Report of Congress 2016 The 148th Annual Trades Union Congress 11–14 September 2016, Brighton 1 Contents General Council members 2016–2017 ................................................................................................. 3 Section 1: Congress decisions .................................................................................................................... 4 Part 1: Resolutions carried .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Part 2: Motions lost ............................................................................................................................................................................ 46 Part 3: General Council statements .............................................................................................................................................. 47 Section 2: Keynote speeches ................................................................................................................... 49 The General Secretary, Frances O’Grady.................................................................................................................................. 50 The President, Liz Snape ................................................................................................................................................................. 54 Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Women and Equalities, Angela Rayner MP .................................. 56 ETUC General Secretary, Luca Visentini ................................................................................................................................... 58 Section 3: Unions and their delegates ................................................................................................. 61 Section 4: Details of past Congresses .................................................................................................. 77 Section 5: Members of the General Council, 1921–2016 .............................................................. 81 2 General Council members 2016–2017 Sheila Bearcroft MBE Maria Exall Christine Payne Michelle Stanistreet GMB Communication Workers Equity National Union of Union Journalists Mary Bousted (chair) Dave Penman Association of Teachers Sue Ferns FDA Jane Stewart and Lecturers Prospect Unite Dave Prentis Tony Burke Larry Flanagan UNISON Claire Sullivan Unite Educational Institute of Chartered Society of Roy Rickhuss Scotland Physiotherapy Jane Carolan Community UNISON Steve Gillan Niamh Sweeney Tim Roache POA Association of Teachers Gail Cartmail GMB and Lecturers Unite John Hannett Linda Rolph Union of Shop, Mohammad Taj Mick Cash Advance Distributive and Allied Unite National Union of Rail, Workers Maggie Ryan Maritime and Transport Chris Tansley Unite Workers Philipa Harvey UNISON National Union of Brian Rye Mike Clancy Steve Turner Teachers Union of Construction, Prospect Unite Allied Trades and Sally Hunt Brian Cookson Technicians Dave Ward University and College NASUWT Communication Workers Union Malcolm Sage Union Manuel Cortes GMB Chris Keates Transport Salaried Staffs’ Simon Weller NASUWT Eddie Saville Association Associated Society of Hospital Consultants and Annette Mansell-Green Locomotive Engineers Kevin Courtney Specialists’ Association British Dietetic and Firemen National Union of Association Mark Serwotka Teachers Fiona Wilson Public and Commercial Len McCluskey Union of Shop, Nick Cusack Services Union Unite Distributive and Allied Professional Footballers’ Jon Skewes Workers Association Sean McGovern Royal College of Unite Tony Woodhouse Tony Dale Midwives Unite Union of Shop, Roger McKenzie Eleanor Smith Distributive and Allied UNISON Matt Wrack UNISON Workers Fire Brigades’ Gloria Mills CBE John Smith Union Craig Dawson UNISON Musicians’ Union GMB Frances O’Grady Micky Nicholas Liz Snape MBE TUC General Secretary Neil Derrick Fire Brigades’ Union UNISON GMB Ged Nichols Mark Dickinson Accord Nautilus International 3 Section 1 Congress decisions Listed below are the decisions taken by the 2016 Trades Union Congress on the motions and amendments submitted by unions, together with the General Council statements adopted by Congress. The numbers given to resolutions and motions refer to their number in the Final Agenda, or to that of the Composite or Emergency Motion. 4 Section 1: Congress decisions Part 1 Congress is outraged that at a time when the UK Resolutions carried is the ninth richest country in the world by GDP children are going hungry. According to figures 10: The impact of automation published by the Child Poverty Action Group in on employment June 2016, 200,000 more children are growing up Congress notes the growing impact of automation in poverty, up 3.9 million in total, which is set to and robotics in many workplaces. Research grow by 50 per cent by 2020. It is an indictment on suggests that as many as 10 million UK jobs could the UK government that 60 per cent of poor be lost over the next 10 to 20 years as a children live in working families. consequence of technological change in the The BDA understands the importance of eating workplace. In many industries, such developments a variety of foods in order to improve general well- present profound implications for not only being and reduce the risk of conditions including employment, but also the quality of work, training, heart disease, stroke, some cancers, diabetes and and safety. In shipping, for example, trials of osteoporosis. A proper, balanced diet can also crewless technology on board a ferry are due to have a beneficial effect on mental health and start next year and Rolls-Royce is predicting that importantly, children’s ability to learn. autonomous merchant ships will be in service by Congress recognises that good work has been the end of this decade. started to tackle food poverty in Wales and Congress therefore calls for the TUC to: Scotland but is concerned at the lack of positive i develop a proactive strategy for dealing with action taken in England. the challenges presented by workplace Congress calls on the General Council to work automation and to develop resources to assist with the BDA to develop a campaign highlighting member unions in responding to employers the causes and effects of food poverty in the UK who use technology in a socially damaging and ensuring its eradication. way British Dietetic Association ii conduct research on the issues and to produce policy programmes to demonstrate how The following amendment was ACCEPTED by the technology could be used to improve the mover: nature of work and to harness the • Insert new paragraph 3: technological opportunities and make them “Congress is appalled that the UK work for, rather than against, workers’ best government’s policy of deregulation in respect interests, and to ensure that the UK workforce of charging in schools has resulted in many is given the training and support to make children and young people being denied transitions to new and better jobs and that the access to a school lunch and nutritional snacks productivity gained by growing automation is on grounds of affordability.” shared by all. • In the final paragraph, delete “the BDA” and Nautilus International replace with “affiliates.” NASUWT 12: Food poverty in the UK Food poverty is one of the starkest signs of 13: Tax relief on pension contributions inequality in the UK and is on the increase. Food The UK’s decision to leave the EU raises significant poverty is the inability to afford, or to have access uncertainty for employers. The value of companies to, food to make up a healthy diet. It is about the in the financial services sector has been badly hit quality of food as well as quantity. It is not just by the referendum result and it is important the about hunger, but also about being appropriately government doesn’t impose further challenges on nourished to attain and maintain health. this industry. 5 Section 1: Congress decisions At the last budget the proposal to introduce a “d extension of the ‘freedom and choice’ Pension ISA was shelved. Following the decision to agenda that undermines workplace saving for exit the UK, Congress fears that the government retirement” may return to this proposal to boost the Treasury’s FDA coffers. However, it has a number of disadvantages: 16: Fair pay for young workers i Removing tax relief on pension contributions is Congress believes in equal pay for equal work. a disincentive to save for both employees and Congress notes that the Conservative government employers. excluded workers under the age of 25 from the ii It is incompatible with the existing pensions tax increased minimum (living) wage. Since the regime, which makes it more fragmented, recession peak in 2009 the wages of young complicated and costly for savers, and gives workers has fallen by 25 per cent with young employees another chance to ‘opt out’ of people under 25 now being paid on average 42 per auto-enrolment. cent less than other workers. iii Changes of this size are costly for pension Youth pay rates are clearly discriminatory and a providers who employ thousands of UK basic breach of the concept of equal pay for equal workers. Congress believes it is likely to result work. The Human Rights Commission also in further redundancies in our sector. welcomed the proposals to abolish the differentials based on age. Some countries operate much fairer This proposal is bad for savers,