New TUC leader aims to unionise every worker

Union Matters October 19 2022

Pictured: Paul Nowak, Trish Vollans, and Rob Wotherspoon

Paul Nowak vows to build on Frances O’Grady’s achievements and sets ambitious target for our movement…

“Let’s work together, fight together and win together,” was the pledge made by incoming TUC general secretary Paul Nowak in his speech to Congress this afternoon.

Paul has been chosen by affiliate trade unions to succeed Frances O’Grady and he began his speech by praising her achievements during her period of office. Citing, in particular, her leadership during the Covid crisis, Paul said: “If it wasn’t for Frances O’Grady, there wouldn’t have been a furlough scheme. There wouldn’t have been protections for 12 million workers.”

Looking ahead, the incoming TUC leader promised to focus on growing our movement. “Our ability to deliver depends on our ability to grow and stengthen,” he pointed out.

We need to be “a trade union movement for every worker” he said and added: “We’re not waiting for change – we want to make that change happen.”

Defence manufacturing motion sparks ‘old-school’ debate…

CWU delegate Rob Wotherspoon took part in a debate which featured a rare disagreement. This discussion saw GMB and Unite – with the support of prison officers’ union POA – proposing a motion calling for an expanded UK defence manufacturing sector, while education and civil-service unions NEU and PCS opposed, as did railway union TSSA and the Fire Brigades Union. 

Our own union’s position was to oppose the motion and it was in this debate that Congress heard from Rob, of Bristol & District Amal Branch. He made the argument that there should be no increase in UK defence spending at a time when there is such dire need elsewhere in the economy, and also that weapons and armaments manufactured here are being sold to oppressive regimes, such as the Saudi Arabian regime, and used to kill civilians.

Other opponents of the motion focused on the process of conversion – switching from military to civilian manufacture, while retaining existing jobs and, they argued, creating new jobs.

In his reply to the debate, GMB delegate Nigel Warren argued that defence and civil manufacturing could not be neatly separated as had been called for. Each defence manufacturing job also creates two further jobs in the supply chain, he continued, warning that jobs could be hit. Furthermore, the UK needed a strong defence capability at this time and our defence needs should be manufactured here in the UK.

A show of hands was, according to Congress chair Sue Ferns, “too close to call” and so a card vote was called, which resulted in a small majority in favour of the motion.

Equality is a trade union issue…

Defending abortion rights and ensuring the recent change to US law does not lead to similar legislation here was a key factor among delegates this afternoon, with speaker after speaker vowing to support protests and other actions in defence of existing women’s rights.

Equal pay, specifically the gender pay gap, was another issue discussed today, as was the need for unity and a renewed determination to collectively tackle the scourge of sexual harassment at work.

CWU delegate Trish Vollans seconded the motion addressing this issue, saying: “This type of harassment is all to often dismissed as a joke, but it’s humiliating, frightening and downright wrong.” It was way beyond time for stronger action against this type of conduct and the trade union movement needed to be at the forefront of demanding this.

Transport, energy & national strategy…

Motions on public transport focused on the need for investment, expansion and full public ownership. But the other key aspect to this debate was the significant contribution that an expanded rail network can make towards the fight against pollution, for clean air, and in the context of the climate issue.

Climate issues also featured during the energy crisis debate, which heard demands for public ownership and investment in renewable sources – as well as nuclear power – to enable the UK to return to energy self-sufficiency. While immediate demands included the need for windfall taxes and real help now for struggling households.