roles. Despite A business plan has been online offer in this way will mean the success of the programme, developed that sets out how that TUC Education can deliver the coalition government took TUC Education is migrating to to potentially tens of thousands the decision to remove fee a predominately – though not of union representatives getting Congress 2017 General Council Report 61

An extract from the new health and safety e-learning resource to workforces we do not currently reach and to the next generation of union reps.

The new online Union Reps Stage 1, Health and Safety Reps Stage 1 and Union Learning Reps Stage 1 and 2 courses are all now available and a national campaign to drive up usage of the new materials is underway.

Information about all TUC Education programmes is available from the TUC Education website tuceducation.org.uk which includes a course directory for reps to look up and apply for any course (classroom, blended or online) across the UK. The site allows support to existing learners and embeds online and blended learning across the programme, with easy access for reps to TUC resources.

The site is also home to eNotes, a resource developed to help workplace reps stay up to date on key workplace issues. Each eNote is a self-contained e-learning module that contains a mixture of text, videos and quizzes lasting between 10 and 45 minutes. There are currently over thirty eNotes available including:

ȓȓ The Trade Union Act ȓȓ Mental Health in TUC Education is also trialling ȓȓ Apprenticeships – the Workplace a series of webinars to provide Know Your Rights further support and updates ȓȓ Domestic Violence for reps and officers. Webinars ȓȓ Health and Safety are advertised on the TUC and Organising ȓȓ Facility Time Education website. Topics for future webinars include the ȓȓ Equality Law ȓȓ Vulnerable Employment. Apprenticeship Levy, sexual harassment, stress, occupational ȓȓ Sexual Harassment cancer and wellbeing. SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

More and more learners are taking up the online offer from TUC Education © Shutterstock

Union Professional International and TUC Educational Trust Development Programme European partnerships The TUC Educational This year, the Union Professional TUC Education continues to be Trust supports trade union Development Programme, involved in transnational work education through: through TUC Education, trained reflecting TUC priorities. Tutors 562 union officials, combining teach extensively on courses ȓȓ bursaries for students at more flexible learning options organised through the European Ruskin College, Coleg with traditional classroom- Trade Union Institute. TUC Harlech and Northern College based events. Programmes Education has a longstanding include employment law, relationship with the United ȓȓ supporting trade union mental health at work and Nations staff associations and learners working online project management. delivered training to both them and to the UNAIDS Executive ȓȓ supporting programmes at Committee in 2016. Keele University

ȓȓ Union Women Professionals Summer School bursaries (with the support of the Mary Macarthur Trust). Congress 2017 General Council Report 63

TUC EDUCATION SERVICE STATISTICS 2016

Table 1: Union workplace representatives, courses, 2016

Region Union Safety Specialist Short Totals Officials Representatives courses courses

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 1 Stage 2

South & East 13 14 19 7 24 708 785 South West 1 2 6 0 19 62 90 West Midlands 4 2 7 4 6 146 169 East Midlands 0 1 4 1 3 52 61 Yorks & the Humber 9 6 9 5 21 218 268 North West 20 7 16 8 21 169 241 Northern 10 2 5 3 2 39 61 Wales 22 3 4 2 25 159 215 Scotland 10 1 8 2 5 115 141 Northern Ireland 13 7 12 3 51 10 96 Totals 102 45 90 35 177 1,678 2,127

Table 2: Union workplace representatives, students, 2016

Region Union Safety Specialist Short Totals Officials Representatives courses courses

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 1 Stage 2

South & East 110 160 175 58 244 7,943 8,690 South West 4 16 58 0 220 863 1,161 West Midlands 37 31 115 46 64 1,743 2,036 East Midlands 0 14 43 9 32 621 719 Yorks & Humber 82 47 96 50 165 2,431 2,871 North West 237 78 197 92 184 2,498 3,286 Northern 147 25 57 30 26 626 911 Wales 274 30 37 24 266 1,849 2,480 Scotland 112 8 71 16 47 1,161 1,415 Northern Ireland 166 74 138 32 776 117 1,303 Totals 1,169 483 987 357 2,024 19,852 24,872 Women (%) 27.54 33.33 27.66 20.73 43.08 38.16 37.30 SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

Table 3: Short course students by generic course title, 2016

Generic title Students

Industrial Relations/Collective Bargaining 4,218 Health and Safety 4,353 Induction 3,303 Equality 1,168 Information Communication Technology 561 Skills/Languages 999 Organising and Recruitment 1,989 Other* 3,261 Total 19,852

* Other courses include those organised in response to union requests

Table 4: TUC day-release and short courses provision, 1998–2016

Year Union Health and Follow-on/ Short Evening Totals Officials Safety specialist courses classes Stage 1 & 2 Stage 1 & 2

Courses Students Courses Students Courses Students Courses Students Courses Students Courses Students 1998 340 3,980 485 5,788 170 1697 1,121 13,442 332 4,187 2,448 29,094 1999 345 4,102 443 5,375 194 2,029 1,287 14,801 336 4,205 2,605 30,512 2000 348 3,977 463 5,692 132 1,589 1,182 15,079 373 4,469 2,498 30,806 2001 307 3,560 430 5,264 118 1,379 1,570 19,157 282 3,111 2,707 32,471 2002 328 3,460 397 4,925 390 4,107 1,902 21,427 53 680 3,070 34,599 2003 288 3,161 404 4,502 562 5,252 2,135 23,873 85 1,058 3,474 37,846 2004 309 3,413 398 4,715 558 6,057 2,367 27,176 112 1,180 3,744 42,541 2005 279 2,917 353 4,021 487 4,800 2,954 33,561 82 1,203 4,155 46,502 2006 262 2,784 339 3,778 316 3,032 2,854 38,585 79 933 3,850 49,112 2007 68 2,667 355 3,781 359 3,730 3,097 41,085 130 1,367 4,209 52,630 2008 213 2,251 284 3,105 302 4,537 3,359 46,466 147 1,298 4,305 57,657 2009 202 2,155 294 3,120 314 3,105 4,018 48,483 155 1,458 4,983 58,321 2010 210 2,194 252 2,710 246 2,904 3,510 47,888 168 1,467 4,386 57,163 2011 188 1,969 240 2,522 213 2,148 2,847 39,758 134 1,550 3,622 47,947 2012 182 1,986 236 2,468 275 2,716 3,166 43,375 159 1,653 4,018 52,198 2013 212 2,241 211 2,216 219 2,336 2,592 35,589 144 1,374 3,378 43,756 2014 239 2,604 209 2,090 180 1,941 2,214 26,609 147 1,487 2,989 34,731 2015 179 1,986 164 1,667 147 1,499 2,085 23,969 128 1,247 2,703 30,368 2016 147 1,652 125 1,344 177 2,024 1,585 18,732 93 1,120 2,127 24,872 Congress 2017 General Council Report 65

Table 5: Percentage take-up of places on TUC 10-day and short courses, 2016 (unions with 0.5 per cent and upwards of total affiliated membership)

Total affiliated membership 5,659,996 Total number of students attending TUC day-release courses 5,020 Total number of students attending TUC short courses 19,852

Union % of total TUC % take-up of TUC places Short courses membership on 10-day courses

Unite 23.7 17.37 23.18 UNISON 21.5 16.16 17.98 GMB 10.8 12.99 8.56 USDAW 7.78 2.57 19.15 NUT 5.89 0.02 0.17 NASUWT 5.22 0.10 0.90 PCS 3.45 5.20 5.53 CWU 3.4 1.71 7.58 Prospect 2.47 0.60 0.65 ATL 2.22 0.06 0.01 UCU 1.86 0.96 2.28 RMT 1.48 2.95 1.27 EIS 0.94 0.12 0.21 Equity 0.72 0.08 0.03 CSP 0.71 0.02 0.84 FBU 0.63 1.06 1.88 RCM 0.58 0.02 0.92 Community 0.56 0.06 1.16 MU 0.54 0.00 0.00 NUJ 0.53 0.00 0.01 POA 0.53 0.62 0.10 NAHT 0.51 0.00 0.00 SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

5.6 Unionlearn and the “ULF projects account for 83 per cent Union Learning Fund of this total and once again exceeded Over the past year, union expectations by supporting learning has continued to add value to union membership 210,000 learners.” and individual unions have successfully delivered on this agenda with the support of the unions. Over the past year 28 The evaluation also pins down Union Learning Fund (ULF) and ULF projects were approved, wider economic returns from the unionlearn. A quarter of a million amounting to £9.8m. ULF, including that it contributes learners were supported via the £1.4bn to the economy as a union route in the year to March Unionlearn periodically result of a boost to jobs, wages 2017. In line with Resolutions commissions independent and productivity. It is estimated 77 and 78, the TUC has made evaluations of the ULF and that for every £1 of ULF money: representations to government unionlearn and one of the about maintaining public largest to date was undertaken ȓȓ learners get £7.60 in higher funding for union learning, in 2015/16 by Leeds and wages/better job prospects highlighted the limitations of a Exeter universities. The final one-year funding programme, report of the evaluation was ȓȓ employers get £4.70 in and prioritised union published in October 2016 increased skills/productivity engagement in apprenticeships. and it identified a wide range of positive impacts for both ȓȓ the return to the Exchequer ULF projects account for 83 employees and employers from from increased tax is £3.57. per cent of this total and once their engagement with union again exceeded expectations learning, including: In addition to providing support by supporting 210,000 learners, for ULF projects, unionlearn which was 26 per cent more than ȓȓ more than two-thirds of supports union learning the targets set in its operational learners with no previous through a range of other plans. The learning and training qualification gained one initiatives, including: delivered by ULF projects is through union learning diverse, including: 27,000 ȓȓ support for wider union English and maths learners; ȓȓ one in five participants were activities on learning and skills 30,000 ICT learners; 37,000 subsequently awarded a outside of the ULF people undertaking continuing promotion or increased professional development responsibility at work and one ȓȓ helping unions engage in, courses; and 40,000 people in ten gained a pay rise and promote, high-quality engaged in informal adult apprenticeships, including community learning. In addition, ȓȓ nearly half (46 per cent) of advising unions on the impact over 14,000 apprentices were non-union members that of the levy supported by unions running undertook union learning ULF projects in this period. through the ULF subsequently ȓȓ developing online English joined a union and maths assessment tools Unionlearn is responsible for for ULRs managing the ULF projects, ȓȓ over three-quarters of including the annual assessment employers said the ULF ȓȓ the union learning Climbing and award of bids, regular had a positive effect in Frame, a free website project monitoring and a range their workplaces and nearly developed for ULRs to help of direct support activities for half said it increased staff support learners commitment levels. Congress 2017 General Council Report 67

The amount the Union Learning Fund (ULF) contributes to the the ILO in June. The UK will economy by boosting jobs, wages and productivity host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London in April ȓȓ the Mid-life Career Review Committee are Frances 2018 and the TUC is preparing project, which is supporting O’Grady (also on the Steering union involvement in it. Frances ULRs to help individuals Committee), the General O’Grady and Sally Hunt met with review their life and Council’s Europe spokesperson the Commonwealth secretary career plans Steve Turner, Sally Hunt and general Baroness Scotland in Dave Prentis. The Pan-European May to discuss trade justice and ȓȓ a project to support ULRs to Regional Council executive met LGBT rights. develop pathways to higher in March, with Steve Turner, learning for union learners Sally Hunt and Frances O’Grady Frances O’Grady represents the TUC representatives. the TUC on the administrative ȓȓ support and briefing for union The TUC European Network committee and plenary of representative on a range of brings together union officers TUAC, which met in December skills bodies. responsible for European issues and June. The TUC took part and met in October, January in TUAC’s work on OECD Other aspects of the work and May, focusing on Brexit, policies on economics and of the TUC and unionlearn trade policy and the proposed training, as well as discussions on education and skills can European Pillar of Social Rights. on due diligence and business be found in Sections 1 and The TUC is represented on and human rights, and 3. Unionlearn produces a the EU Economic and Social representation at meetings separate annual report on Committee by Nick Crook of the G7 and G20. Frances its activities that is available (UNISON), Brian Curtis (RMT/ O’Grady represented the TUC at at unionlearn.org.uk WTUC), Diane Kelly (UNISON), the L20 meeting of trade unions Martin Mayer (Unite), Judy from G20 countries in Berlin in McKnight (convenor), Amarjite May. The general secretary of 5.7 Global union Singh (CWU), Agnes Tolmie TUAC, John Evans, retired in organisations (Unite/STUC) and Kathleen July and his successor will be Walker-Shaw (GMB). appointed in December. The TUC affiliates to and plays a major role in three The ITUC General Council, on international trade union which the TUC is represented 5.8 Global solidarity organisations: the European by Frances O’Grady and the Trade Union Confederation General Council’s international The TUC continues to (ETUC), the International spokesperson Sally Hunt, met demonstrate solidarity with Trade Union Confederation in November in Vienna. During trade unions around the world, (ITUC) and the Trade Union the year, the TUC has engaged especially those experiencing Advisory Committee to the in ITUC campaigns on workers’ repression and abuse. The OECD (TUAC). rights including the global following countries have been survey of abuses of trade union particular priorities for the TUC, The ETUC held its mid-term rights; mega-sporting events; but we have also continued conference in Rome in May, climate change; women’s to support trade unionists in setting priorities for the next two organisation; and development countries such as Argentina, years: investment, higher wages, co-operation. Iran, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, just transition to address climate and we work closely with change and digitalisation, fair The ITUC’s Commonwealth organisations like Amnesty trade and fair migration. TUC Trade Union Group (CTUG) held International, Cuba Solidarity representatives on the Executive its Annual General Meeting at Campaign and the Palestine SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

Solidarity Campaign. Reports the social justice and equality Jae-in, a former human rights feature regularly on the Stronger measures put in place by lawyer, would mean workers’ Unions website. the Workers Party. The TUC rights would be respected supported the campaign to and called for the release of We also continue to maintain defend former President Lula the KCTU leader Han San- strong connections with unions and held a rally at Congress gyen from prison. The TUC in Australia, Canada, Japan (a House with shadow foreign continues to highlight that bilateral meeting took place secretary Emily Thornberry such abuses contravene in Liverpool and London in joining ITUC’s Brazilian President commitments Korea made in June), Nigeria, South Africa and Joao Felicio. its trade deal with the EU, and the USA. The annual bilateral membership of the OECD, to meeting with German trade Colombia: As recognised in honour core international labour unionists, supported by the Emergency Resolution 2 from commitments standards. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, took the 2016 Congress, the peace place in July. deal, in which the TUC-backed Nicaragua: The TUC acted Justice for Colombia (JFC) in support of workers in Bangladesh: The TUC had played a significant role, Nicaragua’s garment sector responded to a crisis in was finally signed. This brings when a labour protest in an Bangladesh as its government great hopes for the future, but Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and employers colluded in the meantime much work is in Managua ended with the in attacking trade unions. still needed to protect trade intervention of riot police, who Following a strike in the capital, unionists and other human made indiscriminate arrests and Dhaka, 34 union leaders rights defenders as the country threatened the union leadership were imprisoned, while 1,600 and its warring parties adjust with three-year prison sentences. members lost their jobs. Joining to the new reality. Trade union The TUC requested an audience with international partners, leader Huber Ballesteros with the Nicaraguan ambassador the TUC demonstrated with was released from gaol after to the UK, who agreed to unions and NGOs outside relentless campaigning by JFC. convey our deep concerns to the High Commission in Huber, who was arrested as her government. Nicaragua has London. Importantly, the TUC he prepared to fly to address the best labour rights in the was able through the ETI to Congress in 2013, had spent region, but there are concerns coordinate the response of 40 months in prison awaiting a among global union federations British companies sourcing from trial that never came. The TUC that financial pressures from Bangladesh, who threatened a demanded swift action by the particularly South Korean boycott of a major Bangladeshi Colombian government when, companies could lead to an industry event and warned that after his release, Huber was erosion of rights in EPZs. their continued investment the target of death threats by would be at risk if the union paramilitary groups. Somalia: Frances O’Grady wrote leaders were not released, to HMG Ambassador in Somalia contributing to a climbdown by Korea: The TUC organised a in response to unwarranted the government and freedom for demonstration at the Korean criminal accusations being all those arrested. embassy in November in directed towards the secretary support of the general strike general of the National Union Brazil: The TUC continued held by the national union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), to support the Brazilian trade centre KCTU to protest against Omar Faruk Osman. He was union movement in opposing government repression of summoned to appear, shortly the legislative coup that saw trade unions. In May, the TUC before departing to the President Dilma replaced by wrote to the Ambassador of International Labour Conference, the corrupt Temer regime, and Korea expressing hope that before the Attorney General’s which set about dismantling the election of President Moon Office for interrogation for Congress 2017 General Council Report 69

Global solidarity: National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) © TUC

speaking out on government state of emergency decree the creation of a special ITUC/ policies on press freedom and introduced in the aftermath ETUC solidarity fund in support journalists’ rights. She urged of the failed coup earlier of the trade union movement the Ambassador to press the that summer, deliberately and civil servants being Somali government, specifically targeting trade unionists and summarily dismissed. The TUC the Minister of Information, public officials. The TUC has supported a case against the to stop these continued stepped up solidarity activities, Turkish government at the anti-union activities. including taking part in an ETUC ILO conference in June and delegation to Turkey in early other solidarity actions led by Turkey: The 2016 Congress May (Simon Dubbins, Unite), and European and global union adopted Emergency Resolution attending KESK congress in July federations in the education and 7 on Turkey and solidarity (Chris Weavers and Abdullah transport sectors. with the Kurdish population, Muhsin, NASUWT) to show our expressing concern at the support. We also supported SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

Garment worker carries trousers to sell in the local market in Dhaka, Bangladesh © Abir Abdullah/EPA/Rex/Shutterstock

TUC Aid ȓȓ follow-up labour law, ȓȓ support for IndustriALL to grievance resolution and hire a union coordinator to TUC Aid is the TUC’s charitable collective bargaining training improve the condition of arm for development for women in the Bangladeshi women in the textile sector in cooperation. Trustees are Gail National Garment Workers’ Tamil Nadu, India Cartmail (chair), Owen Tudor Federation to develop (secretary), Sheila Bearcroft, their skills and confidence ȓȓ support for a self-employed Sue Ferns, Sally Hunt, Frances as negotiators workers’ union in Nicaragua, O’Grady, Chris Tansley to recruit and support woman and Fiona Wilson. It met in ȓȓ a Bangladeshi Occupational members and enable women December, April and July. The Safety, Health and to take senior roles Trade Union Unit Trust has Environment (BOSHE) generously begun to match Foundation project to raise ȓȓ partnering with Banana fund projects and plans exist awareness of ‘just transition’ Link’s appeal to assist two for closer cooperation. Projects to tackle climate change Peruvian unions to rebuild under way or initiated include: homes, offices and lives ȓȓ the restoration of the Beit after floods and mudslides; Lahia plant nursery, damaged and to support SITRABI to by the Israeli bombings in organise banana workers in Gaza, Palestine Southern Guatemala Congress 2017 General Council Report 71

ȓȓ producing the Federation of ȓȓ South West TUC has the last year by Norwegian Somali Trade Unions’ second responded with the Better TUC and Yorkshire and the annual review of human and Jobs for All Bristol campaign, Humber TUC to share best trade union rights abuses in pressing the mayor to adopt practices in recruiting younger Somalia to aid lobbying for a range of measures including members, and learning about their end declaring Bristol a Living combating fascism. It is co- Wage City, agreeing an organising a series of events ȓȓ support for the Disability employment charter, looking over the course of 2017 with Champions International at ways to tackle employment partners such as Sheffield Programme in Ethiopia, abusers and boosting University and NEF on the Tanzania, Uganda quality apprenticeships and experience of precarious and Rwanda. career advice. employment and what this means for young workers. ȓȓ School students at Heathfield 5.9 English regions School near Taunton staged ȓȓ The Northern Region a lavish theatre production continues to contribute to In the English regions activities of Made in Dagenham. high-quality employment. have included: Previously the drama Through the Better Health group put on a play about at Work programme in ȓȓ A unionlearn conference to the Tolpuddle Martyrs – partnership with 13 local consider the impact of Brexit a section of which they authorities it has helped on Cornwall heard from a performed at the Festival – drive forward healthy range of speakers including and the concerns of young workplaces and reduce Matthew Thomson from people were highlighted health inequality across the Fifteen Restaurant and Kate by the South West Youth North East and Cumbria as Kennally, chief executive Parliament through a number a whole. At various stages of Cornwall Council. The of discussion groups at of the programme’s award, meeting heard of the fears Tolpuddle. They chose social 2,076 interventions were over the loss of migrant media and mental health as made that had an impact workers to sectors such as one subject, which attracted a on 345 employers. Popular tourism, care and agriculture. lot of interest and provoked a campaigns included alcohol very stimulating debate. and drug awareness, healthy ȓȓ The greater Bristol area is eating, physical activity, cancer the engine hub of the wider ȓȓ Achieving “just transition” awareness, stopping smoking regional economy and is in Yorkshire and the Humber and musculoskeletal concerns prosperous in many ways. remains a high priority, with to name but a few, engaging But there are deep divisions the TUC working to ensure 808,783 contacts and people and inequality across the city. a CCS project is approved as part of these campaigns. Average weekly pay drops in the region, despite a less Stress and mental health work, £90 between Bristol South sympathetic outlook from occupational cancers and and Bristol West. Bristol the national grid. This is part smoking cessation are all high Citizens Advice produced a of a wider industrial strategy priorities for trade unions. telling report into insecure around highly skilled well-paid The TUC has delivered 59 employment, using the jobs in the green economy. north-eastern Mental Health experience of their clients. First Aid courses covering 667 This was followed by an ȓȓ Young members also from participants, over a hundred exposé into conditions faced Yorkshire and the Humber Stressbusters programmes by so-called self-employed are working with Norwegian covering 1,122 people and an delivery drivers in Bristol. trade unionists through an additional 17 mental health exchange developed over awareness briefings. SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

Shakira Martin, NUS president, speaking at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, Dorset © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk Congress 2017 General Council Report 73

Poster (detail) produced to support the campaign for decent work in Wales 5.10 Wales TUC

Campaigning activities in Wales and the regions has supported and developed TUC priorities, as well as pursuing specific regional Powered by Welsh Trade Unions initiatives where relevant.

Wales TUC has devolved responsibility for Welsh matters within the TUC. The Wales TUC Conference makes Welsh policy and the Wales TUC ‘Wales can’t General Council oversees the implementation of that policy. This allows the Wales prosper while TUC to develop approaches appropriate for Wales in the valleys delivering trade union priorities that are shared across the trade struggle.’ union movement.

As part of the wider TUC, Watch my story at Wales TUC led the campaign www.betterjobswales.org in Wales against the UK Trade Union Act, with lobbies of Welsh MPs and UK government “The Better Jobs Closer to Home campaign ministers. In addition, the Wales TUC believes that aspects of focused on demanding that the Welsh the Westminster Act directly government prioritise achieving decent impinge on matters that are devolved to the Welsh work across the whole of Wales.” government and the National Assembly for Wales. The Wales TUC led a successful interfering in the Wales TUC’s democratic decision of Wales to campaign for the National social partnership approach have its own legislation in this Assembly to refuse consent for to delivering public services area, the Wales TUC will lead the UK government to apply in Wales. It means that the a major campaign in defence its Trade Union Act in Wales. additional strike ballot threshold, of trade union rights and in When Westminster passed the restrictions on check off and defence of Welsh devolution. the Act regardless, the Wales the attack on facility time will TUC led a further successful not apply to devolved services. The Better Jobs Closer to campaign for Welsh legislation It also means that if the ban on Home campaign focused on to dis-apply the UK Act for using agency workers to break demanding that the Welsh devolved public services in strikes is lifted in the UK this will government prioritise achieving Wales. The Trade Union Act remain illegal for areas under decent work across the whole (Wales) 2017 was passed by Welsh government control such of Wales. However, the Wales the National Assembly in as health, education and local TUC’s particular focus was July. The Welsh Act stops the government. Should there be the coalfield, steel and heavy Westminster government from any attempt to undermine the manufacturing areas that have SECTION 5 STRONG UNIONS

suffered most from successive 5.11 Trades Tory UK government policies. councils/UWCs Many working class parts of Wales have been failed by the The TUCJCC has supported free market and feel left behind. trades councils to contribute The former industrial Welsh to key campaign priorities valleys have significant numbers and trade union campaigns, continuing to suffer poverty and particularly those against lack of opportunity. The Wales austerity and cuts in public TUC said that “while the valleys services and welfare, including struggle, Wales will not prosper promoting the Welfare Charter – and what’s more while the adopted at Congress 2016, valleys struggle, Wales will not as has the network of TUC deserve to prosper”. As a result Unemployed Workers Centres. of the Wales TUC campaign, the Welsh government has set up a Trades councils continued to ministerial taskforce to develop support an extensive range of a cross-government targeted events on International Workers plan aimed at helping thousands Memorial Day and also May Day of disadvantaged workers into events across the country. Trades decent work in the valleys. This councils mobilised in support of will include direct government many local and national events, intervention in employability including defending the NHS and and skills, help for access to at various stations to support the work and job progression Action for Rail campaign days. and reserving government procurement contracts to The number of trades union establish employment hubs in councils registering by the 2017 areas of high deprivation. In deadline was 141, compared to response to the Wales TUC, 149 by the end of 2016, plus 24 the Welsh first minister has county associations, including gone further and committed his the formation of a County government to making Wales Trades Council in Cornwall for a ‘fair work nation’. The steps the first time in trade union on the way to achieving this will history, leading and supporting be developed and delivered key campaigns. through the social partnership approach and the Wales TUC is taking a leading role in this.

The detailed Welsh work programme and full Wales TUC Conference reports on the delivery of Welsh devolved policy priorities are available on the Wales TUC web pages.

Congress Centre staff Jenny and Mama © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk SECTION 6 TUC ADMIN AND ORGANISATION SECTION 6 TUC ADMIN AND ORGANISATION

6.1 Developing the TUC “The 2016 Congress was held

The TUC has undergone a in Brighton and it carried 50 significant amount of internal resolutions, 18 composites and change over the last year, to meet the external challenges 7 emergency resolutions.” we face. We aim to maintain our finances on a secure footing over the longer term and ensure 6.3 Congress House the area around the Congress that the TUC remains a great improvements Hall that should improve its place to work so that we can appeal, as will the opening of deliver everything we undertake Second only to our staff, Crossrail. We continue to look on your behalf. Congress House is our biggest at what more we can do to asset and we have a duty to market effectively and maximise the wider movement to make value from the Congress 6.2 Our people, learning the best possible use of this Centre facilities. and development resource. We completed the last of our staff moves early in 2017 We have seen a substantial into more modern and effective 6.5 IT strategy and decrease in staff numbers over working areas over a smaller information services the last year. In light of the area. This has freed up space ending of fees remission and for new and existing tenants. Under the banner of our IT the need to deliver the new A major programme of work to strategy, overseen by a new trade union education plan, refurbish the south side of the IT steering group, a major we needed to make reductions building will be completed in project is underway to improve to the staffing as well as 2017 with the aim of increasing our IT infrastructure. This will restructure the work in this area. income from tenants. deliver secure infrastructure At the same time, we opened a at significant cost savings, voluntary severance scheme and improving our file management were able to make other staff 6.4 Congress Centre and data protection compliance. reductions where work could – a valued venue We have all received data be cut or absorbed by other protection training and our colleagues. This enabled us to Congress Centre continues to contact database is improving. save on overall staffing costs be a valued venue for the TUC Under the infrastructure while increasing the number of and affiliates, and a source project, we will have a range policy and campaign support of income as we welcome of new tools to help us work officers in the regions – staff who external organisations to its across the TUC to deliver our work closely with unions. events, conference and meeting main objectives. facilities. 2016 was a successful Over the last year, staff year for Congress Centre, with The information line supported have continued to take up a income coming in on target. We over 4,500 public enquiries in wide range of learning and have delivered a wide variety 2016, of which over 2,400 were development opportunities, in of events, from conferences to from people who wanted to particular in social media and fashion shows, and we continue know how to join a union. other campaigning skills as we to receive great feedback. build our capability in these areas. We moved to a new HR This year will be challenging, and payroll system, which will as the venue has been affected improve services to staff. by the building works. We are making some changes to Congress 2017 General Council Report 77

Voting in the hall at Congress after a debate © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

6.6 Affiliations 6.7 Congress awards 6.8 Congress and mergers The winners of this year’s The 2016 Congress was held The Artists’ Union England Congress awards for lay in Brighton and it carried 50 affiliated to the TUC in representatives are as follows: Resolutions, 18 Composites and September 2016. 7 Emergency Resolutions. It also ȓȓ Learning Award agreed a statement on the TUC BECTU merged into Prospect, Daphne Robins, Unite Campaign Plan 2016–17. One and UCATT merged into Unite motion was lost. An index is in January 2017. ȓȓ Young Members Award included in this report showing Steven Warwick, PCS where, within the report, the NUT and ATL are due to merge action taken on each of the into the National Education ȓȓ Organising Award resolutions is reported. Union (NEU) in September 2017. Stephen Garelick, GMB During the year, the Executive ȓȓ Women’s Gold Badge Working Group on Congress Jean Rogers, Equity continued to play a consultative role to advise on arrangements ȓȓ Health and Safety Award to Congress. Anthony Lampey, Usdaw SECTION 6 TUC ADMIN AND ORGANISATION

6.9 General Council Specific areas 6.10 Senior staff and of responsibility internal structure At the time of writing, the General Council has held seven ȓȓ Disabled workers Sam Gurney was appointed meetings during the Congress Seán McGovern in October 2016 as head of year. At the first meeting, held Equality and Strategy, covering jointly with the outgoing General ȓȓ Environment and sustainable for Alice Hood’s maternity leave. Council of the 2016 Congress, development Mary Bousted was elected as Sue Ferns Head of unionlearn, Liz Rees, chair and she will preside at the retired in January 2017. 2017 Congress. It was agreed ȓȓ Europe Unionlearn subsequently that the Executive Committee Steve Turner merged with the Organising and should be composed of the Services Department. existing members, with the ȓȓ Health and safety exception of Christine Blower Liz Snape MBE and Joanna Brown, who 6.11 Women’s were leaving, and with Maria ȓȓ International development Conference Exall and Sue Ferns joining Gail Cartmail the Committee. TUC Women’s Conference 2017 ȓȓ International relations saw 294 delegates from 30 In February 2017, John Sally Hunt unions registered. There were Smith, general secretary of 24 observers and 41 visitors. the Musicians’ Union, retired ȓȓ Learning and skills The conference took place from the General Council. Mary Bousted at Congress House from 8 to In April 2017, his successor 10 March 2017. There were Horace Trubridge joined the ȓȓ LGBT+ rights keynote speeches from Mary General Council as Musicians’ Maria Exall Bousted, Esther Lynch (ETUC) Union representative. and Sarah Champion MP. There ȓȓ Migration was also a panel discussion During the course of the year, Mohammad Taj OBE on ending violence against the General Council’s work has women, featuring Marai Larasai focused on the implementation ȓȓ Public services of Imkaan, Karen Ingala Smith of the Trade Union Act, leaving Dave Prentis of the Nia Project and Jane the European Union and the Pillinger, a leading academic 2017 general election. ȓȓ Race equality who has undertaken work for Gloria Mills MBE the ETUC on the trade union Overall responsibility as lead role in combating violence spokesperson for the TUC ȓȓ Trade Union Councils against women. The general secretary, Matt Wrack Frances O’Grady Delegates organised a social ȓȓ Women media campaign in support of Senior representative throughout Sue Ferns women’s struggle for safe and the Congress year legal abortion in Ireland. The president, Mary Bousted ȓȓ Youth Craig Dawson Fifty-one motions and three emergency motions were submitted. Forty-two resolutions were adopted including composite motions. The motion Congress 2017 General Council Report 79

Delegates at TUC Black Workers Conference, Congress House © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

selected for Congress was Bouattia, NUS resident, and 6.13 Disabled Workers Composite 4, Ending the gender Marilyn Reed from the Sarah Conference pay gap. Reed Campaign. The 16th TUC Disabled Workers The theme for the conference Conference took place on 6.12 Black Workers was Mobilising Black 18 and 19 May 2017. It was Conference Workers and Communities. chaired by Janine Booth, Seán The conference featured McGovern, Mandy Hudson and The 24th TUC Black Workers a panel debate on Black Tony Sneddon. Conference was Conference was held from 7 to Workers, Precarious Work addressed by Mary Bousted, 9 April 2017 at Congress House. and Outsourcing. Delegates TUC president, Seán McGovern, The conference, chaired by took part in workshops that Tara Flood of the Alliance for Floyd Doyle, was attended by were facilitated by trade union Inclusive Education and young 218 delegates from 28 affiliated tutors and discussed various Unite activist Aisling Gallagher. unions. The TUC president, aspects of race equality and Conference debated 21 motions Mary Boustead, addressed the collective bargaining. on subjects including mental conference, as did the general health, discrimination and access secretary, Frances O’Grady. to employment. Conference was Other speakers were Sandra attended by 197 delegates from Kerr, director of Business in 23 unions. the Community, Chris Booth, director of CHAPS, Malia SECTION 6 TUC ADMIN AND ORGANISATION

Some of the winners from this year’s Trade Union Comms Awards © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

6.14 LGBT+ Conference 6.15 Young Workers 6.16 Trades Councils Conference Conference The TUC LGBT+ Conference took place on 6 and 7 July 2017. The TUC Young Workers A very positive and enthusiastic It was chaired by Julia Neal, Conference 2017 saw 91 trades council conference took Maria Exall, Debbie Hayton and delegates and 23 unions place with 84 delegates at the Pat Carberry. The conference registered. There were 27 Stadium of Light in Sunderland was addressed by TUC General visitors. There were workshops the weekend following the Secretary Frances O’Grady, on apprenticeships, Brexit general election result in June. Stephen Doughty MP, Ruth Hunt and reaching out to young Matt Wrack, the GC lead for the of Stonewall, Lucy Anderson workers. Sixteen motions and TUCJCC chaired the conference, MEP and Phyllis Opoku- three emergency motions which heard keynote speeches Gyimah of UK Black Pride. The were submitted. Fifteen from Simon Kennedy of Friends conference debated motions on resolutions were adopted of Durham Miners, Helen Cook topics including mental health, including composites. The from UNISON speaking about young workers and making selected motion to Congress is the Durham teaching assistants’ sex and relationship education Composite A, Apprenticeships. industrial action and campaign, LGBT inclusive. Gordon Arnott from the Scottish Trades Councils movement and Ian Lavery MP, Labour’s election campaign coordinator. Congress 2017 General Council Report 81

6.17 TUC Trade Union ȓȓ Best campaign ȓȓ Reaching out to Communications Awards communications Young Workers Unite This year we celebrated the ȓȓ Work, Equality and 40th anniversary of the awards. ȓȓ Best designed communication Global Justice Eighteen unions took part in GMB the competition, with a total ȓȓ Making Devolution and of 73 entries that showcased ȓȓ Best innovation Decentralisation Work a variety of high-quality UNISON communications from across the ȓȓ Supporting the union movement. Campaign Plan. 6.18 TUC finances The judges were: Kathleen Christie, campaigner; Alan The TUC’s accounts for 2016 Statement of Accounts Jones, journalist; Rt Hon Alan (see Appendix 3) show a Johnson, former MP; and Jon total deficit across all funds The annual Statement of Skewes, director for policy of £5,913m, including asset Accounts and Balance Sheet employment relations and revaluations and FRS 102 as at 31 December 2016 is set communications, RCM. At the adjustments. The operating out in Appendix Three. The awards ceremony on 13 July, surplus on ordinary activities of Administration Fund (covering hosted by the TUC President, £88,000 comprises surpluses the day-to-day office running union communications of £121,000 and £24,000 expenses and staff costs) professionals and members on the administration and produced an operating surplus of the General Council Congress House dilapidations of £121,000. The Development were able to celebrate the funds respectively and a Fund, representing all non- competition entries. The TUC deficit of £57,000 on the unionlearn externally funded general secretary awarded development fund. projects together with projects the certificates. funded by the affiliation fee, showed an operating deficit of The winners were as follows: Development Fund £57,000, while unionlearn funds broke even. The Dilapidations ȓȓ Best membership In 2016, 10 per cent of the Fund showed that £496,000 communication – affiliation fee was allocated to was spent on the upkeep of print journal the Development Fund and Congress House during the year Nautilus International was used to promote new work and £520,000 was transferred to and General Council initiatives. the Dilapidations Fund from the ȓȓ Best membership This was used to support a Administration Fund. communication – digital variety of projects, with the main Nautilus International initiatives being: During 2016 our calculated FRS102 Pension Scheme ȓȓ Best communication ȓȓ Protecting Workers’ Right position moved from a for reps and activists to Strike and Promoting £18,379,000 surplus to a Usdaw Trade Unionism £8,278,000 surplus. This negative movement of ȓȓ Best recruitment/new ȓȓ Economy, Jobs and Skills £10,101,000, together with member communication the Dilapidation Fund surplus NASUWT ȓȓ Building the Post-Brexit of £24,000, the deficit on the Economy Development Fund of £57,000, the surplus for the year on the Administration Fund of SECTION 6 TUC ADMIN AND ORGANISATION

£121,000, the gain of £43,000 TUC Library can be found on sale of fixed assets and on social media at: investments, net revaluation Blogs gain of £3,809,000 and gain on http://blogs.londonmet.ac.uk/ foreign exchange of £248,000 tuc-library has reduced the funds of the Facebook TUC from £86,444,000 to facebook.com/tuclibrary £80,531,000. Pinterest pinterest.com/tuc_library Twitter Prospects and @TUC_Library developments Contact TUC librarian Jeff A budget for the Administration Howarth to arrange visits and Fund 2017 has been agreed inductions at: by the General Council. This London Metropolitan University showed a projected deficit The Wash Houses of £612,676, primarily as a Goulston Street consequence of the projected London E1 7NT fall in property income during 6.19 TUC library the refurbishment of Congress [email protected] House in order to enhance Located at London Metropolitan long-term rental income University, we attract a wide opportunities. The General range of researchers, interested Council approved a 6 pence in both the history and current (2.2 per cent) increase in the activities of trade unions, labour affiliation fee to £2.80 for 2017. history and adult education.

The rolling programme of We have three exhibitions internal audit work, conducted for loan: Solidarity and the by the accountants BDO, Miners’ Strike 84/85 (see continued in 2016 with above); the recently produced further ‘value for money A Special Relationship about audits’ and ‘operational and the connection between US and internal financial audits’ being British labour; and The Impact undertaken. During 2016, of the Russian Revolution on the internal audit reviewed the Left in Britain 1917 to 1926. financial and operational controls in respect of cash The Union Makes Us Strong; handling and the TUC charities The Workers’ War; Winning and a value for money audit Equal Pay; and Britain at Work was undertaken in respect (our websites, which include of Congress. During the image archives and oral next 12 months, we will history) can all be accessed review the implementation from unionhistory.info and of recommendations from continue to be very popular with past internal audits to ensure researchers and educators. that systems are functioning as expected. OBITUARIES OBITUARIES

Neil Buist, who died in January Kevin Halpin, who died Dr Ronald Owen, who died in aged 51, was general secretary in February aged 89, was April aged 96, was the TUC’s of the National Association of a workplace activist in the medical adviser from 1976 to Co-operative Officials (NACO). engineering industry and 1989. During this time he helped He became assistant general lifelong communist. Sacked develop the TUC’s work on secretary of NACO in 2002 by Ford for his trade union health and safety, occupational and general secretary in 2006, activities and subsequently health and industrial and represented his members blacklisted, he eventually found health hazards. during a challenging period work at Harland & Wolff where for the cooperative movement. he became a shop steward. Previously he was an assistant He was one of the founders of general secretary with UNIFI, the the Liaison Committee for the banking and finance union, and Defence of Trade Unions, which a senior staff representative with organised and supported a the NatWest Staff Association. number of industrial struggles His interest in trade union in the 1970s and campaigned negotiation began when he successfully for the release of studied industrial relations at the Pentonville Five. He was also Keele University. a strong advocate for greater women’s representation in the trade union movement. Congress 2017 General Council Report 85

Brenda Procter, who died in Eric Roberts, who died in Betty Tebbs, who died in March aged 66, was a leading November 2016, was president January aged 98, was a lifelong figure during the miners’ strike of UNISON. Previously he had trade unionist. Her activism of 1984–85 as an activist within been branch secretary of the began at the age of 14, when the Women Against Pit Closures London Ambulance Service, with she turned up on the first day campaign and the North Staffs which he served with distinction of her job at the East Lancashire Miners’ Wives Action Group. for 42 years. A member of Paper Mill to discover the boys During the dispute, she helped UNISON’s NEC, he was elected were paid thirteen shillings start a food parcel distribution president in June 2016, the while the girls barely got nine. centre at Florence Colliery first ambulance clinician She quickly joined the National Miners’ Welfare in Stoke, to hold that office. Before Union of Printing, Bookbinding attended picket lines across joining the ambulance service and Paper Workers (now part of the country, and spoke at rallies he worked as an instrument Unite). In her 17 years at the mill, alongside Tony Benn, Arthur repairer at Rushworth’s music Betty Tebbs challenged sexual Scargill and Neil Kinnock. After house in Liverpool, where harassment and sexist attitudes the strike ended she supported bands including The Beatles and led women workers on a the Wapping printers’ dispute performed. A committed, successful strike for equal pay. A and the Liverpool dockers’ dedicated public servant, he was powerful advocate of women’s strike. Having left school at also a proud internationalist and rights, she campaigned for 15 without qualifications, arranged for old ambulances to nuclear disarmament, against she graduated with a degree be sent to Cuba, where he also the BNP, and for the Palestine in Industrial Relations from helped refurbish an emergency Solidarity Campaign. Keele University in the mid- control room. 1990s. In recent years Brenda provided support and advice for people on benefits who had been sanctioned. OBITUARIES

Mary Turner, who died in July, a lifelong passion for free was President of GMB – a post school meals, ensuring this she held for 20 years – and a became part of Labour policy. trade union activist for over She campaigned vigorously six decades. She started work against low pay, discrimination at 16 at Jackson’s Tailors, and the far right, and helped immediately joining the Tailor feed young people taking part and Garment Workers’ Union in the People’s March for Jobs. (which later became part of When first elected to the GMB the GMB), before becoming executive, she was the only Mother of the Chapel in the woman out of 40 members. She print industry. After having also served on the Labour Party children, she returned to work as National Executive Committee, a part-time dinner lady in Brent chairing the party in 2004. An and organised poorly paid, organiser, campaigner and badly treated female colleagues. fighter for justice, Mary made a During this time Mary developed huge impact throughout her life.

Workers at the Seacombe Ferry terminal, Liverpool © Darren O’Brien/Guzelian APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 ATTENDANCE 2016 –17

General Council

At the time of going to press, the General Council had held seven meetings during the Congress year.

Member Attendance Member Attendance Member Attendance

Sheila Bearcroft 4 Sally Hunt 7 Jon Skewes 4

Mary Bousted 5 Chris Keates 2 Eleanor Smith 2

Tony Burke 6 Annette Mansell-Green 6 John Smith3 2

Jane Carolan 0 Len McCluskey 0 Liz Snape MBE 5

Gail Cartmail 2 Seán McGovern 4 Michelle Stanistreet 1

Mick Cash 4 Roger McKenzie 6 Jane Stewart 1

Mike Clancy 7 Gloria Mills CBE 7 Claire Sullivan 7

Brian Cookson 7 Micky Nicholas 5 Niamh Sweeney 4

Manuel Cortes 4 Ged Nichols 5 Mohammad Taj OBE 7

Nick Cusack 6 Frances O’Grady 7 Chris Tansley 5

Kevin Courtney 6 Christine Payne1 2 Horace Trubridge4 1

Tony Dale 4 Dave Penman 7 Steve Turner 2

Craig Dawson 4 Dave Prentis 2 Dave Ward 5

Neil Derrick 4 Roy Rickhuss 2 Simon Weller 4

Mark Dickinson 4 Tim Roache 4 Fiona Wilson 5

Maria Exall 7 Linda Rolph 4 Tony Woodhouse 4

Sue Ferns 7 Maggie Ryan 0 Matt Wrack 7

Larry Flanagan 2 Brian Rye2 1 1 Equity was represented by other representatives on four occasions Steve Gillan 2 Malcolm Sage 3 2 Retired July 2017 3 Retired February 2017 4 John Hannett 0 Eddie Saville 7 Joined April 2017

Philipa Harvey 6 Mark Serwotka 2 Congress 2017 General Council Report 89

Executive Committee

At the time of going to press, the Executive Committee had held 10 meetings during the Congress year.

Member Attendance Member Attendance

Sheila Bearcroft 2 John Smith1 1

Mary Bousted (Chair) 10 Liz Snape 2

Tony Burke 7 Mohammad Taj 7

Jane Carolan 4 Steve Turner 5

Gail Cartmail 8 Fiona Wilson 5

Mike Clancy 7 Dave Ward 2

Maria Exall 10 Simon Weller 9

Sue Ferns 9 Matt Wrack 5

John Hannett 4 1 Retired February 2017

Sally Hunt 8

Chris Keates 1

Len McCluskey 1

Gloria Mills 6

Ged Nichols 7

Dave Prentis 0

Tim Roache 4

Mark Serwotka 4 APPENDIX 2 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 2016 –17

Disabled Workers Committee

General Council CWU NUT Unite Tony Sneddon Mandy Hudson Julian Allam Manuel Cortes David Allan Nick Cusack GMB POA Marsha de Cordova Ged Nichols Carl Lewthwaite Paul Meekin Phoebe Kemp Paul McCarthy Manjeet Sandhu Sean McGovern (chair) NASUWT Prospect Malcolm Sage Lara Morris Amy Bishop University and College Union Elected at the National Union of Public and Dr Malcolm Day Disabled Workers Rail, Maritime and Commercial Services Patricia Roche Conference Transport Workers Union Janine Booth Mark Leopard Usdaw BECTU Linda Carter Jane Perry NUJ UNISON Ann Galpin Sian Stockham Secretary to Community Committee Robert Mooney Sam Gurney

LGBT+ Committee

General Council Community National Union of University and Richard Angell Rail, Maritime and College Union Maria Exall Transport Workers Martin Chivers Ged Nichols CWU Sue Dunne Stephen Desmond Tim Poil John Monk Simon Weller Laurie Smith NUT Usdaw Annette Pryce Neil Smale Elected at the Fire Brigades Union LGBT+ Conference Pat Carberry Prospect Secretary to Claire Mullaly Committee ASLEF GMB Graham Nash Sam Gurney Darran Brown Carl Banks James Sutherland UNISON NASUWT Dettie Gould (chair) Association of Deborah Hayton Asha Wolfe-Robinson Teachers Peter Taylor and Lecturers Craig Warne Unite Julia Neal Lee Williscroft-Ferris Alex DeWinter Phil Jones BECTU Nigel Marley Rob Lugg Tom Sutherland Congress 2017 General Council Report 91

Pensioners Committee

Affiliated unions NASUWT TGWU Retired TUC Ian Millington Members Association ASLEF Paul Smith William Jupp Chair of Committee Tony West Kate Bell NUJ UNISON BALPA Monica Foot Rosie Macgregor Secretary to Trevor Phillips Brian Herbertson Committee Julian Soddy Unite Tim Sharp NUT Mike Pike Community Marion Wilson Bob Pinkerton Midlands TUC Peter Lightfoot Pensioners Network Public and Usdaw (observer) CWU Commercial Geoff Page Yvonne Washbourne Rodney Downing Services Union Eddie Spence Other Northern TUC GMB Pensions Advisory Derrick Baker MBE JP Prospect National Pensioners Group (observer) J Rogers Mike Moriarty Convention George Bell Ron Douglas Napo University and (observer) South West TUC Margaret Pearce College Union Pensioners Network Norman Jemison Janet Royston

Race Relations Committee

General Council Community National Union of University and Carol Hodgson Rail, Maritime and College Union Tony Dale Transport Workers Gargi Bhattacharyya Mark Dickinson CWU Jennifer Aggrey-Flynn Nathaniel A T Fern McCaffrey Winston Richards Coleman Roger McKenzie Sajid Shaikh NUT Gloria Mills CBE (chair) Amarjite Singh Pauline Blackstock Unite Michael Nicolas Betty Joseph Susan Matthews Tim Poil Fire Brigades Union Harish Patel Eleanor Smith Michael Nicholas Prospect Mohammed Taj Freddie Brown Usdaw GMB Maureen Loxley Elected at the Farzana Jumma Public and Black Workers’ Dotun Alade Commercial Services Secretary to Conference Odumosu Union Committee Zita Holbourne Sam Gurney ASLEF NASUWT Floyd Doyle Michelle Codrington- UNISON Rogers Carol Sewell BECTU Eleanor Smith Faisal A Qureshi APPENDIX 2 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 2016 –17

TUC Educational trustees

Sheila Bearcroft MBE Liz Snape MBE Secretary to Gloria Mills CBE Mohammad Taj Committee Dave Prentis Frances O’Grady Jackie Williams

Trades Union Councils Joint Consultative Committee

General Council Elected by the Dorothy Heath Secretary to Annual Trades Union Mick Houghton Committee Steve Gillan Councils Conference Martin Mayer Kevin Rowan Roger McKenzie Mandy Penellum Dave Ward Dave Chapple Hazel Perry Simon Weller Moz Greenshields Katrine Williams Stephen Hall Dave Wilson

TUC Trustees

Gail Cartmail Chris Keates Dave Prentis

Young Workers Forum

ASLEF Equity NUJ UNISON Tom Taylor Ben Luke Alex Macdonald Siobhan Cannon Hollie Yates Christine Payne Dave Coleman Paul Valentine NUT ATL Jordan Davies Unite Joe Lord FDA Kyle Marsh Aisling Gallagher Niamh Sweeney Dave Penman Sazia Shah Anna Lavery Nardia Thornton Charlotte Upton GMB PCS BECTU Jade Azim Laura Bee Usdaw Sam Smith Craig Dawson Sarah Spencer Daniel Forrest Community Jawad Kharn Bryony Hamblin Max Campbell Prospect Musicians’ Union Daniel Fahey Secretary to CWU Amanda Dal Elinor Harrison Committee Jamie George Kevin Rowan Becca Hufton Nautilus International University and Martin Gray College Union Louis Ramsden Harry Pitts Congress 2017 General Council Report 93

Unionlearn board

ATL GMB RCM Usdaw Mary Bousted (chair) Sheila Bearcroft Jon Skewes Tony Dale and ex officio as TUC Neil Derrick President HCSA UNISON Maria Exall Niamh Sweeney Eddie Saville Roger McKenzie TUC BDA NASUWT Unite Frances O’Grady Annette Mansell- Brian Cookson Gail Cartmail Kevin Rowan Green Maggie Ryan NUT Philipa Harvey

Women’s Committee

General Council Elected at Musicians’ Union UNISON the Women’s Kathy Dyson Lucia McKeever Sheila Bearcroft MBE Conference Eleanor Smith Mary Bousted NASUWT Jane Carolan ASLEF Ruth Ducan Unite Gail Cartmail Deborah Reay Kathy Duggan Diana Holland Maria Exall Susan Matthews Sue Ferns Community National Union of Philipa Harvey Tracy Barlow Rail, Maritime and University and Sally Hunt Transport Workers College Union Chris Keates CWU Mary Jane Herbison Vicky Knight (chair) Annette Mansell- Linda Roy Green NUT Usdaw Gloria Mills CBE Equity Heather McKenzie Ruth Cross Christine Payne Jean Rogers Sujata Patel Linda Rolph Public and Maggie Ryan Fire Brigades Union Commercial Secretary to Eleanor Smith Sam Rye Services Union Committee Liz Snape MBE Cheryl Gedling Sam Gurney Michelle Stanistreet GMB Jane Stewart Lorraine Parker RCM Claire Sullivan Delaz Ajete Natalie Linder Niamh Sweeney Dayna Edwin Fiona Wilson Evelyn Martin MBE APPENDIX 3 ACCOUNTS

Statement of the maintain a satisfactory system we do not accept or assume General Council’s of control over its accounting responsibility to anyone other responsibilities records, its cash holdings and than the TUC and its members all its receipts and remittances. as a body, for our audit work, Trade Union law requires the for this report, or for the General Council to prepare It is also responsible for opinions we have formed. financial statements in safeguarding the assets of accordance with applicable law the TUC and hence for taking and United Kingdom Generally reasonable steps for the Respective responsibilities Accepted Accountancy Practice prevention and detection of of the General Council for each financial year which fraud and other irregularities. and auditor give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the Trades As explained more fully in Union Congress (TUC) and of Independent auditor’s the Statement of the General the surplus or deficit of the TUC report to the members Council‘s Responsibilities, the for that period. In preparing of the Trades Union General Council is responsible those financial statements, the Congress for the preparation of the General Council is required to:- financial statements and We have audited the financial for being satisfied that they i. Select suitable accounting statements of the Trades Union give a true and fair view. policies and then apply Congress (TUC) for the year Our responsibility is to audit them consistently ended 31 December 2016 and express an opinion on which comprise the Statement the financial statements in ii. Make judgements and of Comprehensive Income, the accordance with applicable law estimates that are reasonable Balance Sheet, the Statement and International Standards and prudent of Cash Flows and the related on Auditing (UK and Ireland). notes. The financial reporting Those standards require us iii. State whether applicable framework that has been to comply with the Auditing accounting standards have applied in their preparation Practices Board’s Ethical been followed is applicable law and United Standards for Auditors. Kingdom Accounting Standards iv. Prepare the financial (United Kingdom Generally accounts on the going Accepted Accounting Practice), Scope of the audit of the concern basis unless it is including Financial Reporting financial statements inappropriate to presume Standard 102 (FRS 102) ‘the that the TUC will continue Financial Reporting Standard in An audit involves obtaining to operate. the UK and Republic of Ireland’. evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial The General Council is also This report is made solely to statements sufficient to give responsible for keeping the TUC’s members, as a body, reasonable assurance that the adequate accounting records in accordance with the Trade financial statements are free which disclose with reasonable Union and Labour Relations from material misstatement, accuracy at any time the (Consolidation) Act 1992. Our whether caused by fraud financial position of the TUC audit work has been undertaken or error. This includes an and to enable them to ensure so that we might state to the assessment of: whether that the financial statements Union’s members those matters the accounting policies are comply with the Trade we are required to state to appropriate to the union’s Union and Labour Relations them in an auditor’s report and circumstances and have been (Consolidation) Act 1992. for no other purpose. To the consistently applied and It must also establish and fullest extent permitted by law, adequately disclosed; the Congress 2017 General Council Report 95

reasonableness of significant Matters on which Moore Stephens LLP accounting estimates made we are required to by the General Council; and report by exception Chartered accountants and the overall presentation of statutory auditor, London the financial statements. We have nothing to report In addition, we read all the in respect of the following 5 July 2017 financial and non-financial matters where the Trade information in the Annual Union and Labour Relations Report to identify material (Consolidation) Act 1992 inconsistencies with the requires us to report to you if, audited financial statements in our opinion: and to identify any information that is apparently materially ȓȓ adequate accounting records incorrect based on, or have not been kept, or materially inconsistent with, returns adequate for our the knowledge acquired by audit have not been received us in the course of performing from branches not visited by the audit. If we become us; or aware of any apparent material misstatements or ȓȓ the union has not maintained inconsistencies we consider the a satisfactory system of implications for our report. control over its transactions in accordance with the requirements of section 28 of Opinion on financial the Trade Union and Labour statements Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992; or In our opinion the financial statements: ȓȓ the financial statements are not in agreement with ȓȓ give a true and fair view of the accounting records and the state of the TUC’s affairs returns; or as at 31 December 2016 and of its surplus for the year ȓȓ certain disclosures within then ended; the form AR21 of Officers’ remuneration specified by ȓȓ have been properly law are not made; or prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally ȓȓ we have not received all the Accepted Accounting information and explanations Practice; and we require for our audit.

ȓȓ have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. APPENDIX 3 ACCOUNTS

Trades Union Congress Statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 December 2016 Note Total Admin Development Unionlearn Dilapidations fund fund fund £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 Income Affiliation fees 15,515 13,062 1,550 903 - Property rental and service charges 3,329 3,329 - - - Investment income 261 261 - - - Sales and publications 246 239 7 - - Donations and fees received 14,881 100 1,493 13,288 - Total income 34,232 16,991 3,050 14,191 - Expenditure Staff costs 2 13,170 9,687 1,059 2,424 - Property charges 3 2,759 1,850 167 246 496 Office expenses 4 1,716 1,546 117 53 - Projects and campaigns 5 2,533 279 1,357 897 - International affiliation fees 6 1,866 1,866 - - - Travel and meetings 522 244 114 164 - Congress 270 270 - - - Trade Union education 297 2 255 40 - Grants and donations 7 10,520 115 38 10,367 - Depreciation 9 358 358 - - - Taxation 8 295 295 - - - VAT recovered (162) (162) - - - Transfer between funds - 520 - - (520) Total expenditure 34,144 16,870 3,107 14,191 (24) Net income on ordinary activities 88 121 (57) - 24 Other finance adjustments - pension schemes 15 833 833 - - - Gains on disposal of investments 10 48 48 - - - Changes in fair value of investments 10 648 648 - - - Gain from changes in fair value of investment property 9 1,219 1,219 - - - Loss on sale of fixed assets (5) (5) Deferred tax on changes in fair value (114) (114) - - - Operating surplus 2,717 2,750 (57) - 24 Other comprehensive income Gains on foreign exchange 10 248 248 - - - Gains from changes in fair value of freehold property 9 2,121 2,121 - - - Pension scheme actuarial loss 15 (10,934) (10,934) - - - Deferred tax on other comprehensive income (65) (65) - - - Other comprehensive income for the year (8,630) (8,630) - - - Total comprehensive income for the year (5,913) (5,880) (57) - 24 Funds brought forward 1 January 2016 86,444 78,767 7,143 - 534 Funds carried forward 31 December 2016 80,531 72,887 7,086 - 558 Congress 2017 General Council Report 97

Trades Union Congress Statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 December 2015 Note Total Admin Development Unionlearn Dilapidations fund fund fund £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 Income Affiliation fees 15,643 13,144 1,570 929 - Property rental and service charges 3,045 3,045 - - - Investment income 491 491 - - - Sales and publications 148 141 7 - - Donations and fees received 16,091 120 1,619 14,352 - Total income 35,418 16,941 3,196 15,281 - Expenditure Staff costs 2 13,726 9,728 1,083 2,915 - Property charges 3 2,384 1,766 269 166 183 Office expenses 4 2,028 1,942 53 33 - Projects and campaigns 5 1,759 95 1,237 427 International affiliation fees 6 1,733 1,733 - - - Travel and meetings 632 251 170 211 - Congress 208 208 - - - Trade Union education 219 6 205 8 - Grants and donations 7 11,748 110 117 11,521 - Depreciation 343 343 - - - Taxation 8 198 198 - - - VAT recovered (244) (244) - - - Transfer between funds - 297 - - (297) Total expenditure 34,734 16,433 3,134 15,281 (114) Net income on ordinary activities 684 508 62 - 114 Other finance adjustments – pension schemes 15 472 472 - - - Gains on disposal of investments 10 57 57 - - - Changes in fair value of investments 10 85 85 - - - Gain from changes in fair value of investment property 5,437 5,437 - - - Deferred tax on changes in fair value (898) (898) - - - Operating surplus 5,837 5,661 62 - 114 Other comprehensive income Losses on foreign exchange 10 (96) (96) - - - Gains from changes in fair value of freehold property 9,466 9,466 - - - Pension scheme actuarial gain 15 6,919 6,919 - - - Deferred tax on other comprehensive income (1,529) (1,529) - - - Other comprehensive income for the year 14,760 14,760 - - - Total comprehensive income for the year 20,597 20,421 62 - 114 Funds brought forward 1 January 2015 65,847 58,346 7,081 - 420 Funds carried forward 31 December 2015 86,444 78,767 7,143 - 534 APPENDIX 3 ACCOUNTS

Trades Union Congress Balance sheet as at 31 December 2016

Note 2016 2015 £’000 £’000

Assets Tangible fixed assets 9 60,199 56,367 Investments 10 17,184 13,030

Current assets Short-term loans 81 104 Debtors and prepayments 11 1,930 2,793 Cash at bank and in hand 4,905 8,521 6,916 11,418 Less: current liabilities Creditors and accrued expenses 12 4,603 5,505 Net current assets/(liabilities) 2,313 5,913 Net assets less current liabilities 79,696 75,310 Less: Provision for liabilities and charges 13 1,721 1,702 Deferred tax 8 5,722 5,543 Net assets before pension asset 72,253 68,065 Pension asset 15 8,278 18,379 80,531 86,444

Financed by Funds employed 46,648 54,641 Revaluation reserve 33,325 31,269 Designated fund: Dilapidations reserve 558 534 Net assets 80,531 86,444

Approved by the General Council on 28 June 2017 – President Dr Mary Bousted Congress 2017 General Council Report 99

Trades Union Congress Statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 December 2016 Admin Development Unionlearn Dilapidations Total fund fund fund £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 At 1 January 2015 58,346 7,081 - 420 65,847 Operating surplus for the year 5,661 62 - 114 5,837 Losses on foreign exchange (96) - - - (96) Defined benefit pension scheme – Actuarial gain 6,919 - - - 6,919 Gains from changes in revaluation of freehold property 9,466 - - - 9,466 Deferred tax on other comprehensive income (1,529) - - - (1,529)

At 31 December 2015 78,767 7,143 - 534 86,444 Operating surplus for the year 2,750 (57) - 24 2,717 Gains on foreign exchange 248 - - - 248 Defined benefit pension scheme – Actuarial Loss (10,934) - - - (10,934) Gains from changes in revaluation of freehold property 2,121 - - - 2,121 Deferred tax on other comprehensive income (65) - - - (65) At 31 December 2016 72,887 7,086 - 558 80,531 APPENDIX 3 ACCOUNTS

Trades Union Congress Statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 December 2016 Note 2016 2015 £’000 £’000

Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities a 188 (1,636)

Cash flows from investing activities: Dividends, interest and rents from investments 261 491 Purchase of investments (5,574) (4,615) Purchase of property, plant and equipment (866) (1,657) Proceeds from sale of investments 2,375 4,494 Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities (3,804) (1,287)

Change in cash and cash equivalents (3,616) (2,923) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 8,521 11,444 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 4,905 8,521

Note ‘a’ Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cashflow from operating activities Net income/(expenditure) on operating activities 88 684

Adjustments for: Depreciation charges 358 343 Dividends, interest and rents from investments (261) (491) (Increase)/decrease in debtors 886 (1,250) (Decrease)/increase in creditors (902) (860) Increase (decrease) in provisions 19 (62) 188 (1,636)

Congress 2017 General Council Report 101

Trades Union Congress Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2016

1 Accounting policies a. Basis of accounts The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost basis of accounting and in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102), ‘the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland’. b. Affiliation fee Income Affiliation fees are shown in the accounts on the basis of those amounts collected and due from members in respect of the year under review. c. Property rental and service charges Rental income is recognised on a straight line basis over the lease term, taking into account any rent free period at the commencement of the lease. d. Investment income Dividends from investments are recognised when entitlement to receive payment is established. e. Donations and fees income Donations and fees income is recognised in the accounts on an accruals basis in accordance with the underlying conditions attached to it. Amounts relating to future periods are accounted for as deferred income within creditors. f. Depreciation Fixed assets are stated at a cost. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets on a straight line basis, at rates estimated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful life. Freehold property: 2–10% per annum on cost Furniture and fittings: 10% per annum on cost as applicable Equipment: 20–50% per annum on cost as applicable Motor vehicles: 25% per annum on cost g. Operating leases Rentals under operating leases are charged on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract. h. Investments Investments held as fixed assets are stated at market value. i. Pension The Trades Union Congress Superannuation Society Limited pension scheme is a defined benefit scheme. The amounts charged to Statement of Comprehensive Income are the current service costs. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately in the Statement of Comprehensive Income. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Trades Unions Congress in a separate trustee administered fund. Pension scheme assets are measured at fair value and liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit method and a discounted rate equivalent to the current rate of return on high quality corporate bonds of equivalent currency and term to the scheme liabilities. APPENDIX 3 ACCOUNTS

2 Staff costs 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Salaries and national insurance 10,510 10,990 Pension contributions 2,081 2,174 Welfare and training 437 441 Restructuring costs 80 63 Advertising and recruitment 62 58 13,170 13,726

3 Property charges 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Rent and rates 784 544 Heating and lighting 210 335 Cleaning 134 129 Insurance 100 88 Building repairs and renewals 362 359 External functions 673 746 Expenditure from dilapidations fund 496 183 2,759 2,384

4 Office expenses 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Communications 192 235 Stationery and printed materials 69 219 Renewals and repairs to office equipment 1,100 895 Audit fees 56 48 Bank charges 9 13 Legal costs 7 154 Finance 201 147 Consultancy fees 273 276 Provision for doubtful debts (191) 41 1,716 2,028 Congress 2017 General Council Report 103

5 Project and campaign expenses 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Printing and publicity 289 177 Media and supporters work 106 207 Projects and campaigns 301 259 Conferences 39 42 Training and development 21 30 Consultancy fees 1,777 1,044 2,533 1,759

6 International affiliation fees 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 ITUC 1,019 926 ETUC 769 732 TUAC 78 75 1,866 1,733

7 Grants and donations 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Tolpuddle Martyrs Memorial Trust 90 90 TUC Educational Trust 10 10 Sundry 67 122 Union Learning Fund 10,353 11,521 Grants to organisations overseas - 5 10,520 11,748

8 Taxation This represents tax due on investment income, rents receivable and capital gains arising on disposal of investments. 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 (Over)/under provision in prior years - - Provision for the year 295 198 295 198 APPENDIX 3 ACCOUNTS

8 Taxation (cont’d): deferred tax liability 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 1 January 2016 5,543 3,116 Movement in the year 179 2,427 31 December 2016 5,722 5,543

9 Fixed assets Investment Land and Leasehold Furniture, Motor Asset under Total property buildings improvem’ts fittings and vehicles construction equipment Cost or valuation £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 1 January 2016 19,942 34,718 4,429 1,756 45 - 60,890 Additions - - 113 359 - 394 866 Disposals - - - (190) (24) - (214) Revaluations 1,219 2,121 - - - - 3,340 31 December 2016 21,161 36,839 4,542 1,925 21 394 64,882 Depreciation 1 January 2016 - - 3,129 1,349 45 - 4,523 Disposals - - - (174) (24) - (198) Charge for year - - 164 194 - - 358 31 December 2016 - - 3,293 1,369 21 - 4,683 Net book value 31 December 2016 21,161 36,839 1,249 556 - 394 60,199 31 December 2015 19,942 34,718 1,300 407 - - 56,367

The property was valued by Farebrother on 31 December 2015 at £54.66m. A charge was registered against the property on 28 March 2006 for £9m in favour of the TUC Superannuation Society Limited.

The property has been revalued this year with reference to MSCI and their IPD indices as such the property was valued at £58m on 31 December 2016. Congress 2017 General Council Report 105

10 Investments Market value Purchases Sales Change Market value brought forward in market carried forward at 01.01.2016 value at 31.12.2016 £ £ £ £ £ Quoted UK Quoted 8,662,046 2,423,970 (710,110) 110,370 10,486,276 International Quoted 4,352,847 3,150,186 (1,664,749) 844,319 6,682,603 13,014,893 5,574,156 (2,374,859) 954,689 17,168,879

UK unquoted Unity Trust shares 800 - - - 800 Union Energy Limited 8,750 - - - 8,750 Wortley Hall 10 - - - 10 Investment in MSI Brussels 5,651 - - - 5,651 15,211 - - - 15,211 13,030,104 5,574,156 (2,374,859) 954,689 17,184,090

The change in market value seen above is made up of £48k (2015: £57k) of gains on disposal of investments, £648k (2015: £85k) of change in fair value of investments and £259k (2015: (£96k)) of gains on foreign exchange.

11 Debtors and prepayments 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Trade debtors 653 942 Other debtors 332 311 Prepayments and accrued income 945 1,540 1,930 2,793

12 Creditors and accrued expenses 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Trade creditors 849 916 Taxation and social security 627 554 Other creditors 223 284 Accruals and deferred income 2,904 3,751 4,603 5,505

APPENDIX 3 ACCOUNTS

13 Provision for liabilities and charges A provision has been made to reflect payments expected to arise from banked leave and accrued holiday pay together with project funded activities which have a defined term of operation.

14 Commitments – operating leases At 31 December 2016 the TUC had total printing and office equipment leasing commitments of £243,668 due within one year (2015: £160,813), £861,307 between two and five years (2015: £457,216) and after five years £373,696 (2015: £nil).

15 Pension costs The Trades Union Congress operates one defined benefit scheme in the UK which offers both pensions in retirement and death benefits to members. Pension benefits are related to the members’ final salary at retirement and their length of service. Employer contributions to the scheme for the year beginning 1 January 2017 are expected to be £2,100,000.

The major assumptions used by the actuary were (in nominal terms):

At At 31.12.2016 31.12.2015 Rate of increase in salaries 4.1% 3.9% Rate of increase in pensions in payment – RPI, capped at 2.5% per annum 2.4% 2.4% – RPI, capped at 5.0% per annum 3.6% 3.4% – RPI, 3% per annum minimum and 5.0% per annum maximum 3.7% 3.6% Discount rate 2.6% 3.8% RPI Inflation assumption 3.6% 3.4% CPI Inflation assumption 2.6% 2.4% Revaluation in deferment* 2.6% 2.4%

Assumed life expectancies on retirement at age 65 are:

Retiring today Males 88.5 88.4 Females 90.4 90.3

Retiring in 20 years time Males 90.9 90.8 Females 92.8 92.7

*Note that the revaluation of deferred pensions between leaving and retirement is subject to an underpin of 3% per annum. The assumptions used in determining the overall expected return of the scheme have been set with reference to yields available on government bonds and appropriate risk margins. Congress 2017 General Council Report 107

The assets in the scheme and the expected rate of return were:

Value at Value at 31.12.2016 31.12.2015 £’000 £’000 Equities 31,406 27,730 Bonds 77,866 57,932 Cash 670 784 Other 28,400 28,818

Fair value of plan assets 138,342 115,264 The actual return on assets over the period was 22,936 6,080

The amounts recognised in the balance sheet are as follows:

Fair value of scheme assets 138,342 115,264 Present value of scheme liabilities (130,064) (96,885) Pension asset/(liability) 8,278 18,379

Reconciliation of opening and closing balances of the present value of the scheme liabilities

2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Liabilities at beginning of year 96,885 97,909 Current service cost 1,730 1,888 Interest cost 3,650 3,399 Contributions by scheme participants 497 521 Actuarial (gain) loss 29,812 (4,631) Benefits paid (2,510) (2,201) Liabilities at end of year 130,064 96,885

Reconciliation of opening and closing balances of the fair value of scheme assets

2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Fair value of scheme assets at beginning of year 115,264 108,897 Expected return on scheme assets 4,383 3,816 Actuarial gain (loss) 18,586 2,020 Contributions by employers 2,122 2,211 Contributions by plan participants 497 521 Benefits paid (2,510) (2,201) Fair value of scheme assets at end of year 138,342 115,264

APPENDIX 3 ACCOUNTS

Amount recognised in other comprehensive income 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 Actuarial (gains)/losses on the liabilities 29,812 (4,631) Return on assets, excluding interest income (18,878) (2,288) 10,934 (6,919)

Amounts recognised in profit and loss Service cost including current and past service costs and settlements 1,730 1,888 Administrative cost 292 268 Net interest on the net defined benefit liability (733) (417) 1,289 1,739

Employers contributions (2,122) (2,211) (833) (472)

16 Related parties During the year, the TUC had transactions with the following charities which are under it’s control through the appointment of trustees: 2016 2015 £’000 £’000 TUC Educational Trust Owed to TUC Opening balance 25,630 70,850 Payments to TUC (25,630) (70,850) Scholarship - - Net costs paid through TUC 79,875 25,630 Closing balance 79,875 25,630

Congress 2017 General Council Report 109

Tolpuddle Martyrs Memorial Trust Owed to TUC Opening balance 236,850 121,293 Payments to TUC (236,850) (121,293) Net costs paid through TUC 204,302 236,850 Closing balance 204,302 236,850

TUC Aid Owed to TUC Opening balance 34,073 119,844 Payments to TUC (34,073) (119,844) Net costs paid through TUC 29,124 34,073 Closing balance 29,124 34,073 APPENDIX 4 DISPUTES BETWEEN UNIONS

As provided for in rule 13, In outline the GMB With regard to the alleged the TUC has a role to play complained that: breach of Principle 2, in helping to resolve and Community stressed it had not prevent disputes that may a. Community had breached sought to take GMB members arise between affiliated Principle 3 of the TUC into membership and that the unions. In the overwhelming Disputes Principles and numbers of GMB members who majority of cases, such issues Procedures (DPP), by had joined Community were are resolved informally. In signing a union recognition very small. Community rejected the last period the general agreement with XPO, the claim that staff had been secretary has convened one which covered the ASOS/ ‘auto-enrolled’ into the union formal Disputes Committees to XPO Barnsley site, despite by the employer. resolve issues that could not be knowing the GMB was resolved informally. ‘engaged in significant With regard to the alleged organising activity’ on the breach of Rule 14, Community Barnsley site. rejected the claim that its THE GMB AND agreement with XPO was a COMMUNITY – ASOS/ b. Community had breached ’sweetheart agreement’. XPO LOGISTICS Principle 2 of the DPP in part by XPO ‘auto-enrolling’ staff Community counter-claimed A TUC Disputes Committee into Community membership that the GMB had breached composed of Liz Snape (Chair, and Community offering a Principle 2, by orchestrating, member of the General significant period of free ‘a campaign of public criticism Council and Assistant General membership. against Community’ following Secretary, UNISON), Mike the announcement that Clancy (member of the c. Community had – by Community had signed a General Council and General signing its agreement recognition agreement with Secretary of Prospect) and with XPO in violation of XPO. The GMB’s response Kevin Courtney (member of the Principle 3 - breached Rule was that the GMB had given General Council and General 14 of the TUC’s Rules and a, ‘proportionate response Secretary of the NUT); with Paul Standing orders: namely to Community’s flagrant and Nowak (TUC Deputy General it had engaged in activity systematic breach of the TUC Secretary) acting as Secretary that was ‘detrimental to rules’, and stressed that it and Kevin Rowan (Head, TUC the interests of the trade had not publically criticised or Organisation and Services union movement’. attacked Community prior to Department) also present, met the latter signing its agreement April 11, 2017 to consider a The Community response was, with XPO. complaint made by the GMB in outline, that it had developed against Community concerning a relationship with ASOS and After carefully considering ASOS/XPO Logistics. XPO through its longstanding all the evidence presented, work in the UK fashion and the Committee found that Tim Roache, General Secretary, apparel sector and that whilst Community’s decision to sign Neil Derrick and Neil Foster Community had not notified the a recognition agreement with represented the GMB. John, GMB of its organising activity XPO covering the Barnsley site, Matt Ball and Sean Scorer in ASOS/XPO, neither had the without regard to the proper represented Community. GMB notified Community of interests of the GMB, was a Following the formal hearing its interests. clear and significant breach of the Disputes Committee Principle 3, that undermined also subsequently met a longstanding and high with Roy Rickhuss, General profile campaign. Secretary, Community. Congress 2017 General Council Report 111

The Disputes Committee The Disputes accepted Community’s Committee awarded: contention that it did not enter into an ‘auto-enrolment’ ȓȓ That Community should agreement with XPO. However, approach XPO to indicate the Disputes Committee they wish to revisit the scope believed Community should of its agreement with a view have been aware that offering to securing appropriate free membership on a site union recognition with where another union had a XPO for the GMB on the significant organising campaign Barnsley site. would have impacted upon the other union’s membership. ȓȓ That Community should With this in mind, the GMB’s withdraw its organisers from complaint against Community the Barnsley site and cease in respect of Principle 2 recruitment activity until such was partly upheld. In light time as the Award had been of the Disputes Committee formally reviewed. finding that Community breached Principle 3, and the ȓȓ That the GMB formally Committee’s subsequent Award confirm they had no interest the Committee decided to in securing recognition at waive formal consideration of any of the other three sites the alleged Breach of Rule 14. covered by Community’s agreement with XPO. The Committee found that the GMB’s use of language towards ȓȓ That the GMB withdraw any Community breached Principle press releases and associated 2. The Committee noted that in social media posts which his evidence the GMB General may contravene Principle 2. Secretary accepted he should not have criticised Community The Committee indicated in these terms publicly. that it will review the position The Disputes Committee in three months. In the event decided not to formally rule that Community have not fully on Community’s claim, but complied with the Committee’s reminded the GMB of its Award, the Committee obligations under Principle 2. will make a binding Award regarding union recognition at the Barnsley site.

The full terms of the Committee’s Award were reported to the General Council at its meeting on 28 June 2017. APPENDIX 5 TUC RULES AND STANDING ORDERS

PART 1 both within its own equality for all. Registration in CONSTITUTION structures and through all its this capacity does not consist activities, including its own of affiliation and confers no employment practices. authorisation to speak or Rule 1 act on behalf of the Trades Name, office and In deciding at the time of such Union Congress. membership application or at any time thereafter whether or not a a. NAME AND OFFICE: The bona fide trade union is eligible Rule 2 name of the organisation for affiliation, the General Objects constituted by these Rules Council shall have regard inter shall be the ‘Trades Union alia to the ability of the trade a. The objects of the Congress Congress’ (hereinafter union organisation in its own shall be: called ‘the Congress’), and right and of its own authority to its principal office shall fulfil the obligations of affiliation To do anything to promote be at Congress House, to the Congress and to comply the interests of all or any of 23–28 Great Russell Street, with these Rules. its affiliated organisations or London WC1B 3LS, or such anything beneficial to the other places as the General The General Council shall interests of past and present Council of the Congress have full power to accept or individual members of (hereinafter called ‘the reject any such application such organisations. General Council’) shall from for affiliation and the General time to time decide. Council shall in addition To promote equality for all have full power at any time and to eliminate all forms b. MEMBERSHIP: The to terminate the affiliation of of harassment, prejudice Congress shall consist of any organisation which in the and unfair discrimination, such bona fide trade union opinion of the General Council both within its own organisations as satisfy does not fully satisfy the structures and through all the requirements of these requirements of affiliation for its activities, including its Rules and are affiliated in the time being. employment practices. the manner prescribed by these Rules. The power of the General Generally to improve Council under this Rule to the economic or social Any such organisation may accept or reject any application conditions of workers in make application to become or terminate any affiliation is all parts of the world and affiliated to Congress and subject to the power of the next to render them assistance shall furnish copies of its Rules annual Congress to overrule whether or not such workers and Constitution together any such decision. are employed or have with such other particulars ceased to be employed. and information as shall at The General Council may any time be required by the also accept applications from To affiliate to or subscribe General Council. organisations of local trade to or to assist any other union branches to register as organisation having It shall be a requirement of Trades Councils, County Trades objects similar to those of affiliation that an organisation Councils or County Associations the Congress. has a clear commitment where they comply with such to promote equality for all requirements as determined by and to eliminate all forms the General Council including of harassment, prejudice in particular to have a clear and unfair discrimination, commitment to promote Congress 2017 General Council Report 113

To assist in the complete The annual affiliation fee Unless decided otherwise by organisation of all workers payable in respect of each the General Council 10 per cent eligible for membership of member notified in accordance of each annual affiliation fee its affiliated organisations with sub- paragraph (a) shall should be allocated to the TUC and subject as hereinafter be 95 per cent (the percentage Development Fund. set forth in these Rules to figure) of the weekly (or assist in settling disputes equivalent) contribution rate between the members of based on the average of all Rule 4 such organisations and unions contribution rates Composition of their employers or between calculated in accordance with General Council such organisations and their sub-paragraph (c). To this end members or between the a. The General Council shall be organisations themselves. a. Each organisation shall by composed of ten sections 31 May in each year, inform as follows: In pursuance of these the General Secretary of general objects, and in Congress of the number of Section A shall consist accordance with particular its members as at 1 January of members from those decisions that Congress of that year. organisations with a full may make from time to numerical membership of time, Congress may do or b. Each affiliated organisation 200,000 or more members. authorise to be done all shall by 30 September in Each such organisation shall such acts and things as it any year, inform the General be entitled to nominate one considers necessary for the Secretary of the contribution or more of its members to furtherance of those objects. rate payable by the largest be a member or members of category of members as at 1 the General Council and the b. In the interpretation of January of the year following. number of members to which the above objects the the organisations comprising General Council shall have c. The average of all unions’ Section A shall be entitled complete discretion subject contribution rates is the sum shall be determined by their only to the power of the of each union’s contribution full numerical membership annual Congress to revise rate in accordance with on the basis of one per their decisions. sub-paragraph (b) multiplied 200,000 members or part by each union’s affiliated thereof provided that where membership and divided the total number of women Rule 3 by the total affiliated members of any organisation Affiliation fees membership in the year in Section A is 100,000 in which the contribution or more that organisation Each Affiliated Organisation rate is notified to the shall nominate at least shall pay to the Congress General Secretary. one woman. an annual affiliation fee in respect of each of its d. The General Council shall, members (probationary, free by 31 October in each or otherwise). The annual year, confirm, increase, or affiliation fee shall be payable reduce, the percentage quarterly at the beginning of figure in accordance with each quarter of the year, the the TUC work programme first such quarter commencing and priorities as decided by on 1 January in any year. Congress in that year. APPENDIX 5 TUC RULES AND STANDING ORDERS

Section B shall consist Section G shall consist of b. On 1 June each year or of members from those one black woman member as soon thereafter as is organisations with a full who shall be a member of practicable, each affiliated numerical membership an affiliated organisation. organisation shall be of 30,000 up to 199,999 Subject to Rule 4 (f), each allocated by the General members. Each such such organisation shall be Council either to Section A, organisation shall be entitled to nominate one B, C or E or F and, where entitled to nominate one of its members to be the applicable, Section D on of its members to be a Section G member of the the basis of its full numerical member of Section B of the General Council. membership, as notified General Council. to the General Secretary in Section H shall consist of one accordance with Rule 3 and Section C shall consist member representing trade the General Council shall of seven members of unionists with disabilities. then advise each affiliated unions with fewer than organisation of the Section(s) 30,000 members. Section I shall consist of to which it has been one member representing allocated and in the case Section D shall consist of lesbian, gay, bisexual and of affiliated organisations four women members all of transgender trade unionists. allocated to Section A and whom shall be members of Section B of the number or an affiliated organisation with Section J shall consist of numbers of members of the less than 200,000 members. one member under the age General Council to which of 27. they are entitled. Section E shall consist of one black member who shall be All unions will be entitled All organisations shall be from an organisation with a to nominate one of their notified of the arrangements full numerical membership of members who is a delegate for making a nomination of 200,000 or more members. to Congress for sections H, a member for Section G, H, Subject to Rule 4 (f), each I and J and election shall I and J and organisations such organisation shall be be by ballot of all unions allocated to Sections C, D, E entitled to nominate one entitled to vote at Congress. and F shall also be notified of of its members to be the the arrangements for making Section E member of the Subject to Rule 4 (f), the a nomination of a member General Council. election of a member of for the sections to which they the General Council for any are allocated. Section F shall consist of one section shall be in addition black member who shall be to, and not in substitution c. Members of all sections of from an organisation with a for, any member of the the General Council shall full numerical membership union who is elected as a take office at the termination of 199,999 or less members. member of the General of the annual Congress and Subject to Rule 4 (f), each Council in accordance with shall remain in office until such organisation shall be the provisions relating to the termination of the next entitled to nominate one the election of a member of annual Congress and shall of its members to be the another section. be eligible for re-election to Section F member of the or continued membership of General Council. the General Council. Congress 2017 General Council Report 115

d. In the event of a member b. No person shall be eligible b. Each affiliated organisation of Section A or Section for membership of the allocated to Section C or B ceasing by death, General Council who has Section E or Section F in resignation or other cause privately assisted, during the accordance with Rule 4(b) to be a member of the year preceding the annual shall be entitled to nominate General Council, the Congress, in the production one of its delegates for affiliated organisation which of anything made by non- election, as appropriate, to nominated that member may union labour, or by such Section C, Section E and nominate a successor to take firms as may be declared Section F of the General her or his place. In the event unfair by the interested Council. Subject to Rule 4(f), of a member of Section C, D, trade society, or who has each affiliated organisation E, F, G, H, I and J ceasing by continued to assist privately shall be entitled to nominate death, resignation or other in the production of anything one of its delegates for cause to be a member of the made by non-union labour, election to Section G, H, I General Council, the General or by such firms as may and J of the General Council. Council shall determine how, be declared unfair by the if at all, the vacancy shall interested trade society, c. Each affiliated union be filled. after such matters have been with 200,000 or fewer pointed out to her or him. members shall have the e. No organisation may right to nominate one of participate in the nomination its women members for or selection of members of Rule 6 election to Section D of the the General Council unless Nomination of General Council. it shall have paid the fees General Council provided by Rule 3 during d. Nominations for the General the previous year. a. At least eight weeks prior Council under (b) or (c) to the date fixed for the above shall be sent to the f. No affiliated organisation commencement of each General Secretary of the shall be entitled to nominate annual Congress, each Congress on the appropriate a member for Section G and, affiliated organisation form, which must be signed as appropriate, Section E or allocated to Section A or by the President (or the Section F. Section B in accordance Chairman) and Secretary with rule 4(b) shall notify of the organisation making the General Secretary of the nomination, and must Rule 5 the Congress of the name(s) be received by the General Qualifications for of its chosen member(s) Secretary of the Congress General Council on the General Council at least eight weeks prior for the coming year. If a to the Monday of the a. No person shall be eligible member so nominated annual Congress. for membership of any shall resign or die before section of the General the annual Congress the Council who is not a General Council shall accept Congress delegate (as per a replacement nomination Rules 17 and 18) and the from that organisation. organisation so represented shall have paid the fees provided by Rule 3 during the previous year. APPENDIX 5 TUC RULES AND STANDING ORDERS

e. The list of members in Section F on the day of c. The member of Section E Section A or Section B and the election. Ballot papers of the General Council shall of nominations to the places containing the names of all be elected at each annual in Sections C, D, E, F, G, H, candidates nominated for Congress by ballot vote of I and J shall be published Section G, H, I and J of the all affiliated organisations in the preliminary agenda General Council shall be allocated to Section E. containing the motions which supplied to the delegations are to be discussed at the of all organisations on the d. The member of Section F annual Congress. However, if day of the election. of the General Council shall a candidate for Section C, D, be elected at each annual E, F, G, H, I and J dies before f. Notice of withdrawal of any Congress by ballot vote of the election takes place the nomination for Section C, D, all affiliated organisations General Council shall have E, F, G, H, I and J must reach allocated to Section F. the powers to authorise the General Secretary of the the acceptance of a fresh Congress not later than four e. The members of Sections nomination notwithstanding weeks before the opening of G, H, I and J will be elected anything in these Rules and the annual Congress. Where, at each annual Congress Standing Orders. due to the withdrawal of a by ballot vote of all candidate before election affiliated organisations. Ballot papers containing or to any other cause, the names of all candidates there is an insufficiency of f. In the elections of the nominated for Section C of candidates to fill the number General Council for the the General Council shall be of seats in the Section members of Section C and of supplied to the delegations concerned, the General Section D and for the Section of all organisations allocated Council shall have the power E, Section F, Section G and to Section C on the day of to call for fresh nominations, Sections H, I and J, each the election. Ballot papers notwithstanding anything organisation entitled to vote containing the names of all in these Rules and may cast all or any part of the the candidates nominated Standing Orders. votes to which it is entitled in for Section D of the General favour of as many candidates Council shall be supplied as are to be elected in the to the delegations of all Rule 7 election in question. No organisations allocated to Election of the General organisation shall cast more Section D on the day of Council – Sections C, and votes than the number the election. D, E, F, G, H, I and J. to which it is entitled for any one candidate. The Ballot papers containing a. Members of Section C of number of votes to which the names of all candidates the General Council shall each organisation shall be nominated for Section E of be elected at each annual entitled shall be determined the General Council shall be Congress by ballot vote of on the basis of one vote for supplied to the delegations all affiliated organisations every 1,000 members or of all organisations allocated allocated to Section C. fraction or part thereof as to Section E on the day of declared by the organisation the election. Ballot papers b. Members of Section D of in accordance with Rule 3. containing the names of all the General Council shall The candidate(s) in each candidates nominated for be elected at each annual election securing the highest Section F of the General Congress by ballot vote of number of votes shall be Council shall be supplied all affiliated organisations declared elected. to the delegations of all allocated to Section D. organisations allocated to Congress 2017 General Council Report 117

g. The ballot papers shall be d. They shall promote common h. For the purpose of carrying issued by the scrutineers, action by the trade union out the objects of the and after being filled up movement on general Congress, of conducting its shall then be immediately questions, such as wages affairs and in relation to the placed in the box without and hours of labour, and any matters specifically referred inspection by the delegates matter of general concern to in this Rule the General other than those of the that may arise between trade Council shall have power organisation voting. unions and trade unions, to utilise the funds and or between employers and property of the Congress, h. Any delegates found guilty trade unions, or between the to enter into any transaction of violating this Rule shall trade union movement and and by any one or more of at once be reported to the government, and shall their members or appointed Congress, named by the have power to assist any officers to execute in the President and expelled. union which is attacked on name and on behalf of Such delegate or delegates any vital question of trade the Congress any deeds shall not be eligible to union principle. or documents that may attend Congress again for be necessary. three years. e. They shall assist trade unions in the work of i. The General Council shall i. A notification of the penalties organisation, and shall carry have power whenever they likely to be involved in the on propaganda with a view deem necessary to convene infringement of this Rule to strengthening the trade a special Congress or shall be included in the union movement, and for the Conference to deal with any instructions printed on each attainment of any or all of contingency that may arise, ballot paper. the above objects. and to arrange the agenda and procedure whereby the f. They shall also enter into business of such meetings Rule 8 relations with the trade union shall be conducted. Duties of the General Council and labour movements in other countries with a view to j. In the event of a legal point a. The General Council shall securing united action. arising which, in the opinion transact the business in of the General Council the periods between each g. They shall have authority (after consultation with annual Congress, shall keep to invest and administer Counsel) should be tested a watch on all industrial the funds of the Congress in the House of Lords in the movements, and shall, and to make grants to any general interests of trade where possible, co-ordinate organisation or person, unionism, the Council shall industrial action. whether in Great Britain, or be empowered to take the abroad, for such purposes necessary action. b. They shall watch all as it seems desirable, but legislation affecting labour, in so doing they shall have and shall initiate such regard to the directions, if legislation as Congress any, from time to time given may direct. by Congress. They shall also have authority to raise funds c. They shall endeavour for any special purpose and to adjust disputes and to invest and administer differences between such funds and to make affiliated organisations. grants therefrom. APPENDIX 5 TUC RULES AND STANDING ORDERS

k. In order that the trade Rule 10 b. The annual Congress union movement may do Wales TUC preceding the date of everything which lies in its retirement of the General power to prevent future wars, There shall be a Wales TUC Secretary shall elect a the General Council shall, Conference and Wales TUC General Secretary Designate in the event of there being General Council which shall who shall become General a danger of an outbreak of have devolved responsibility Secretary on the retirement war, call a special Congress within the TUC for: of her or his predecessor. to decide on industrial Should a vacancy otherwise action, such Congress to be i. matters which are within occur between the annual called, if possible, before war the powers of the meetings of the Congress, is declared. Welsh Government and the General Council shall legislature; and have power to fill such a l. The General Council shall vacancy temporarily. prepare a report of their work ii. matters which are wholly for submission to the annual specific to Wales. c. The General Council shall Congress and shall include in determine the salary and it a record of the attendances The Wales TUC Rules (as conditions of service of the at General Council meetings. agreed by TUC General General Secretary, and shall The Standing Orders of Council, Wales TUC General provide her or him with Congress and the General Council and Wales TUC all necessary assistance, Council shall be published Conference) shall define the office accommodation, and in each annual report of the detailed objects, responsibilities facilities for conducting the proceedings of Congress. and structure of the Wales TUC. business of the Congress and the General Council.

Rule 9 Rule 11 d. Any duty or function Appointment of committees General Secretary imposed by these Rules upon the General Secretary The General Council shall a. The General Secretary shall may be discharged (with appoint such committees as be elected by Congress, and her or his consent) by they consider necessary to deal shall be ex officio a member such persons as she or with aspects of their business. of the Congress and the he considers appropriate General Council. She or provided always that the he shall remain in office so General Secretary shall long as her or his work and remain responsible to the conduct give satisfaction to General Council for the the General Council and to discharge of that duty the representatives attending or function. Congress, and shall retire from the service of the Congress upon reaching the age of 65. Congress 2017 General Council Report 119

Rule 12 c. If, however, a situation has d. Whenever the General Industrial disputes arisen, or is likely to arise, Council intervene in relation in which other bodies to a matter within the a. It shall be an obligation upon of workpeople affiliated provision of clause (c) of this the affiliated organisations to Congress might be Rule, and the organisation to keep the General involved in a stoppage or organisations concerned Secretary of the Congress of work or their wages, accept the assistance and informed with regard to hours and conditions of advice of the General matters arising between employment imperilled, Council, and where despite them and their employers the General Council or the efforts of the General and/or between one the General Secretary may Council, the policy of the organisation and another, investigate the matter by employers enforces a including unauthorised and calling representatives of the stoppage of work by strike or unconstitutional stoppages organisation or organisations lock-out, the General Council of work, in particular where concerned into consultation, shall forthwith take steps to such matters may involve, and may use their influence organise on behalf of the directly or indirectly, large or her or his influence (as organisation or organisations bodies of workers. The the case may be) to effect concerned all such moral General Council or the a just settlement of the and material support as the General Secretary shall difference. In this connection circumstances of the dispute (if either should consider the General Council or the may appear to justify. it necessary) disseminate General Secretary, having the information as soon as given an opportunity to each possible to all organisations organisation concerned Rule 13 which are affiliated to to present its views on Disputes between the Congress and which the matter and having affiliated organisations may be either directly or ascertained the facts relating indirectly affected. to the difference, may tender a. Where disputes arise or their or her or his considered threaten to arise between b. The general policy of the opinion and advice thereon affiliated organisations, General Council shall be to the organisation or the General Council or the that unless requested to organisations concerned. General Secretary of the do so by the affiliated Should the organisation or Congress shall use their or organisation or organisations organisations refuse such her or his influence (as the concerned, neither the assistance or advice, the case may be) to promote General Council nor the General Secretary shall a settlement. General Secretary shall duly report thereon to the intervene so long as there General Council and/or the b. It shall be an obligation on is a prospect of whatever General Council shall duly the affiliated organisation or difference may exist on report thereon to Congress organisations concerned to the matters in question or deal with the organisation notify the General Secretary being amicably settled by under Clauses (b), (c), (d) and when an official stoppage of means of the machinery of (h) of Rule 13. work is contemplated in any negotiations existing in the dispute between affiliated trades affected. organisations, whether relating to trade union recognition, trade union membership, demarcation of APPENDIX 5 TUC RULES AND STANDING ORDERS

work, or any other difficulty. or disagreement between her or his summons and No affiliated organisation affiliated organisations and the organisation persists shall authorise such a may decide on the most in its refusal or failure to stoppage of work until the appropriate method of appear before the Disputes dispute has been dealt with resolving the issue. Where Committee the General under the provisions of she or he considers it Secretary shall report the Clauses (e) to (h) of this Rule. appropriate, the General matter to the General Secretary may refer any Council who may deal with c. Where a dispute between such case to a Disputes the organisation under unions has led to an Committee of the Congress Clause (h) of this Rule as unauthorised stoppage of for resolution in accordance if it were a case of failure work, it shall be an obligation with the Regulations by that organisation to of the affiliated organisation governing procedure in comply with an award of a or organisations concerned regard to disputes between Disputes Committee. to take immediate and affiliated organisations (as energetic steps to obtain a amended by the General g. If an organisation which is resumption of work. Council and adopted by a party to a dispute fails or the Congress from time to refuses to submit its case d. The affiliated organisation time). In the event of such to a Disputes Committee or organisations concerned a reference, the General as provided by this Rule, shall notify the General Secretary may summon the Disputes Committee Secretary as soon as possible affiliated organisations to may proceed to make an of any stoppage of work appear as parties before award in the absence of that which involves directly a Disputes Committee organisation and in any event or indirectly large bodies and shall require such it shall not be permissible of workers, or which, if organisations to submit for that organisation to protracted, may have serious to that Committee any raise the dispute at any consequences. In addition information, which she or he annual Congress. to such notification, the or the Committee considers affiliated organisation or to be essential to enable the h. Affiliated organisations organisations concerned Committee to adjudicate summoned by the General shall inform the General upon the case. Secretary to appear as Secretary of the causes and parties before a Disputes circumstances of the dispute f. If an affiliated organisation Committee shall be bound and of the steps taken or refuses or fails to respond to by any award of the Disputes proposed by it or by them to a summons by the General Committee and shall comply secure a resumption of work. Secretary to appear before forthwith with such award. a Disputes Committee, Should any such organisation e. Either upon notification from the General Secretary shall refuse or fail forthwith to an affiliated organisation investigate the circumstances carry into effect such an as required by Clause (b) of such a refusal or failure award (in whole or in part) or Clause (d) of this Rule, by calling representatives the General Council having or upon the application of of the organisation into received the award may an affiliated organisation, consultation and inviting the report on the matter as or whenever she or he organisation to give reasons they think fi t to all affiliated considers it to be necessary, for its conduct. If, after such organisations, and/or the General Secretary may investigation, the General may either: investigate cases of dispute Secretary does not withdraw Congress 2017 General Council Report 121

i. deal with the organisation iii. an investigation and c. Should the organisation under clauses (b), (c), (d) report to the General disobey such direction, or and (h) of Rule 13, or Council by the General fail to give such undertaking, Secretary of the Congress the General Council are ii. report the matter to the under clause (f) of Rule 12; hereby empowered in their next annual Congress or discretion to order that the to be dealt with as that organisation be forthwith Congress may decide. iv. an investigation by a suspended from membership Disputes Committee of the Congress until the under clauses (e) and (g) next annual Congress. Rule 14 of Rule 12 and a refusal or Conduct of affiliated failure to comply with its d. The General Council shall organisations award under clause (h) of submit a report upon Rule 12; the matter to the next a. If at any time there appears annual Congress. to the General Council it appears to the General to be justification for an Council that the activities e. No affiliated organisation investigation into the of the organisation may be shall circularise, either in conduct of any affiliated detrimental to the interests writing or by general oral organisation on the ground of the trade union movement communication, other that the activities of such or contrary to the declared affiliated organisations organisation may be principles or declared policy of upon any matter concerning detrimental to the interests Congress, the General Council the business of the of the trade union movement shall notify the organisation Congress, without first or contrary to the declared of that fact, specifying the securing the General principles or declared grounds on which that charge Council’s authorisation for policy of the Congress, is made and inviting the such circularisation. the General Council shall organisation to present its views summon such organisation to the General Council. If, after f. Should any such to appear by duly appointed considering those views, the unauthorised circularisation representatives before them General Council decide that the take place concerning a or before such Committee said activities are detrimental motion for the agenda as the General Council to the interests of the trade of the annual Congress consider appropriate in order union movement or contrary or any special Congress that such activities may be to the declared principles or or conferences, and the investigated. In the event of declared policy of Congress, General Council after the organisation failing to the General Council shall direct investigation decide that attend, the investigation shall the organisation to discontinue those responsible for such proceed in its absence. such activities forthwith and motion connived at, or were undertake not to engage party to, or concerned with b. If after an therein in the future. such circularisation, the investigation under: motion shall not be included in the agenda. i. clause (a) of this Rule; or

ii. an investigation under clause (c) of Rule11; or APPENDIX 5 TUC RULES AND STANDING ORDERS

g. The General Council may held by them in accordance then take place and printed investigate any violation of with the directions of the Balance Sheets, duly certified the provisions of Clauses General Council and shall by the Auditors, shall be (e) and (f), and if after such invest any funds available for sent with the complete investigation they decide investment in accordance agenda to the secretary of that any organisation has with such directions. The each organisation not less acted deliberately in such bank accounts of the than 14 days before each violation they may deal Congress shall be in the annual Congress. with the organisation by names of the Trustees, but investigation, suspension the General Council may and report under the terms by resolution authorise Rule 16 of Clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the Trustees to direct the Amendment of Rules this Rule. bankers to honour the and Standing Orders signature or signatures of any h. Any affiliated organisation person or persons named a. The General Council may dealt with under this Rule in the resolution, in which between each annual shall have the right to appeal case the trustees shall give Congress make any to the next annual Congress such direction and shall be amendment to the Rules and and may appoint delegates relieved from all liability in Standing Orders that they in accordance with Rules respect of payments made deem necessary subject to 17 and 18 to represent the in the manner authorised any such amendment being organisation upon the appeal by the resolution while it is confirmed by the next annual and at the annual Congress in force. Congress, providing that any if the appeal is allowed. such amendment shall in Congress shall upon such b. AUDITORS: The accounts any event be binding upon appeal have final authority of the Congress shall be all affiliated organisations to deal with the matter by audited annually by a and their members until way of re-admission, further chartered or incorporated overruled by Congress. suspension or exclusion accountant to be appointed from membership of by the General Council. The b. Affiliated organisations may the Congress. accountant shall be given (subject to the provisions of access to all books and Rule 24) put forward motions documents of the Congress for the amendment of the Rule 15 and shall be given all Rules and Standing Orders Trustees, auditors information or explanations for the consideration of such and accounts with regard to the accounts annual Congress. that she or he requires. The a. TRUSTEES: Two or more accountant shall be required trustees shall be appointed to submit a report to the by the General Council in General Council as soon as whose names the funds and practicable after the audit. property of the Congress shall be vested. Such c. ACCOUNTS FOR THE Trustees shall hold office until YEAR: In order that affiliated their respective successors organisations may have an have been duly appointed opportunity of perusing the by the General Council and financial statements prior to shall have accepted office. each annual Congress, the The Trustees shall deal with financial year shall close on the funds and property 31 December. The audit shall Congress 2017 General Council Report 123

PART 2 of the Congress on the to undertake Parliamentary ARRANGEMENTS FOR appropriate form which must duties, provided that, ANNUAL CONGRESS be signed by the President at the time of her or his (or Chairman) and Secretary attending Congress, she or of the organisation such he is occupying a national Rule 17 delegates will represent. post designated under the Preliminary arrangements Rules of the appointing c. A credential card shall not affiliated organisation. a. The General Council shall be issued to any affiliated select the place for the organisation which has annual Congress and shall failed to comply with the Rule 20 have the powers to invite foregoing conditions. Congress President representatives of public bodies and other institutions d. In addition, the annual a. The President of the to attend the sittings thereof. Trades Councils Conference Congress shall be appointed may elect a further delegate, by the General Council at b. The General Council shall who must be a member of their first meeting after each meet during the week a registered Trades Council, annual Congress. prior to the date of each to attend Congress and annual Congress for the move the motion submitted b. The duties of the President purpose of completing the to Congress by the Trades shall be to preside at all arrangements there for. Councils Conference. meetings of the General Council, an at all special Congresses or Conferences Rule 18 Rule 19 for one year following Representation at Delegates’ qualifications the date of her or his annual Congress appointment, and at the a. Each annual Congress shall annual Congress concluding a. Affiliated organisations consist of delegates who her or his term of office. She shall be entitled to be must be financial members or he shall then become first represented at the annual of the affiliated organisation Vice-Chair of the General Congress by one delegate they are to represent Council for a period of one for every 5,000 members and actually working at year thereafter. or fraction thereof, (save their trade at the time of for unions with fewer appointment, or full-time than 5,000 members who paid officials of such affiliated Rule 21 shall be entitled to two organisation. However, General Purposes Committee delegates) provided always unemployed members of an that they have paid the fees affiliated organisation shall a. A General Purposes prescribed in Rule 3. not be debarred from acting Committee of five members as delegates. for the ensuing annual b. Not later than seven weeks Congress shall be nominated prior to the Monday of b. The above qualifications and elected by ballot. the annual Congress the shall not, however, debar If any member elected names and addresses of a person from acting as a is not a delegate to the the delegates shall be sent delegate who is not a full- to the General Secretary time paid official and who has temporarily left her or his normal full-time work as an employee in trade or industry APPENDIX 5 TUC RULES AND STANDING ORDERS

ensuing annual Congress, iii. to submit to the President thereof represented. Such or a vacancy arises from any of Congress a programme cards to be issued to affiliated other cause, the highest of all motions and organisations by the General unsuccessful candidate amendments approved Secretary of the Congress shall be called upon to fill by them as being in before the commencement of the vacancy. accordance with the Rules the annual Congress. and Standing Orders, b. Each nominee for the together with all General Purposes Rule 24 Committee must be iv. suggestions for the proper Motions for Congress nominated by her or his own conduct of the business of organisation. Nominations the annual Congress a. Motions for the Congress shall be submitted on the must be submitted on the appropriate form which must v. to report to the General appropriate forms and be be signed by the President Council any violation of signed by the President (or (or Chair) and Secretary of the Rules or Standing Chair) and Secretary of the the organisation and shall Orders that may organisation submitting reach the General Secretary be brought to their such motions and must be of the Congress at least eight notice, together with received by the General weeks prior to the Monday any recommendation Secretary of Congress not of the annual Congress. agreed upon. later than eight weeks before the Monday of the c. The members of the General annual Congress. Purposes Committee shall Rule 22 appoint from their body Tellers and ballot scrutineers b. Such motions shall be a chair and secretary. The printed and sent to each duties of the General The General Council shall affiliated organisation not Purposes Committee nominate, for the approval less than six weeks before shall be: of the Congress, four or the annual Congress. The more Tellers and up to seven order in which these subjects i. to co-operate with the ballot scrutineers. are to be discussed shall movers of motions and be decided by the General amendments in order that Council in consultation composite motions may Rule 23 with the General Purposes be obtained wherever Voting Committee of Congress. possible The method of voting at c. An affiliated organisation ii. to have printed and Congress shall be at the shall be allowed not more circulated to the discretion of the President, by than two motions, apart from delegates copies of the voice, or show of hands, or organisations with more composite motions they card vote. Where, however, than one million members have approved a division by voice or show who will be allowed one of hands is challenged by additional motion for delegates to Congress, voting each additional 500,000 shall be by cards to be issued members or part thereof. to the delegations according In addition each of the to membership (paid for as equality conferences, the per Rule 3) on the basis of Young Workers Conference one vote for every 1,000 and Trades Union Councils’ members or fractional part Conference will be allowed Congress 2017 General Council Report 125

to choose one motion No such permission shall, b. To enable affiliated carried by that conference however, be granted unless organisations to comply with for submission to Congress. agreed to by at least two- the various requirements of In order that important thirds of the votes cast by the these Rules where time limits labour questions may not be delegates to the particular are fixed by reference to the omitted from the discussion annual or special Congress. date of the annual Congress, of the annual Congress, the General Council shall, the General Council are f. Motions shall not exceed in the event of any change empowered to place not 250 words in length. in such date, direct that more than three motions on Amendments shall not notice of such change the annual Congress agenda. exceed 50 words in length. shall be given to affiliated These provisions shall apply organisations in due time. d. All amendments to the to original motions and motions submitted by emergency motions but not affiliated organisations must to composite motions nor Rule 27 be received by the General to motions selected to go Standing Orders Secretary of Congress forward to the Congress not later than four weeks Agenda by the equality a. HOURS OF MEETING: before the Monday of conferences, Young Workers Delegates shall assemble the annual Congress. An Conference and Trades at 4pm prompt on the first affiliated organisation shall Union Councils Conference. day of each annual Congress be allowed not more than and at 9.30am on each two amendments apart from succeeding day. On Sunday organisations with more Rule 25 Congress shall adjourn at than one million members Delegations 7pm and each day thereafter who will be allowed one (Monday to Wednesday) additional amendment for All nominations for delegations Congress shall adjourn at each additional 500,000 appointed by Congress 12.45pm and reassemble at members or part thereof. must be submitted on the 2.15pm and adjourn for the These must be submitted on appropriate form and be signed day at 5.30pm on Monday the appropriate forms and by the President (or Chair) and and Tuesday and shall be signed by the President Secretary of the organisation conclude no later than 4pm (or Chair) and Secretary of and must be sent to reach on Wednesday. the organisation concerned. the General Secretary of the Congress not later than eight b. AGENDA: A complete e. Notwithstanding the weeks before the Monday of agenda of the motions and provisions of this Rule, the the annual Congress. Each amendments submitted General Council or any nominee must be nominated by under Rule 23 shall be affiliated organisation shall, her or his own organisation. printed and sent, not later subject to the approval than 19 days before the of the General Purposes opening of each Congress, Committee, be permitted to Rule 26 to the affiliated organisations submit an emergency motion Date of annual Congress which have paid up to the for the consideration of last preceding quarter the the delegates to Congress. a. Unless otherwise decided fees due under Rule 3. by the General Council, the date for the opening of each annual Congress shall be the Sunday before the second Monday in September. APPENDIX 5 TUC RULES AND STANDING ORDERS

c. GENERAL COUNCIL’S f. PRESIDENT’S RULING: Rule 28 REPORT: After the opening Should any delegate cause Suspension of Rules of each annual Congress, disturbance at any session of and Standing Orders the General Council shall annual or special Congress, present their report for the and refuse to obey the Rules and Standing Orders past year, which shall be laid President when called to in Part 2 hereof, may, on the table for discussion. order, she or he shall be notwithstanding the terms The items of the report shall named by the President, of Rule 15, be suspended if be discussed seriatim and and shall be expelled from such suspension is agreed to not as a whole: each speaker the hall for the remainder by at least two-thirds of the to be limited to three of the session, and shall not votes cast by the delegates minutes. Such report shall be allowed to take part in to the particular annual or be given precedence over the Congress proceedings special Congress. all other business provided without the consent of that where a motion on the Congress delegates. agenda bears directly upon any part of the report, such g. CLOSURE: The Previous motion may at the discretion Question, Next Business, of the President be taken in or the Closure may be conjunction with such part of moved and seconded only the report. by those delegates who have not previously spoken d. LIMITATION OF SPEECHES: during the debate, and The mover of the motion there shall be no speeches shall be allowed five minutes, on such motions. Should the seconder three, and any the closure be carried, or each succeeding speaker the mover of the original three minutes. A delegate motion shall have the right shall not speak more than to reply in accordance with once on a question, except Rule 26, clause (d). Should the mover of the original the President consider proposition, who shall have that there is no practical the right to reply. difference of opinion among the delegates, she or he e. ORDER OF SPEAKERS: The shall have power to stop the President shall determine discussion and submit the the order of speakers. Each proposition to the vote of delegate shall stand when the Congress delegates. speaking. If the President rises to call a delegate h. SPECIAL MEETINGS: In the to order, or for any other case of special Congresses purpose connected with the or Conferences the above proceedings, the delegate Standing Orders shall speaking shall leave the be adhered to wherever rostrum and resume her applicable as closely or his seat and no other as possible. delegate shall rise until the President has authorised the discussion to proceed. Congress 2017 General Council Report 127 INDEX

European Health and Safety Week 42 A C European Trade Union I Confederation (ETUC) A Fairer Deal on Migration: Campaign Plan 49 Brexit 30–1, 32, 67 I Feel Like I Can’t Change managing better for Britain 31 China 25 executive pay 21 Anything: Britain’s young Acas 35 Climbing Frame 66 core workers speak Action for Rail campaign 71 collective bargaining 56 out about work 58 affiliations and mergers 76 migrant workers 36 Immigration Act 2016 36 Africa 25, 68–9, 71 Colombia 68 India 70 agency and casual workers 16 Commute Smart Day 16 F Industrial Injuries Advisory public sector 47 Congress 2016 77 Council 43 Wales TUC 71 Congress Centre 76 facility time 57 industrial strategy, TUC 18–20 see also insecure work Congress House 76, 82 Wales TUC 71 insecure work 8, 16, 37, 38–40, All Aboard: making worker corporate governance 20–3 flexible learning 54, 58 representation on company union representative see also agency and boards a reality 22 training 60 casual work apprenticeships 26–7, 34, 51, 66 flexible working 16 international development 26 TUC industrial strategy 18 further education see education International Labor Organization TUC regions 72 D (ILO) 42, 43, 44 Young Workers Conference 80 international partnerships Article 50 see Brexit decent work 43–4 TUC Education 62 asbestos campaign 41–2 Development Fund 81 International Trade Union austerity 46, 48, 56 devolution 53–4, 71 G Confederation (ITUC) autism 34, 38 digitalisation 20 25, 26, 44, 67 awards disabled workers 38 gender 41 International Workers’ Congress 77 Disabled Workers see also women workers Memorial Day 42, 71 TUC Trade Union Committee 90 General Council 7, 78, 88 Is Racism Real 37 Communications 81 Disabled Workers global ISO 45001 campaign 42 Conference 79 solidarity 67–71 IT strategy and services, TUC 76 global solidarity 71 supply chains 44 domestic workers 43 union organisations 67 Great Jobs Agenda 10, 40 B Grenfell Tower 8 Guatemala 70 J Bangladesh 68, 70 Guide for union reps 57 Better Jobs for All campaign 72 E Japan 25 Better Jobs Closer to Just a Bit of Banter 34, 36 Home campaign 71–2 education sector 49–50 Justice Denied 51 blacklisting 34–5 budget cuts 46 justice system 50–1 BME community further education (FE) 26, H organ donations and 27, 50 transplants 49 union representative Halpin, Kevin 84 BME workers training 60 health and safety 41–3 Black Workers Conference 79 employers hotel sector 21 K insecure work 16 benefits of union learning 66 Health and Safety Brazil 68 employment rights see Executive (HSE) 42–3 Korea 68 Brexit 8, 12, 30–2, 67, 78 workers’ rights health and social care 48–9, 53 health and social care employment tribunal fees 35 Heartunions week 58 workers 48 energy see environment hotel sector 21 industrial strategy 18 eNotes 41, 60, 61 housing 17–18, 43 migrant workers 43 entertainment industry 20 science and technology environment industry 20 TUC policy 18–20 TUC regions 72 equality 35–48 TUC trade policies 25 Europe Buist, Neil 84 TUC campaigns 42 bullying and harassment 21 partnerships with 62 see also Brexit INDEX

Trade Union Share Owners (TUSO) 20, 21 L O R trade unions apprenticeships 18 Leading Change programme 57 occupational health 42 race equality 36–7 membership 10 learning and skills 26–8, 43, 50 Organising Academy 56–7 Race Relations Committee 91 strength 56–74 union representatives 60–7 Owen, Dr Ronald 84 Reaching Young Workers trades councils 71 Let’s Talk About Racism 37 campaign 58 Trades Councils LBGT workers 37 regions Conference 80 LGBT+ Committee 90 pay 16 Trades Union Councils Joint LGBT+ Conference 80 public sector 47 Consultative Committee 92 Lift the Cap 48 P regional TUC 72–4 training see learning and skills Living on the Edge 16, 40 Roberts, Eric 85 Transatlantic Trade and living wage 16, 28 Palestine 70 Investment Partnership see also national minimum parental benefits 54 (TTIP) 25 wage (NMW) pay transport education sector 50 infrastructure 20 executive 21 S sector 51–3, 71 low 28, 54 TUC national economy 14 science and technology affiliations and mergers 76 M public sector 8, 10, 46–8 industry 20 campaigns regional inequality 16 self-employed workers asbestos 41–2 Managing Migration pensions welfare 54 Better Jobs for All 72 Better for Britain 43 Pensioners Committee 92 sexual harassment 34, 36, 51 Better Jobs Closer Mid-life Career Review transport sector 53 sick pay 54 to Home 71–2 project 67 TUC policy 23–4 skills see learning and skills Brexit 30 migrant workers 31, 34, 36 Peru 70 social care see health Campaign Plan 49 TUC regions 72 Playfair 44 and social care Commute Smart Day 16 workers’ voice 43 Powering Ahead: how the social security 54 Great Jobs Agenda 10, 40 Modern Slavery Act 44 UK can learn from Europe’s Somalia 68–9, 71 health and safety 41–3 environmental leaders 19 Speak Up For Justice ISO 45001 42 prison service campaign 50–1 National Work from Speak Up for Justice Sports Direct 20–1 Home Day 16 campaign 50–1 steel industry Reaching Young Workers 58 N Procter, Brenda 85 Brexit 25 Speak Up For Justice 50–1 public sector TUC industrial strategy 18–19 Work Your Proper national economy 12–16 apprenticeships 27 stress 41 Hours Day 17 national minimum wage job cuts 10 sustainability Congress 2016 77 (NMW) 10, 28 pay 8, 10, 14, 46–8 international development 26 Congress Centre 76 hotel sector 21 pensions 24 TUC policy 19 Congress House 76, 82 public sector 47 trade union membership 56 development 76 see also living wage TUC trade policies 25 Executive Committee National Work from workers 46 22, 60, 78, 89 Home Day 16 Public Services Forum 51, 54 finances 81–2, 94–109 NHS 46, 48–9 Public Services Liaison T General Council 7, 78, 88 trades councils 71 Group (PSLG) 51 industrial strategy 18–20 see also health and social care taxation 25 Leading Change development NHS Safety: warnings from Taylor Review of Modern programme 57 all sides 48 Working 8, 38, 40, 54 Library 82 Nicaragua 68, 70 Tebbs, Betty 85 pensions policies 23–4 North America 25 Q terrorist attacks 8 publications The Gig is Up: trade unions A Fairer Deal on Migration: Qatar 44 tackling insecure work 40 managing better trade, TUC policies 25 for Britain 31 Trade Union Act 10, All Aboard: making worker 34–5, 51, 78 representation on company Trade Union Advisory boards a reality 22 Committee to the OECD autism guide 38 (TUAC) 20, 67 Congress 2017 General Council Report 129

Brexit: a new deal for working people 30 eNotes 41, 60, 61 V Z Guide for union reps 57 I Feel Like I Can’t Change vulnerable workers 54 zero-hours contracts 8, 16 Anything: Britain’s young core workers speak out about work 58 insecure work and ethnicity report 37 W Is Racism Real? 37 Just a Bit of Banter 34, 36 Wales TUC 71–2 Justice Denied 51 webinars, union representative Let’s Talk About Racism 37 training 61 Lift the Cap 48 Welfare Charter 71 Living on the Edge 16, 40 welfare services 54 Managing Migration women workers Better for Britain 43 equality 35–6 NHS Safety: warnings insecure work 16 from all sides 48 see also gender Powering Ahead: how the Women’s Committee 93 UK can learn from Europe’s Women’s Conference 78–9 environmental leaders 19 work capability assessments 38 The Gig is Up: trade unions Work Your Proper Hours tackling insecure work 40 Day campaign 17 regions 16, 47, 72–4, 76 worker representation, trade policies 25 company boards 22–3 Trade Union Communication workers’ rights Awards 81 Brexit 30 TUC Aid 70–1 global supply chains 44 TUC Education 60–5, 92 Trade Union Act 10, 34–5, 51 Turkey 69 TUC trade policies 25 Turner, Mary 86 workers’ voice 12, 34–44 industrial strategy 18 workforce skills 27–8 working time 16–17 hotel sector 21 U workplace pensions 24 underemployment 16 Unemployed Workers Centres (UWCs) 71 Union Learning Fund 66–7 Y Union Professional Development Programme 62 young workers 58 union representatives apprenticeships 26–7 facilities 34, 57, 71 pensions 23 learning 60–7 union membership 10 unionlearn 27, 28, 36, Young Workers Conference 80 60, 66–7, 72, 78, 93 Young Workers Forum 92 INDEX OF RESOLUTIONS

Resolutions, including composite and emergency resolutions, carried at the 2016 Congress, and where they are referred to in this General Council report.

Resolutions Composites

Resolution 10 18 Composite 1 23, 30 Resolution 13 24 Composite 2 30 Resolution 16 28 Composite 3 18 Resolution 18 24, 38 Composite 4 18, 79 Resolution 19 38 Composite 5 [?] Resolution 22 34 Composite 6 28 Resolution 27 38 Composite 7 30 Resolution 28 37 Composite 8 36 Resolution 29 46 Composite 9 46, 49 Resolution 30 46, 53 Composite 10 46, 49 Resolution 31 46 Composite 11 46, 49 Resolution 32 46 Composite 12 17 Resolution 33 46, 48, 49 Composite 13 54 Resolution 38 46, 49 Composite 14 56, 57 Resolution 39 18, 46, 49 Composite 15 36 Resolution 43 46, 49 Composite 16 34 Resolution 44 46 Composite 17 53 Resolution 45 46, 48 Composite 18 38 Resolution 46 46, 50 Resolution 47 46 Resolution 48 46 Emergency Resolutions Resolution 49 28 Resolution 50 46 Emergency Resolution 1 36 Resolution 51 46 Emergency Resolution 2 68 Resolution 52 46 Emergency Resolution 3 53 Resolution 53 46, 48 Emergency Resolution 4 49 Resolution 54 46, 50 Emergency Resolution 6 42–43 Resolution 55 50 Emergency Resolution 7 69 Resolution 56 46 Resolution 57 46, 48 Resolution 59 53 Resolution 60 18, 46 Resolution 61 46, 51 Resolution 63 17 Resolution 64 18 Resolution 65 18 Resolution 66 18 Resolution 67 18 Resolution 70 38 Resolution 71 54 Resolution 74 56, 57 Resolution 77 66 Resolution 78 66 Resolution 80 35 Resolution 83 36 Resolution 84 30 Published by Trades Union Congress Congress House Great Russell Street London WC1B 3LS tuc.org.uk August 2017 ISBN 978 1 911288 14 5 £10