Report of General Council to Annual Congress 2020
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STUC Congress Programme Cover 2020 29/10/2020 09:58 Page 1 The People’s Recovery – Organising for a Fairer Future STUC Congress Programme Cover 2020 29/10/2020 09:58 Page 2 STUC Congress Programme & Report 2020 29/10/2020 11:31 Page 1 Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 This Year’s President .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Guide to Congress Arrangements ...................................................................................................................... 3 Tackling Poverty and Inequality by Challenging Corporate Power ..................................................................... 5 Why We Need Lifelong Learning in Scotland ..................................................................................................... 7 Looking Forward to COP26 ................................................................................................................................ 10 Two Hundred and Twenty-Four Linear Metres of STUC History ......................................................................... 12 Let’s Talk Menopause ......................................................................................................................................... 14 STUC Union Reps Awards .................................................................................................................................. 17 Report of General Council to Annual Congress ............................................................................................. 21 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 22 Section One: An Effective Organisation ............................................................................................................. 24 Section Two: Policy Development and Political Relations .................................................................................. 32 Section Three: Campaigns and Support for Organising ...................................................................................... 35 Section Four: Union Learning ............................................................................................................................. 39 Section Five: Equalities ....................................................................................................................................... 42 Section Six: COVID-19 ........................................................................................................................................ 48 Draft Order of Business ...................................................................................................................................... 55 List of Delegates ................................................................................................................................................. 57 STUC Affiliates by Section and Membership (2020/21) ...................................................................................... 60 Nominations for STUC General Council and Standing Orders Committee for 2020/21...................................... 62 Affiliated Organisations....................................................................................................................................... 64 General Council Meetings................................................................................................................................... 68 Contact the STUC................................................................................................................................................ 69 STUC Affiliates by Section and Membership (2019/20) ...................................................................................... 70 Obituary............................................................................................................................................................... 72 STUC Past Presidents ......................................................................................................................................... 73 External Organisations........................................................................................................................................ 75 Published by the Scottish Trades Union Congress Typeset and printed by Hampden Advertising Ltd (TU), 403 Hillington Road, Glasgow G52 4BL The STUC wishes to thank all contributors STUC Congress Programme & Report 2020 29/10/2020 11:31 Page 2 Introduction the First Minister, Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP, and to Richard Leonard MSP, the Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, to each give a digital address to the Congress. We also have messages of support from our international comrades and once again we will by Rozanne Foyer, celebrate the role played by our reps in Lifelong STUC General Secretary Learning, Health and Safety, Equality and Organising, through the presentation of our Scottish Union Rep Welcome to the 123rd Annual Congress of the STUC Awards. and my first Congress as your new General Secretary. We look forward to Congress being viewed by our This year we are bringing you a Congress like no other, delegates, by representatives of Scotland’s political given that it has been postponed and eventually and civil society organisations, as well as our moved to being a fully digital event that will happen comrades from the ICTU, the TUC and the Wales TUC. completely online. I am sure however that the efforts In addition to this we are throwing open our digital of the STUC will still ensure a successful Congress, as doors to everyone across our Movement, because all this year more than ever, we have many crucial issues of our reps, our activists and our members will be to discuss. invited to tune into the debates and see our The theme of Congress is ‘The People’s Recovery’ democracy at work, as the Congress will be and this reflects the unprecedented public health and livestreamed to make it accessible to all. economic challenges we have all faced in the firing line I hope that you will also find an opportunity to visit of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for us to the many interesting webinars that will form our fringe ensure that we rebuild on a different track that will events and contribute to debates that will enrich our benefit all Scotland’s People. No more going back to a policies and campaigns with the experiences, values society where the rich get richer, the poor poorer, and and demands of the working people of Scotland. the gap continues to widen. Scotland’s people deserve Enjoy the 2020 Congress. better. It is our frontline workers that have kept this country on track throughout the Covid crisis. They have looked This Year’s President after all of us. Now we must look after them and send a message loud and clear to Government that there Jackson Cullinane has been active in must be no going back to austerity for our the labour and trade union movement communities and no long-term unemployment for our for over 40 years and is the Head of workers. We tried that under previous Tory Unite Scotland’s Politics, Research and Governments. It didn’t work and we are not doing it Campaigns Unit. again. As a full-time union official, Jackson Times of crisis call for a focused approach and for has experience of representing and organising workers this reason the General Council will seek the in the public sector and in the food and drink, permission of Congress to remit all of the motions agriculture, chemicals and transport sectors. submitted to the earlier postponed Congress and will Jackson was formerly a shop stewards’ convenor in instead propose debate around a General Council a large multi-national company (ICI) and has also Special Statement that is focused on three key areas: worked in the construction industry, in local government and for an MSP and for a Member of the l Our response to COVID-19 European Parliament. l Rebuilding our Economy – the People’s Recovery l A Scotland Fit for the Future Looking towards the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections we have extended an invitation to 2 | STUC Congress Programme & Report 2020 29/10/2020 11:31 Page 3 Guide to Congress Arrangements Congress session times are: Many of the provisions of the remitted motions have been included in the General Council Special Tuesday 17 November Statement. All other aspects of these motions will be Congress opens 10.00 am – 12.15 pm considered in the period following Congress, as would 1.05 pm – 4.30 pm normally be the case for a remitted motion. The Special Statement will form the basis for Scheduled comfort breaks: 11.05 am – 11.25 am discussion and debate at the virtual Congress. We do 2.30 pm – 2.45 pm not expect there to be any changes to the Order of 3.25 pm – 3.40 pm Business, but the Chairperson of the Standing Orders Committee will report as appropriate throughout For the STUC virtual Congress, delegates will join the Congress. event through a web-based events platform called The Standing Orders Committee has initiated a Hopin. Each delegate will be emailed a unique link to number of changes to the Order of Business this year join and we ask you do not share this with anyone else. due to the unusual circumstances. These are: Guidance and support