Congress
Report 2003
The 135th annual Trades Union Congress
8-11 September, Brighton
Contents
Page
General Council members 2003 - 2004…………………………………. 4
Section one - Congress decisions………………………………………… 7
Part 1
Resolutions carried……………………………………………… 9
Part 2
Motion remitted………………………………………………… 34
Section two – Verbatim report of Congress proceedings
Day 1
Monday 8 September…………………………………………... 39
Day 2
Tuesday 9 September…………………………………………… 81
Day 3
Wednesday 10 September……………………………………... 128
Day 4
Thursday 11 September ...……………………………………... 175
Section three - unions and their delegates…………………………… 201
Section four - details of past Congresses……………………………… 213
Section five - General Council 1921 – 2003…………………………… 216
Index of speakers…………………………………………………………… 221
4
General Council Members 2003 – 2004
Dave Anderson
UNISON
Jonathan Baume
FDA
Sheila Bearcroft
GMB
Mary Bousted
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
George Brumwell
Union of Construction, Allied Trades and
Technicians
Barry Camfield
Transport and General Workers’ Union
Marge Carey MBE
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
Brian Caton
Prison Officers’ Association
Sir Bill Connor
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
Bob Crow
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
Kevin Curran
GMB
Jeremy Dear
National Union of Journalists
Jeannie Drake OBE
Communication Workers’ Union
Tony Dubbins
Graphical, Paper and Media Union
Mark Fysh
UNISON
Jean Foster
GMB
Paul Gates OBE
National Union of Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades
Andy Gilchrist
Fire Brigades’ Union
Janice Godrich
Public and Commercial Services Union
Anita Halpin
National Union of Journalists
Pat Hawkes
National Union of Teachers
Billy Hayes
Communication Workers’ Union
Sally Hunt
Association of University Teachers
Paul Kenny
GMB
Peter Landles MBE
Transport and General Workers’ Union
David Lascelles
GMB
Mick Leahy OBE
ISTC – The Community Union
Roger Lyons
Amicus
Paul Mackney
NATFHE – The University and College Lecturers’
Union
Leslie Manasseh MBE
Connect
Doug McAvoy
National Union of Teachers
Linda MuCulloch
Amicus
Jane McKay
Transport and General Workers’ Union
Judy McKnight OBE
napo
Lesley Mercer
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Gloria Mills MBE
UNISON
Paul Noon
Prospect
Eamonn O’Kane*
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
Brian Orrell
National Union of Marine, Aviation and
Shipping Transport Officers
Phil Pinder
Transport and General Workers’ Union
Dave Prentis
UNISON
Sue Rogers
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of
Women Teachers
Dougie Rooney
Amicus
Richard Rosser
Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association
Mark Serwotka
Public and Commercial Services Union
Alison Shepherd
UNISON
Derek Simpson
Amicus
Liz Snape
UNISON
Keith Sonnet
UNISON
Ed Sweeney
Unifi
Mohammed Taj
Transport and General Workers’ Union
Paul Talbot
Amicus
Sofi Taylor
UNISON
Jenny Thurston
Prospect
Tony Woodley
Transport and General Workers Union
Brendan Barber
General Secretary
*Died May 2004
4
Section 1
Congress Decisions
Listed below are the decisions taken by the 2003 Trades Union Congress on the motions and amendments submitted by unions. 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
Resolutions Carried
4
Resolutions Carried
Part 1
Resolutions Carried
Agenda 11 Global rights for seafarers
Congress reiterates its commitment to promoting decent work, particularly the fundamental human rights of workers, and recognises that seafarers need special protection given the global nature of the shipping industry.
Congress is disappointed by the Government’s refusal to support measures jointly proposed by a broad coalition of trade union, human rights and environmental organisations during the United Nations’ Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea in June 2003, to help secure seafarers’ rights and environmental protection. It deplores the lost opportunity to address the flags of convenience system and to strengthen flag States’ compliance with international law. The Government’s stated commitment to sustainable development is seriously undermined by its failure to oppose this system, which facilitates and perpetuates the abuse of seafarers’ rights, endangers their safety and threatens fisheries and the marine environment.
Congress urgently calls upon the Government to support trade union efforts actively, in all relevant forums, to end abuses encouraged by this system, including requiring definition of the ‘genuine link’ between ships and States whose flag they fly, and promoting binding legal measures to enforce flag State obligations.
It also calls on unions and the General Council to support and promote the International Transport Workers’ Federation campaign ‘Steering a straight course’ which seeks to strengthen flag States’ compliance with international law and to support human and trade union rights for seafarers.
National Union of Marine, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers
The following ammendment was ACCEPTED
Add a new final paragraph:
“Finally, this Congress places on record the position of the General Council in supporting the repeal of Section 9 of the Race Relations Act, and Congress should continue to campaign for such repeal.”
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
Agenda 26 Employment for disabled people
Congress views with concern the very low numbers of disabled people in employment. Congress notes that job retention for disabled people has to become a higher priority in the trade union movement and commits to defending the jobs of any disabled trade unionists under threat.
The move over the last six years to progress disabled people out of supported employment has failed.
Jobs that are offered to disabled people are normally low paid unskilled part-time jobs. The jobs offered are normally jobs that have been turned down by non-disabled people.
The funding for the supported employment programme Workstep has increased very little since the last Tory government.
Congress congratulates the TUC on its record of supporting disabled workers.
Congress calls on the TUC to campaign with the unions involved in the Workstep programme to increase funding and make sure all disabled people have a choice of employment.
Congress notes the Audit Commission Report ‘Equality and Diversity’ shows that with a disability population of 14 per cent local authorities employ on average only 2 per cent of disabled persons, and some only 0.02 per cent.
Congress instructs the General Council to seek solutions with government, and report back to conference.
Congress calls on councils to work with their recognised unions to raise these levels.
Disability Conference
Agenda 34 National Minimum Wage
Congress welcomes the Government’s increase in the adult National Minimum Wage and the 18- to 21-year-old development rate from October 2003. Congress believes the full rate should be paid at 18 but that these increases will make further inroads into tackling the problem of low pay still facing many British workers today.
However, Congress believes that despite its obvious success the National Minimum Wage is still restrictive in its coverage and needs to be exten-ded to include 16- and 17-year-olds. These workers are now the most isolated, vulnerable and exploited group of workers in the workforce with many earning less than £2.00 an hour.
Congress welcomes the Government’s decision to ask the Low Pay Commission to consider in detail the introduction of a minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds and believes that there is now a process in motion that can deliver a minimum wage for these workers.
Congress believes that the TUC must play a major role in this process and calls on the General Council to:
i) mount a vigorous campaign in support of a National Minimum Wage for 16- and 17-year-olds;
ii) gather evidence from affiliates of the existence of low pay among 16- and 17-year-olds in their sectors for use in this campaign; and
iii) urge the Government to reduce the adult rate of the Minimum Wage to 18 years old and to introduce a minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds at a level that tackles age discrimination and the exploitation of young workers.
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
Agenda 38 Targets and public service reform
Congress welcomes the Government’s belated recognition that it ‘can’t deliver good health or safe streets in the way that commercial companies can deliver pizzas’ and that ‘values are more important than targets’.
Congress condemns the Government’s previous determination to measure the success of public service reform and consequently the performance of managers in public service with narrow and simplistic targets.
Congress accepts that targets play a legitimate role in the collation of useful performance information but they should not be an end in themselves. Experience demonstrates that the current over-reliance upon nationally determined numerical targets, such as NHS waiting lists, has stifled managerial innovation and engendered a culture of fear and bullying which has in extreme cases led to inappropriate activity including manipulation of information and the overriding of clinical priorities. League tables based upon such targets are often confusing and fail to offer meaningful information that would enable service users to take informed decisions. Congress believes that the emphasis should be on the development of performance information drawn up on the basis of regional or locally determined needs.
Congress therefore calls upon the Government to:
i) abandon its current presumption that the attainment of a national numerical target equates to real service improvement;
ii) agree with the relevant trade unions and relevant representative and accountable bodies mechanisms of measurement that truly reflect success and reform; and
iii) restate its commitment to the values of public service and the public service ethos.
FDA
The following amendment was ACCEPTED
In paragraph 3, line 10, after ’priorities.‘ insert:
“Similarly, performance league tables for schools have led to high-stakes testing of pupils which has inappropriately narrowed their learning opportunities and increased the incidence of stress and ill-health among teachers.“
In paragraph 3, line 10, delete ’such‘ and insert ’nationally determined numerical targets‘.
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Agenda 42 Drug prescribing
Congress notes the huge profits being made by the major drug companies, and is concerned about the impact that the spiralling cost of drugs has on NHS services as a whole. Many doctors continue to prescribe branded drugs, even though generic equivalents are cheaper and just as effective, or prescribe unnecessarily.
The effect of the drugs overspend is particularly severe in the newly formed Primary Care Trusts, where direct patient services and staff numbers are being cut in order to balance the books.
Congress calls on the Government to come clean about the problem and put pressure on doctors to keep the drugs bill under control.
Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
Agenda 43 Bed-blocking
Congress believes that bed-blocking leaves people in hospital beds who should be cared for at home. Many elderly patients are admitted simply because they are unable to cope and must be cared for in hospital because there is no alternative.
Congress calls on the General Council to urge the Government to resolve bed-blocking by financing community and healthcare services to enable them to meet the needs of the elderly population.
Community and District Nursing Association
The following amendment was ACCEPTED.
Delete paragraph 2 and insert:
“Congress recognises the Government‘s programme of investment in the NHS and its commitment to improve healthcare for the elderly. Congress calls on the General Council to urge the Government to ensure both community and healthcare services receive sufficient finance to realise this commitment and resolve the issue of bed-blocking. “
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Agenda 44 Tackling elder abuse
Community and district nurses are continually encountering elder abuse while carrying out their everyday duties. The CDNA have identified that their members feel unsupported and are in need of training to deal with this sensitive issue.
Congress calls on the General Council to support the need for mandatory training for all district nurses in order that elder abuse can be identified and eradicated.
Community and District Nursing Association
Agenda 45 National agreement on raising standards and tackling workload
Congress welcomes the national agreement reached by the ATL, GMB, NASUWT, T&G and UNISON with the Government, Welsh Assembly and local authorities. Under the agreement, a series of measures will be introduced which, by reducing excessive teacher workload and improving the career opportunities and the status of school staff other than teachers, will help to raise pupil standards further.
Congress welcomes also the co-operation between the unions representing school staff in the negotiations which preceded the agreement and which has characterised the subsequent discussions. Congress looks forward to this co-operation being reflected in school-based and local authority negotiations.
Congress recognises that the national agreement expresses in concrete terms the advantages to be derived from a genuine partnership between the Government, local authorities and trade unions - in particular the recognition of the vital role the unions play in the provision of high-quality public services.
Congress states that an integral element of the agreement is the increase in funding necessary for its implementation and calls upon the Government to ensure that the national agreement is appropriately funded.
Congress declares its support for ensuring that the gains arising from the agreement are fully realised and states that any attempt to frustrate their implementation will be resisted, if necessary, by appropriate industrial action.
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
The following amendment was ACCEPTED
In paragraph 2, line 6, after ’negotiations.‘ insert:
“In particular, this must include genuine consultation and negotiation on implementation carried out at local authority level with employers and unions representing all education staff. “
In paragraph 4, line 5, after ’funded.‘ insert:
“This must include the cost of re-grading support staff in schools taking on additional roles and responsibilities.”
UNISON
Agenda 46 Funding for schools
Congress believes that the funding crisis being experienced this year by many schools and LEAs must be resolved by the Government in order to reverse the loss of posts and jobs of teachers and support staff.
Congress believes further that short-term measures cannot redress the Government’s under-estimate of school costs and instead additional money must be provided.
In particular, Congress urges the Government to restore to the education service the £850 million increase it promised to schools for this year for implementing workforce reform and to increase as necessary the amount available for workforce reform in 2004-5 and 2005-6.