Skip to main content

When we get organised we can shape our future

BILL ADAMS previews this weekend’s Yorkshire and Humber TUC conference

THIS year is the 150th anniversary of the Trade Union Congress and this weekend, representatives from all the trades unions across Yorkshire and the Humber gather in Harrogate for their annual general meeting. 

It comes at a time when many workers across the region still face great uncertainty about their future in a post-Brexit world.

Workers involved in manufacturing are concerned about the outcomes of trade talks and how potential tariffs or other barriers may affect their jobs, and people in public services and other service sectors are right to be worried about further privatisation and outsourcing. 

Unions are also deeply concerned about their employment rights which are currently protected under EU law and do not trust the likes of Liam Fox, Boris Johnson and co to fight their corner in Parliament.

EU laws on working time and transfer of rights when a business changes ownership have often been described by the present government as an obstacle to growth, as have many established health and safety provisions we all take for granted as being essential to our wellbeing.

Many of these issues will be discussed at our conference and decisions taken on what trade union strategies will be taken in the event of a loss of these rights post-Brexit. 

There will also be a discussion and question-and-answer panel on Brexit, and on devolution for the region, explaining the importance of projecting the Yorkshire brand to the world after Brexit.

Other issues on the agenda will deal with more threatened privatisation of the NHS across various NHS trusts in the region, and motions on care for the elderly and social care. 

Public-sector pay, as always, will be high on the agenda after nearly eight years of severe pay restraint, together with motions on universal credit, school, further and higher education funding, together with the constant attacks on workers’ pensions, in particular the mineworkers’ scheme and the current disputes in the university sector.

Culture and entertainment unions will launch their Love Culture campaign, a subject which can help boost economic regeneration in towns and cities all over the region attracting new business in many areas creating new jobs and wealth.

Manufacturing, automation and apprenticeships are on the agenda, which are crucial elements in our aim to rebalance the economy, to prepare for a low-carbon solution for many of our heavy industrial plants which currently provide around 29,000 well-paid jobs in Yorkshire and the Humber. 

We will discuss as a panel of experts with environmental, business and trade union leaders how we can influence the climate change agenda while ensuring that workers embrace a just transition to green jobs with new skills, processes and technological advances. 

Resolutions on driver-only trains and rail safety will be discussed and no doubt supported as disputes in the rail industry are currently ongoing.

Trade unions have always been at the front in fighting discrimination, racism and sexual harassment in the workplace and in society in general. 

We will hear motions from our unions on all these issues, including the attempt by the far right to mainstream their activities and the appalling attacks on ethnic minorities and migrant workers since the Brexit referendum. 

The TUC will also hear from the continuing campaign to demand a public inquiry into police and state tactics at Orgreave during the 1984-5 miners’ strike. Despite evidence collected, the government is steadfastly against the truth coming out. 

Our conference will call for full disclosure and reaffirm its support for the campaign.

As we all know, over the years trade union membership among young workers has been falling for a wide variety of reasons. 

In the past year the regional TUC has helped to support young workers in the food industry and entertainment and cinema sectors by supporting the McDonald’s strikers and the Ritzy Picturehouse strikers who have been striking for the living wage and trade union recognition. 

The Yorkshire and Humber regional TUC will for the first time this year, as part of our 150th celebrations, hold a parallel event for young workers at the same venue looking at issues around job security, pay and conditions and getting organised, together with talks and discussions about politics and their futures. 

They will join the main conference for an evening event and again on Sunday for the Brexit panel debate, something young people are very aware of and concerned about how it will affect their future life prospects.

As more and more workers are feeling vulnerable and are being exploited by zero-hours contracts, bogus self-employment and continuing austerity, it is vital for workers to organise and come together to influence their own future.

As the world’s fifth-largest economy, the sight of hundreds of people begging on the streets, living in tents in absolute squalor where there is a bit of spare ground and families queueing for food at foodbanks all over our region drives me to continue the fight for social and economic justice. 

Organising and the taking of decisive action as trade unions is the only way to change our region and our country where all people regardless of background, origin, colour or creed get the same opportunities to realise their full potential.

This weekend we can make a start, make a commitment to make our space a better place and organise ourselves for the many challenges we all collectively face together.

Bill Adams is Yorkshire and Humber TUC regional secretary.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today