PAY rises to match inflation and investment in renewable and affordable energy are the answers to the cost-of-living crisis, Wales TUC agreed today.

Delegates spoke of union members in full-time work reporting that soaring inflation meant they could no longer afford treats for their children — while some had even been forced into dependence on foodbanks.

The British government could help if it wanted to, by reversing the National Insurance rise, restoring the universal credit uplift, or levying a windfall tax on huge energy profits, Usdaw’s Jane Jones told conference, but “has made the choice not to implement these policies.”

Transport union RMT’s Mandy Evans said she welcomed the different approach of the Welsh government and pay rises for workers employed by Transport for Wales, but noted that Welsh workers employed by Network Rail or train operating companies were hit by pay freezes equivalent to pay cuts worth thousands of pounds a year.

Claims that the industry was on “life support” by Tory ministers was “propaganda,” she charged, noting that “there is plenty of money in this industry but it is being ringfenced for the corporate parasites rather than key workers.”

Transport firm FirstGroup had taken £19 million in dividends from its First Great Western franchise during the pandemic even as it tapped the public purse for assistance, she pointed out.

Swansea TUC delegate Alec Thraves said the battle over pay would dominate trade union activity in the coming period and that workers should not fall for claims from the likes of Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey that pay “restraint” would reduce inflation.

“There are global and domestic factors resulting in rising inflation,” he said, “but we as unions must demand wage increases to catch up with it.”

Congress also backed investment in nuclear energy after a heated debate over its benefits and risks, voting 173,103 to 51,367 in favour of a GMB emergency motion.

GMB’s Mike Payne said “without nuclear we will not be able to keep the lights on” and that it would form part of a sustainable energy mix alongside renewables.

Opponents including PCS delegate Darren Williams argued that nuclear energy was four to five times more expensive than onshore wind or solar power for the same output, while nuclear plants were vulnerable to “terrorism, sabotage, cyber attack and plane crashes,” with nuclear waste remaining toxic for thousands of years.