THIS week sees hundreds of Welsh trade unionists descend on the traditional seaside town of Llandudno for what promises to be a packed agenda of discussion and debate at the Wales TUC conference. 

Relatively recent changes have both shifted and strengthened the debate to be had at Wales TUC conference as the organisation has gained greater autonomy in its policy-making ability in the light of evolving devolution.

The conference falls just a week after the 15th anniversary of when the National Assembly for Wales first sat. We’ve witnessed many changes since then as the assembly has grown from a body that could pass secondary legislation to a fully-fledged legislature with law-making powers. 

With these changes have come — and with commitment will continue to come — opportunities for trade unions and our members to really influence the legislative agenda to make devolution work for working people.

Yes we know that our members, our workplaces and our communities continue to bear the brunt of the pernicious policies of the Westminster government. 

We all remain resolute in the fight against this which will manifest itself on both the floor and fringes of conference, but here in Wales there is also hope on the horizon — hope that devolution offers the chance for us to do things differently, not simply to cushion the blows of the attacks emanating out of Westminster from the Conservative-led coalition but for a better, proactive way of doing things, a way that has social justice and the trade unions at its core.

At the conference we will be looking at the principles and practices of social partnership in Wales. 

Indeed social partnership is very much the standard in Wales today, particularly in respect of the approach to the public sector through the Workforce Partnership Council and the Council for Economic Renewal.

We’ve also seen its influence in bringing in progressive legislation and taking action that benefit both the workplace and the labour market in Wales, action on the scourge of blacklisting through procurement guidance and legislation like the recovery of medical costs for asbestos diseases (Wales) Bill that will see justice for asbestos victims in Wales.

At the conference we are calling for both the Wales TUC and the Welsh government to build on the spirit of social partnership in Wales in developing more progressive policies, particularly through procurement, to support both Welsh workers and the Welsh economy.

We would like to see the trade unions working together with the Welsh government to move further along the path of progressive procurement to:

• Create and grow sustainable skills including the upskilling of the existing workforce 
• Further develop quality apprenticeships; eradicate exploitation through zero-hour contracts where possible
• Recognise best practice in employee relations and support.

We believe that public employers and those in receipt of public contracts must take steps to tackle the use of zero-hours contracts for their own employees and through procurement — purchasing power has the potential to rid insecure employment from all public contracts.

Employers in Wales that benefit from Welsh government support should not exploit any of their workforce or treat their employees unequally and should clearly demonstrate best practice in terms of employee and trade union relations and recognition. 

The Welsh government recognises the value of trade unions as part of “team Wales” — others would do well to do the same in practice.

Our fringe will also look at how trade unions can exercise greater influence from a grass-roots level. 

As a union, Unite believes that devolution has and is set to continue to make a difference to our members — but the challenge for us and others in Wales is to ensure that more people are active participants in our devolved democracy and decision-making. 

Too many workers across the country feel disengaged and disempowered from the political process and detached from their representatives — these are people who often find themselves at the sharp end of political decisions and for whom, whether they like it or not, politics has an impact on their lives in the workplace and beyond.

One of the key principles of devolution is about bringing power and political decisions closer to the people. This is a principle that we at Unite in Wales are actively committed to furthering. 

One of the ways we have made a start at all of this is through our Walk a Day in Our Shoes work shadowing programme which we are showcasing at WTUC conference. 

The scheme has matched up AMs who are members of Unite with Unite members in a local workplace and the peer to peer — Unite member to Unite member — approach has meant that while the world of work of those participating seems miles apart, their Unite membership is what links them together. 

Through the scheme workers have been given an opportunity to directly engage with their elected representatives and AMs have had a chance to get a first-hand idea of what Unite members and representatives do within industry and the public sector in Wales.

From the starting point of what we have in common, our union membership, Unite is hoping to go some way in bridging the gap between politics and the people, extending the trade union debate about policy and politics out of the conference floor and onto the shop floor.

You can find out more about the work shadowing campaign at www.unitetheunion.org/walkadayinourshoes 

Andy Richards is Unite Wales Secretary.