GPC Report and composite motions

Congress 2007

Section one

1 GPC Report to Congress

Part 1 Agenda

All motions and amendments stand as in the Agenda unless indicated otherwise below. Where composite motions have been agreed and approved by the GPC by 5 September, they are shown in the list below and the text of the composite motions is given in Section 3 of this report.

Composite motions agreed and approved by the GPC after 5 September will be reported to Congress by the GPC and copies circulated to delegates as quickly as possible.

Where movers of motions have agreed to accept published amendments by 5 September, this is also stated in the list below. The GPC will report to Congress all instances where published amendments are accepted by the movers of motions after 5 September.

Please note that the amendment to Motion 27 has been withdrawn.

The following is the position at 5 September in respect of motions, amendments and composite motions. Motion numbers are those printed in the Agenda.

1 Vulnerable workers

01 EIS	Stands
02 Equity amend BECTU	Stands Accepted
03 USDAW amend UNISON amend PCS	COMPOSITE No.1 National Minimum Wage enforcement
04 UCATT	Stands
05 NUJ	Stands

2 Organising and rights at work

06 Unite amend UNISON amend Equity amend BECTU 07 CWU	COMPOSITE No.2 Agency workers
08 NUJ	Stands
09 Connect amend FDA	Stands Accepted
010 BFAWU amend Community	Stands Accepted
11 SCP	Stands
12 Nautilus UK	Stands
13 FDA amend CWU	Stands Accepted
14 TSSA amend Unite amend CWU	COMPOSITE No. 3 Employment and trade union rights
15 RMT 16 POA (UK) 17 NUM	COMPOSITE No. 4 Trade union rights and freedoms
18 POA (UK)	Stands
19 PFA amend Equity amend SoR amend ACM	COMPOSITE No. 5 Unions and professional standards
20 UCATT	Stands
21 NUT	Stands

3 Equal rights

22 napo amend Unite amend UNISON amend PCS amend Connect 23 CSP amend GMB 25 NGSU	COMPOSITE No. 6 Single Equality Act
24 TUC Disability Conference	Stands
26 Accord amend MU amend ASLEF	COMPOSITE No. 7 Violence against women
27 USDAW amend NASUWT	Stands Amendment withdrawn
28 TUC Black Workers' Conference amend POA (UK)	Stands Not Accepted
29 TUC LGBT Conference amend ATL	Stands Not Accepted
30 NGSU	Stands
31 GMB amend CSP	Stands Accepted
32 SoR	Stands

4 Economic and industrial affairs

33 Unite	Stands
34 Community amend Prospect	Stands Accepted
35 Connect amend Unite amend GMB amend USDAW	COMPOSITE No. 8 Private equity
36 Prospect	Stands
37 BACM-TEAM 38 NUM	COMPOSITE No. 9 Coal Industry
39 ASLEF	Stands
40 Nautilus UK	Stands
41 Unite amend URTU	Stands Accepted
42 TSSA amend RMT amend Community amend ASLEF	COMPOSITE No. 10 Railway industry
43 Unite amend UCATT amend TSSA	COMPOSITE No. 11 Housing
44 UNISON amend FBU	Stands Accepted
45 ATL amend NUT	Stands Accepted
46 UNISON amend RMT 47 Prospect amend Unite amend CSP	COMPOSITE No. 12 Public services
48 PCS amend POA (UK) 49 NUT	COMPOSITE No. 13 Public sector pay
50 SoR	Stands
51 PCS	Stands
52 FDA amend Prospect	Stands Accepted
53 CWU	Stands
54 FBU	Stands
55 CSP	Stands
56 SCP	Stands
57 AEP	Stands
58 EIS amend NUT	Stands Accepted
59 Aspect	Stands
60 ACM amend NASUWT amend UCATT amend UCU	COMPOSITE No. 14 Raising the participation age in education and training
61 UCU amend ACM 62 ACM	COMPOSITE No. 15 Privatisation and job losses in further and higher education
63 napo	Stands
64 BECTU 65 Equity amend FDA	COMPOSITE No. 16 Arts funding and the Olympics
66 MU	Stands
67 MU	Stands

5 Global solidarity

68 Community amend Nautilus UK	Stands Accepted
69 BECTU	Stands
70 NASUWT amend ATL	Stands Accepted
71 GMB	Stands
72 RMT	Stands
73 Accord amend UCU	Stands Accepted
74 ATL amend TSSA amend Accord 75 ASLEF	COMPOSITE No. 17 Colombia
76 FBU amend NUM	Stands Accepted

6 Learning and skills

77 UCU amend Connect amend SoR 78 BFAWU amend USDAW

COMPOSITE No. 18 Leitch review of skills and ESOL

7 Protecting people at work

79 NASUWT

Stands

8 TUC Organisation

80 TUC Women's Conference

Stands

Part 2 Introductions and presentations

The GPC has approved the following speeches and presentations by the General Secretary, sororal and fraternal delegates and special guests:

Monday afternoon

General Secretary's address

Address by a Senior Government Minister

Tuesday morning

Address by Leo Gerard, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations fraternal delegate

Address by Richard Lambert - Director General, Confederation of British Industry, followed by questions and answers

Tuesday afternoon

Address by Rt Hon. Jacqui Smith MP, Home Secretary

Address by Rt Hon. Peter Hain MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Wednesday morning

Address by Mike Griffiths - Labour Party fraternal delegate

Address by Sharan Burrow - President, International Trade Union Confederation

Address by Rt Hon. John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, followed by questions and answers

Wednesday afternoon

Address by Wanja Lundby-Wedin - President, European Trades Union Confederation

Address by Lovemore Matombo - Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions

On Monday morning the Congress Lay Representative Awards will include a video presentation.

On Wednesday morning there will be a video presentation on vulnerable workers.

On Wednesday afternoon there will be a video presentation on Colombia.

Part 3 Ballots

The ballot for General Council section C will take place on Tuesday, together with the ballot for the General Purposes Committee. Christine Payne has withdrawn her nomination from General Council section D. As a result the candidates in section D, together with the candidates in sections E, F, G, H, I and J, are elected unopposed.

Ballot papers may be collected from 9am on Tuesday from the Scrutineers at the desk outside the TUC stand. The stand is situated in the ground floor exhibition area just inside the main front doors of the Brighton Centre. Ballot papers will only be provided in exchange for the official delegate form. The ballot closes at noon on Tuesday.

Delegates are reminded that in casting their union's votes, the total number of votes allocated to your union should be written in against the name(s) of the candidate(s) you wish to support. The number of votes allocated to each union is printed on the ballot paper. The result of the ballot will be announced towards the end of the Tuesday afternoon session.

Part 4 Standing orders

Delegates are reminded of Rule 26 governing speaking times during Congress which permits the following speaking times:

movers of motions up to five minutes;

seconders of motions and all subsequent speakers up to three minutes.

A system of warning lights will be used with a green light showing at the beginning of a speaker's allowed time. This will change to amber one minute from the end of the allowed time and to red at the end of the allowed time. If the speaker continues when the red light is showing, a bell will ring.

Delegates are asked to co-operate fully with the rules on speaking times and to give their names and the names of their unions before they begin their speeches.

Part 5 Membership of General Purposes Committee

Annette Mansell-Green (Chair)

Peter Hall (Secretary)

Phil Davies

Linda McCulloch

Tony Woodhouse

Section two

2 Congress tellers and scrutineers

Tellers

Bhaljeet Ghale (NUT)

Corinna Marlowe (Equity)

Odette Pink (Unite)

Amarjite Singh (CWU)

Rachelle Wilkins (GMB)

Scrutineers

Kathy Dyson (MU)

David Gill (USDAW)

Chris Lines (NASUWT)

Pam Sing (UNISON)

Christine Tucker (Accord)

Section three

3 Composite motions

C1 National Minimum Wage enforcement

(Motion 3 and amendments)

Congress believes that effective enforcement is essential for the success of the National Minimum Wage and is alarmed at the scale of underpayment that is being uncovered by the Minimum Wage Compliance Officers, with over £3 million in arrears being uncovered last year. Congress also believes that any regional variation in the minimum wage will undermine and complicate effective enforcement.

Congress is further concerned that this situation will get worse as the number of migrant workers continues to increase and that these vulnerable workers are often unaware of their employment rights, including those relating to the Minimum Wage, or fearful of taking any action to enforce them.

Congress welcomes the recent consultation process on improving the enforcement mechanism of the Minimum Wage through a more effective penalty regime and a fairer way of dealing with arrears owed to workers.

However, Congress notes the failure by HMRC management to deliver on Gordon Brown's commitment made in December 2006 to increase resources by 50 per cent and believes further action is needed and calls upon the Government to take action to address the situation through:

i) further substantially increasing the National Minimum Wage enforcement budget to allow for more Compliance Officers and more targeted and pro-active enforcement, especially in those sectors employing larger numbers of migrant workers;

ii) greater publicity about the right to a minimum wage in every workplace and the enforcement process;

iii) introducing stiffer financial penalties for employers found underpaying the Minimum Wage or those who dismiss or victimise workers because they have sought legal redress relating to the NMW, and ensuring that workers receive interest on the money that has been withheld from them; and not expanding existing exemptions from current minimum wage coverage e.g. through the National Framework for Volunteers;

iv) allowing trade unions to take representative and group cases to Employment Tribunals, rather than every single underpaid worker having to submit a separate application; and

v) enabling Compliance Officers to enforce the NMW in respect of holiday pay.

Mover: Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers

Seconder: UNISON

Supporter: Public and Commercial Services Union

C2 Agency workers

(Motions 6 and amendments, and 7)

Congress notes the overwhelming evidence that agency workers receive worse terms and conditions than directly employed workers, particularly in relation to pay, holiday entitlement and sick pay. This legalised discrimination denies essential protections to workers and leads to increasing casualisation and insecurity across the economy.

Congress recognises the excellent work done by the trade union movement in bringing the issue of unfair treatment of agency workers to the forefront of the political agenda. Congress congratulates Paul Farrelly MP for taking forward his Private Members Bill on agency workers and expresses its thanks to the 108 Labour MPs who attended the second reading of the Bill on 2 March. Congress condemns the Government opposition to this Bill, despite its landmark level of parliamentary support. Although the Bill was given insufficient time to proceed, it served to raise awareness of the issue among key interest groups.

Congress records that the Government has repeatedly stated that it supports the underlying principles of the EU Agency Workers Directive that would provide for equal treatment rights for agency workers, and notes the Government commitment made at Warwick to introduce domestic legislation if there was no progress on the EU Directive. Congress also notes that progress on European legislation has been stalled for over five years and is unlikely to be progressed in the near future.

Congress recognises that there is still much work to be done to end the exploitation of agency workers in the UK who are afforded some of the lowest levels of protection in Europe with no right to equal pay or conditions or right to legal employment status.

Congress believes that the introduction of equal treatment rights for agency workers is the only effective way to tackle exploitation and undercutting whilst also recognising the need for better regulation, enforcement and licensing in the agency sector.

Congress regrets that many public authorities and their contractors have over-used agency workers, undermining collective agreements, team working, services and abusing migrant workers. Such workers are outside the two-tier workforce prevention agreements and Congress resolves to tackle this loophole in 2007 and 2008 alongside other implementation problems.

Changes to regulations governing employment agencies must also provide greater protection for vulnerable workers in the entertainment industry. The TUC will therefore actively support the Equity/BECTU campaign to prevent rogue agents exploiting performers by charging up-front fees and commission, which can leave workers with less than the minimum wage.

Congress calls on the General Council to campaign for the introduction of a time limit within which workers in the entertainment industry must be paid by employers/hirers.

Congress calls on the TUC to continue to mount a high profile campaign for UK legislation in this parliament to outlaw discrimination against agency workers in basic terms and conditions, from day one of employment; campaign to end the exploitation of agency workers; and calls on the Government to honour its commitments and urgently introduce a legal framework giving agency workers equal treatment compared to their directly employed counterparts.

Mover: Unite

Seconder: Communication Workers' Union

Supporters: UNISON

Equity

Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union

C3 Employment and trade union rights

(Motion 14 and amendments)

Congress welcomes legislation enacted since 1997 that has improved the rights of millions of workers.

Congress notes that many of these measures were introduced against a background of opposition from employers and others on the grounds that they would damage jobs and the economy. Congress notes that such predictions proved to be groundless with the economy remaining strong and levels of employment growing. Whilst understanding the challenges of the global market for workers in the 21st century, Congress believes that these cannot be overcome by driving down terms, conditions and other hard-won employment rights.

Whilst welcoming progress made so far, Congress considers that much more needs to be done to improve matters further and, in particular, calls on the General Council to campaign for:

i) an end to National Minimum Wage exemptions;

ii) an end to current balloting arrangements for union political funds;

iii) full employment rights for all workers from day one of employment;

iv) full compensation for workers who lost their occupational pensions before the Pension Protection Fund was established;

v) protection against outsourcing and off-shoring jobs, especially where public finances are involved;

vi) fast-track action on equal pay to address the problems associated with pay inequality that still adversely affect women workers;

vii) the Trade Union Freedom Bill, including provisions in line with this year's request to the UK Government by the ILO Committee of Experts to amend legislation to allow workers 'to participate in sympathy strikes, provided the initial strike they are supporting is lawful';

viii) better, more enforceable rights to time off for trade union activity and training;

ix) an end to the opt-out from the European Charter of Fundamental Rights; and

x) a renewed campaign, in collaboration with the National Pensioners Convention, to increase the state pension above the official poverty level, to mark the 2008 centenary of the first old age pension.

Mover: Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

Seconder: Unite

Supporter: Communication Workers' Union

C4 Trade union rights and freedoms

(Motions 15, 16 and 17)

Congress reiterates its support for repeal of the anti-trade union laws. Congress welcomes the Green Paper The Governance of Britain, which will begin a national debate on a new constitutional settlement, including a Bill of Rights. Congress urges the Government to ensure the incorporation of all International Labour Organisation conventions into any new Bill of Rights and for the General Council to vigorously campaign for this objective. Congress re-affirms its support for the Trade Union Freedom Bill, which is to be placed before Parliament for a second reading on 19 October 2007.

Congress notes the 2005 and 2006 Congress decisions endorsing a lobby of parliament in support of the Bill and the unanimous support for a lobby from all the Regional TUCs, the Wales TUC and STUC. Congress agrees that the lack of progress made to date on the repealing of the anti-trade union laws introduced by the Tory government is totally unacceptable. Action must be taken without further delay to restore the rights of the worker in the workplace.

Congress therefore agrees to step up the campaign for the repeal of all anti-trade union laws and urges the General Council to organise a lobby of parliament in support of the Trade Union Rights and Freedoms Bill, tabled by John McDonnell MP.

Congress welcomes the growing support for the Trade Union Freedom Bill, including from Harriet Harman MP, the successful candidate in the Labour Deputy Leadership contest.

The Bill is scheduled for its second reading on 19 October 2007 and Congress urges the Government to allow sufficient parliamentary time for the Bill to be debated and voted upon.

In support of the above campaigns Congress urges the General Council to:

i) examine whether the TUC can replicate the highly successful aspects of the Your Rights at Work campaign organised by the Australian Council of Trade Unions; and

ii) support the establishment of a Trade Union Week in Parliament along the lines of the successful STUC event in the Scottish Parliament.

Congress notes the need for the TUC and its affiliated unions fully to support TUC policies, once democratically adopted by Congress. Congress agrees that whilst it wishes to work constructively with the Government, it should be made clear that TUC policies that are contrary to the Government's policies will be fully acted upon.

Mover: National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

Seconder: POA (UK)

Supporter: National Union of Mineworkers

C5 Union and professional standards

(Motion 19 and amendments)

Congress recognises the important role that trade unions, and especially the smaller specialist unions such as the Professional Footballers' Association, play in upholding professional standards and promoting the welfare of the industries in which they work, as well as defending and advancing members' terms and conditions. The work of these unions ensures that they are able to retain a strong identity and speak with authority on behalf of their profession. This helps to create a real sense of pride amongst union members and offers a distinctive way of attracting, organising and recruiting these members.

This important work, in the case of the PFA built up over the century since its formation, gives the union a status and a responsibility to its members and its industry.

Congress believes that in a fast changing world it is important for the unions to continue and, where appropriate, develop this aspect of their work and to that end asks the General Council to bring together, biannually, through the TUC senior managerial and professional unions group, those unions with an interest in promoting professional standards within their own sector to see what lessons can be drawn from respective experiences.

Mover: Professional Footballers' Association

Seconder: Equity

Supporters: Society of Radiographers

Association for College Management

C6 Single Equality Act

(Motions 22 and amendments, 23 and amendment, and 25)

Congress welcomes the publication of the Consultation Paper A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill, but is deeply disappointed at the contents. The proposed Bill represents an opportunity to bring discrimination legislation into the 21st century and ensure that working people are treated equally regardless of sex, race, disability, sexuality, age, religion or belief.

Congress condemns the failure of the Green Paper on the Discrimination Law Review to seize the opportunity provided by the much-needed Single Equalities Bill to promote the equalities agenda in all areas, including the private sector. Congress believes that some of the proposals laid out in the Consultation Paper would actually have the effect of weakening our current discrimination law.

Women working full time still suffer a 17 per cent pay gap - rising to 40 per cent for part time women workers - with no sign of this gap closing. Under the proposals employers will not be legally obliged to carry out equal pay audits or to monitor and report on their equality practices. The public sector will have no statutory requirement to consider equality in contracts with the private sector. The Green Paper has missed a vital opportunity to make fundamental changes to the law to ensure that discriminatory practices are prevented through proactive action, rather than being addressed after they have occurred.

Congress believes equality is brought about by levelling up, not by suppressing or reducing the pay and conditions of all workers. This comes at a cost which government and employers must be prepared to meet and ensure adequate funding.

Congress notes the prompt action of the TUC in organising a meeting of affiliates to discuss and co-ordinate responses to the Green Paper. Congress calls on the General Council to ensure that:

i) lobbying and campaigning for improvements to the proposals are a high priority both during and beyond the consultation period; and

ii) the campaign focuses on the need for statutory rather than voluntary measures to be introduced if real change is to be achieved.

Congress urges the Government to extend the scope of the subsequent Bill to include:

a) much tougher enforcement of the law;

b) a duty on all employers to eliminate discrimination in their workplaces;

c) an obligation on employers to monitor their workforce on grounds of gender, race, disability, age and sexuality and to publish this information;

d) an obligation to include in their monitoring information relating to pay and working conditions, and introduce a right for trade unions to take class action;

e) rights to paid carers' leave; and

f) recognition and statutory rights to time off and training for union equality reps.

In particular, Congress calls on the Government to:

1) extend the public sector equality duty to all areas and reject the notion that it should be weakened as the price for its extension to cover age, sexuality and religion/belief;

2) provide for public procurement to be used as a means of promoting compliance with equality duties;

3) strengthen equal pay legislation in ways that address the gender pay gap and provide for equal pay for work of equal value and include the introduction of mandatory equal pay audits, the right for unions to bring representative actions, legal acceptance of 'hypothetical comparators'; and

4) maintain rights for individuals and unions to take judicial review action against public authorities if necessary, in order to ensure effective enforcement and remedy.

With these inclusions, the Government would take a giant step towards finally eradicating discrimination in our workplaces.

Congress calls on the Government, at the time of the creation of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, to ensure that all its policies and practices are based on maintaining an impetus on driving the equalities agenda forward in all areas.

Congress notes with concern that proposed government funding for the Commission will be inadequate to meet the demands of the role it is expected to fulfil and calls on the Government to provide sufficient resources for the Commission to use its enforcement powers effectively.

Congress calls on the General Council to mount a major campaign in pursuit of these objectives through parliamentary and other means, and to encourage affiliates to recognise and use the strength of trade union organisation and collectivism to secure equality in the workplace.

Mover: napo

Seconder: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Supporters: Nationwide Group Staff Union

Unite

UNISON

Public and Commercial Services Union

Connect

GMB

C7 Violence against women

(Motion 26 and amendments)

Congress recalls the resolutions adopted in 2004 and 2006 and applauds the work so far undertaken by trade unions to promote workplace policies that address violence against women, especially domestic violence, and believes that further action can be taken through workplace bargaining, as well as by mobilising international solidarity. Congress, in particular, welcomes the partnership conference in July 2007 between the TUC, Amnesty International UK and the End Violence Against Women coalition to address 'working together to end violence against women.'

An important outcome of this conference was recognition by the delegates of the need to condemn so-called 'honour killings'. Congress reiterates the position that there are no such things as 'honour killings', and that they need to be recognised for what they are - murder and domestic violence.

Congress reiterates its call for the UK Government to develop a national strategy to address all aspects of violence against women in the UK.

Congress calls on the General Council to:

i) develop and disseminate occupational safety and bargaining materials and best practice aimed at harnessing the fullest potential for workplace action and employer policies to address and mitigate the effects of violence against women;

ii) offer strategic solidarity for women experiencing violence both at home and abroad, including by the promotion of action within the ITUC and Global Union Federations and at the ILO; and

iii) condemn honour-based violence and build a broad alliance to oppose the treatment of women in this way. So-called honour killings represent the extreme expression of a patriarchal belief in women as commodities. Like domestic and workplace violence there is no space for cultural sensitivity on such issues.

Congress calls on affiliated trade unions to support lobbying, policy, organising and workplace strategies for tackling violence against women and girls, including through membership education.

Congress calls on the General Council and affiliated trade unions to continue to work in partnership with Amnesty International to advance these objectives.

Mover: Accord

Seconder: Musicians' Union

Supporter: Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen

C8 Private equity

(Motion 35 and amendments)

Congress notes with concern the accelerating trend in the global economy towards an increasingly short-term outlook among financial investors. In particular, private equity, hedge funds, and others treat enterprises primarily as vehicles for speculation rather than investing in new products and services, high productivity and sustainable technologies.

Private equity firms, described as locusts by the German Minister, Franz Münterfering, typically borrow enormous sums of money to buy up companies, load them with the debt, hide behind a lack of transparency and independent data, demand excessive rates of return, strip assets, destroy quality jobs and significantly reduce corporation tax despite high operating profits. Congress believes that self regulation by the private equity sector will be wholly inadequate.

Congress also notes that wherever private equity takes an interest in communications companies, such as Deutsche Telekom or Airwave, there is an immediate attempt to slash hard-won conditions of employment.

Congress recognises the importance of raising public and political awareness on the issues posed by private equity, in particular how short-termism in business can lead to asset-stripping and job losses. The absence of accountability and transparency in private equity companies also needs to be highlighted and addressed.

Congress calls on the General Council to:

i) continue to support affiliates' campaigns exposing the failings of private equity;

ii) maintain pressure on the UK Government to ensure that PE partners are subject to a fair and progressive tax arrangement;

iii) campaign for the strengthening of information and consultation rights where companies are taken over by private equity, plus the extension of TUPE to cover circumstances where a change in ownership arises through share purchase;

iv) ensure a review of the impact on pensions in terms of transparency of information provided by the PE industry so trustees have sufficient powers to call in the Pensions Regulator when PE firms are planning to invest in their company; and

v) establish a database to monitor the activities of private equity funds in the UK and overseas.

Mover: Connect

Seconder: GMB

Supporters: Unite

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers

C9 Coal industry

(Motions 37 and 38)

Congress shares the Government's objectives set out in the energy White Paper, Meeting the Energy Challenge, published in May 2007, of securing diverse and sustainable energy supplies at acceptable cost and in an environmentally benign way.

However the White Paper contains insufficient measures to ensure that these objectives are met. There is no doubt that a substantial energy gap is opening up by 2015 that requires the urgent commissioning of new coal power stations that are carbon-capture ready. More fiscal and other incentives are necessary to incentivise the investment in new capacity, such as carbon pricing or a clean carbon obligation comparable to the renewables obligation.

Congress further notes that the need to burn coal at increased levels is undisputed and to meet our emission reduction targets there is a critical need to utilise clean coal technologies currently available such as Supercritical Pulverised Fuel Technology and Pressurised Fluidised Bed Combustion Technology and to develop further new clean coal technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

Although welcome, the current competition for a commercial scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) plant needs to be extended to prove the different CCS technologies. The Coal Forum established under the energy review has confirmed the urgency of the need to take action now to avoid depending on gas. Congress calls on the Government to accelerate the pace and scale of its CCS ambitions and come forward with further measures to achieve its energy objectives.

Congress agrees that the May 2007 White Paper refused to recognise the need for UK deep-mined coal within a balanced indigenous energy supply.

Congress notes that the Government has accepted that fossil fuels will continue to be the predominant source of energy and should accept that UK-produced coal plays a major role in our energy supply and that reliance on imported coal to meet future energy requirements should be treated with caution, as the industrialisation of Asia has increased greatly and will continue to increase demand for more of the world's coal.

Last year the UK imported 50 million tonnes of coal and burned 68 million tonnes, generating nearly 37 per cent of our electricity requirement.

Congress therefore agrees that representatives of the TUC and affiliated energy unions seek urgent discussions with Government to secure the extraction and exploitation of the nation's massive coal reserves in the best interests of security of supply for the British people, recognising that almost every other coal producing nation is expanding its coal industry whilst Britain continues to close its mines as a result of adherence to the free-market philosophy.

Mover: National Union of Mineworkers

Seconder: British Association of Colliery Management - Technical, Energy and Administrative Management

C10 Railway industry

(Motion 42 and amendments)

Congress considers that privatisation in the transport industry continues to work against the public interest. This relates not only to rail services directly: it also restricts developing optimal national responses, consistent across government departments, to the needs of British industries for an efficient transport infrastructure and to the challenges of fulfilling international obligations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Congress, therefore, again calls for a publicly owned and accountable railway industry that is electorally popular, economically justified and achievable at minimal cost by initially absorbing franchises as they expire.

Congress condemns the massive rises in unregulated fares by some train operators, particularly on routes where they operate as a monopoly. Congress calls for an immediate end to this practice and for those concerned to be better policed by the government. Congress also condemns the closure and reduced opening times of booking offices. As well as the increased risk of crime and vandalism it also diminishes the level of service to passengers who lose out on the availability of cheap, off-peak fares that are not available from ticket machines. Furthermore, Congress condemns the over zealous use of penalty fares, simply to boost company profits, that revenue staff are being forced to impose without discretion.

Congress is gravely concerned that the UK already has the highest rail fares in Europe and considers urgent action is needed to redress this problem in order to promote the use of rail travel that will deliver greater social inclusion and essential environmental benefits.

The disadvantages of privatisation are not restricted to passenger operations. Because only a small percentage of the potential freight load possible is carried by rail, and the Government will not take action to improve matters, freight operating companies are competing for the same contracts, which makes freight jobs vulnerable.

Congress considers the continuing debacle of maintenance undertaken by Metronet on the London Underground under the public-private partnership must be addressed urgently and calls for all the work to be taken back in-house as a priority.

Metronet's collapse could jeopardise Tube services and London's preparations for the Olympic Games. Congress urges the Government to support the Mayor's desire for infrastructure work to be taken under direct London Underground control and urges the General Council to support an early conference to campaign for this position.

Mover: Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

Seconder: National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

(see over for supporters)

Supporters: Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen

Community

C11 Housing

(Motion 43 and amendments)

Congress notes with concern the current housing crisis brought about in part by average UK house prices in excess of £200,000 and house price inflation running at 11.3 per cent, which is predicted to continue at high levels for the foreseeable future. Congress further notes that the rises in interest rates over the last 12 months have worsened buyer affordability.

Congress further recognises that the most vulnerable in our society are likely to be the most adversely affected by the current housing shortage. We need a major programme of investment and reform, based on a partnership between public and non-profit bodies, to build the houses that the UK so urgently needs. Congress further notes the poor safety record of the house building sector and its failure to train adequate apprentices for the industry.

Congress therefore calls upon the General Council to campaign for:

i) government to enable local authorities to improve all existing council homes and estates;

ii) government to allow local authorities to start a new house building programme;

iii) adequate revenue for council homes to be maintained now and in the future;

iv) Britain's new housing developments to be built on a plural model, so that tenants and owner-occupiers live side by side, and our schools in particular are able to draw on a much wider social mix;

v) the Government's affordable house-building programme to be subject to contract compliance processes that deliver access to training, skills and trade unions; and

vi) an extension of the scope of the 'key workers' scheme to cover more low-paid essential workers in the transport industry, for example, to improve access to affordable, good quality accommodation within reasonable reach of workplaces and other facilities.

Mover: Unite

Seconder: Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians

Supporter: Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

C12 Public services

(Motions 46 and amendment, and 47 and amendments)

Congress believes that the Brown government must move on from the mistaken policies of marketisation, 'efficiency savings' and crude targets that have led only to privatisation, cuts and the demoralisation of public service staff, and set a course based on high quality, accountable services through co-operation with users and staff. Congress believes that only such a change will restore public confidence.

Congress recognises that in recent years there has been significant investment in key parts of the public sector. However, it is not convinced that the most effective use has been made of this investment or that all the staff who provide public services are properly valued.

Under-funding, despite rising operational demands, is leading to an over-reliance on the private sector, but there is no evidence to support assertions that this will reduce costs, increase efficiency and/or provide better value for money.

There is a real danger that such a short-term and short-sighted approach will lead to an irreversible loss of skills and capacity from the public sector.

The Government's intention to limit public sector pay settlements throughout the CSR07 period compounds these policy failures, and Congress opposes it.

We reject the transformation of local government in the recent Bill, from service provider to commissioner, believing it leads to fragmentation and marketisation. This is at odds with the integration of services through LAAs and LSPs and the priority of community involvement and scrutiny. Congress believes that trade unions should have a right of representation on LSPs.

Congress urges the Government to:

i) review urgently the new local commissioning role in local government;

ii) commit to a transparent, evidence-based approach to reform, with staff and user involvement;

iii) provide quality employment, an end to the two-tier workforce and unfair public pay ceilings; and

iv) apply these principles throughout the public sector.

Congress is deeply concerned that the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review will lead to further cuts and privatisations across the public sector. Key public services are at risk, including defence support, lorry and bus road-worthiness testing, health and safety enforcement, and forensic science.

We note the review of the NHS and fully support the NHS Together national demonstration in defence of NHS values and principles.

Congress welcomes the Speak Up for Public Services lobby organised by the TUC in January and it commits the General Council to take forward campaigning in response to CSR07 to achieve:

a) public services which are properly accountable to users, staff and local communities;

b) public services which are accessible to all, unrestricted by 'choice', 'competition' and 'contestability';

c) reform based on sound arguments not waves of initiatives;

d) a moratorium on further privatisation;

e) a commitment to provide adequate core funding for quality public services;

f) increased investment in the skills of public sector workers;

g) fair pay for all public servants, including respect for the recommendations of public sector pay review bodies; and

h) re-engagement by government with the public sector workforce in order to restore the damage to morale caused by the combination of cuts, untested reform and endless re-organisations.

In addition, Congress urges the General Council to:

1) support the EPSU framework on public services and resist European Union attacks;

2) develop talks on strategic direction with the STUC, WTUC and ICTU on developing national differences; and

3) build broad community and user alliances to maximise political and bargaining strength on our key issues.

Congress is concerned at the privatisation emanating from EU regulations such as the tendering of Caledonian MacBrayne Lifeline ferry services. Congress urges the UK Government to challenge these regulations and requests the General Council convene a conference of affiliates to discuss a campaign to oppose EU privatisation directives.

Mover: UNISON

Seconder: Prospect

Supporters: Unite

National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

C13 Public sector pay

(Motions 48 and amendment, and 49)

Congress reaffirms its support for properly funded, high quality public services and welcomes the substantial additional investment in the public services made in recent years by the Government.

Congress, however, rejects any suggestion or proposals from whatever source that high quality public services can be assisted or improved on the basis of unfair, discriminatory or de-motivating public sector pay policies which reduce the real or relative levels of pay of the staff concerned.

Congress deplores the Government's 2 per cent pay limit on public sector pay increases and rejects the argument that it will help combat inflation.

Congress believes that there is no evidence that public sector pay is fuelling inflation and believes that public sector workers are the victims not the cause of inflation.

Congress believes that all public sector workers are entitled to levels of pay and working conditions that:

i) appropriately recognise the demands upon them;

ii) reflect their valuable contribution to the country and society as a whole; and

iii) compare fairly with the pay and rewards available in other comparable employments.

Congress notes that millions of public servants are already struggling to live on low pay. In some civil service departments there are full-time staff who are paid less than £11,000 per year.

Congress condemns the obscene bonuses paid to executives in the City and notes that the current tax system allows many wealthy people and companies to pay little or no tax.

Congress also confirms its opposition to regional pay as nothing short of a cynical attack on all public sector pay.

Congress believes that the lesson of the successful 2005 joint union campaign to defend existing public sector members' pension age is that we are stronger when we take action together.

Congress believes that the sector-wide pay freeze has created the conditions for another co-ordinated campaign including industrial action if necessary. We note that affiliates have been holding discussions on such a campaign since the Spring.

Congress, therefore, instructs the General Council to give full support to affiliated unions' efforts to protect their members' real and relative pay levels, to oppose the Government's two per cent pay target for public sector workers, and to co-ordinate a joint campaign of opposition at national and local levels to the Government's unfair public sector pay limit, including co-ordinated joint industrial action.

Congress calls on the General Council and Executive Committee to:

a) convene an immediate meeting of interested unions to discuss coordinated industrial action;

b) give full support to any such action;

c) develop local and regional campaigns of public sector unions; and

d) step up campaigning for a fairer, more redistributive tax system.

Mover: Public and Commercial Services Union

Seconder: National Union of Teachers

Supporter: POA (UK)

C14 Raising the participation age in education and training

(Motion 60 and amendments)

Congress welcomes the policy of raising the age for participation in education and training to 18. The 14-19 White Paper committed the system to reaching a participation level of 90 per cent at 17 by 2015. Even so, that leaves behind the most vulnerable: these are the people with few or no qualifications at 16 who are seven times less likely to stay on in education although they would gain considerably from doing so.

Congress is pleased that the options available to young people will include participation at school, in college, in work-based learning, or in accredited training provided by an employer, especially through bona fide workplace apprenticeships.

The new policy raises a range of issues, the most challenging of which is how to secure proper employer commitment. Employers have a largely unimpressive record for educating their young employees. The policy must not, by default, result in raising the school leaving age as a consequence of the failure by employers to provide training opportunities. It will be critical to establish processes that ensure that the young people in employment are placed on training that is valuable to them and their future.

Successful education enables, not coerces, learners. Coercive 'education' undermines educators' professional support, and development of reluctant young learners risks creating 'last resort' providers and needs firm duties on employers.

Congress calls on the General Council to:

i) lobby Government to make arrangements that ensure that employed young people receive their training entitlement and that the provision is of a high standard, which delivers recognised industry qualifications that provide meaningful skills for life;

ii) oppose criminalisation for non-attendance; and

iii) lobby for statutory time off to study for young people.

Mover: Association for College Management

Seconder: National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers

Supporters: Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians

University and College Union

C15 Privatisation and job losses in further and higher education

(Motions 61 and amendment, and 62)

Congress notes that under the guise of ideas of 'contestability', linking skills provision to 'employer-demand', and 'widening the provider base' in post-compulsory education, core education functions are being passed into the control of the private sector.

Congress is concerned that entire departments will be contracted out to private providers, putting commercial interests before those of learners.

Congress further notes that these developments put jobs at risk, and threaten to create a two-tier system in staff pay and terms and conditions; increase workloads; damage the quality of provision and the reputation of UK further and higher education; and increase financial instability across both sectors.

Congress calls on the General Council to:

i) continue to campaign to ensure that further and higher education remain public services that are built around adding public value to post-compulsory learning;

ii) campaign for long term stability in FHE, particularly in terms of public funding and staff pay and conditions; and oppose the use of 'brokers' through Train To Gain;

iii) facilitate greater campaigning and research links between public sector unions to develop a research base on private providers and build up best practice of combating privatisation, to enable unions to pool knowledge and resources, and to report back within the year on progress;

iv) lobby the Government to extend the end of the two-tier workforce in local government to FHE, including all staff who currently work for private contractors;

v) instigate TUC research into the record of both contestability and PFI in FHE and to assess its record in providing value for money; and

vi) lobby for a moratorium on further initiatives to subject the education system to the short-term imperatives of 'employer-demand', contestability, private control and public-private partnerships until the impact of such initiatives both in the UK and abroad are fully evaluated.

Congress is also concerned that job losses and insecurity because of frequent college reorganisations and mergers remain a big problem in further education. Congress believes this is detrimental not just to the staff affected but to the overall reputation of the sector as a provider of quality learning.

Accordingly, Congress calls on the Government, and Welsh and Scottish executives to:

a) recognise the extent of this problem and, in consultation with trade unions and other stakeholders, take appropriate action to bring stability to employment in FE colleges; and

b) ensure that any future reviews and/or consultations on any aspect of further education take meaningful account of the impact of any change on staff job security.

Mover: University and College Union

Seconder: Association for College Management

C16 Arts funding and the Olympics

(Motions 64, and 65 and amendment)

Trade unionists across the UK shared the surprise and excitement of the rest of the country when it was announced that London would host the 2012 Olympics. Congress supports the vision of the games and the desire to deliver a positive legacy of regeneration and reconstruction. The games will also provide a unique opportunity to showcase the extraordinary talent and creativity of the UK's creative and cultural industries.

However, Congress expresses grave concerns about the prospect of a reduction in arts funding for 2008-11 arising from the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review and its disappointment at the decision to divert £112m of lottery money from the Arts Council to the Olympics and that activities that are part of the proposed Cultural Olympiad will not receive any public or Lottery funding.

Congress notes the serious implications which will result for the arts in general and theatre in particular, including:

i) a return to the disastrous 'stop-start' funding approach of Conservative Governments;

ii) a reduction in the benefits to the public of accessible and original theatre combined with outreach work aimed at building a more diverse audience;

iii) a quick and adverse impact on employment and pay levels in this labour intensive sector, jeopardising trade union initiatives on low pay, training and equal opportunities; and

iv) a self-defeating reduction in the enormous economic spin off benefits of theatre (calculated at £2.6b from just £121m of public subsidy in 2004).

Congress further notes the tight financial constraints on the British Film Institute arising from reductions in arts funding and that the Government may divert funding from museums, libraries and archives, which are a unique and treasured national asset.

Congress calls on the TUC to seek assurances from Government that future funding for the performing arts - either directly from the public purse or from the Lottery - will be ring-fenced and protected at least in line with inflation, and that the funding of the UK's cultural institutions is protected to maximise the great opportunity in 2012 to publicise the heritage of the UK and wider world and not made a casualty of increasing Olympic costs.

Mover: Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union

Seconder: Equity

Supporter: FDA

C17 Colombia

(Motions 74 and amendments, and 75)

Congress notes the deteriorating situation in Colombia and deplores that it remains the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist. Justice for Colombia (JFC) reported to its affiliates in March 2007 that 84 trade unionists were assassinated in Colombia in 2006, the vast majority by the armed forces and their paramilitary allies - a 20 per cent increase on the numbers killed in 2005.

Congress condemns the continuing abuses against trade unionists and other members of civil society in Colombia and the Colombian Government's anti-union policies, links with paramilitary death squads and use of violence to silence political opponents. The TUC and JFC have condemned the Colombian Government for allowing targeted murders of trade unionists by the paramilitaries to continue with complete impunity; and Congress notes the latest political scandal involving high-level politicians aligned to the present Uribe regime who were forced to resign because of their links to the paramilitaries that perpetrate such vile crimes.

Congress congratulates Justice for Colombia for raising awareness and in providing solidarity to Colombian trade unions and for organising the protest demonstration outside the Colombian Embassy in March of this year, in which senior trade union officials made representation to the ambassador on behalf of the Colombian trade unions seeking an end to the assassinations and an acceptance by the Colombian Government of the UN human rights report that stated that there had been an increase in civilians murdered by the armed forces.

Congress notes the widespread opposition to UK military assistance to Colombia including from the Colombian trade union movement and the majority of Labour MPs and Labour NEC members. Congress notes with concern the growing use of torture of trade unionists and their children by the army, police and paramilitaries. Congress, therefore, commits to raise these issues with the Colombian Embassy in the UK, the Colombian Government and the UK Government as a matter of urgency.

Congress endorses the calls from Colombian civil society, supported by the EU, for a humanitarian prisoner exchange as a first step towards peace in Colombia. Congress also puts on record its support for the ILO Permanent Representation in Colombia and deplores the ILO Employers' Group attempt to silence debate of the situation in Colombia at the ILO Conference.

Congress calls on the General Council to:

i) press the UK and Colombian governments to work to strengthen rather than weaken collective bargaining in Colombia, including support and adequate funding for a truly independent ILO mission in Colombia;

ii) ensure that Colombia remains a TUC international priority;

iii) continue supporting, both politically and financially, the activities of Justice for Colombia;

iv) make urgent representations to the Government to withdraw military assistance to Colombia; and

v) support a humanitarian exchange of prisoners and a negotiated political settlement to the conflict.

Mover: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Seconder: Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen

Supporters: TSSA

Accord

C18 Leitch review of skills and ESOL

(Motions 77 and amendments, and 78 and amendment)

Congress notes the Government's intention to implement the recommendations of the Leitch Report. Congress calls on the General Council to campaign for:

i) a return to the principles of lifelong learning rather than the narrow employer and economic focus of the Leitch Report;

ii) a reversing of the cuts to adult learning funding and an end to the system of funding only those adult learning programmes that meet the narrow range of government targets;

iii) long-term public funding to provide rich and varied learning opportunities for everyone, irrespective of age or employment status; to guarantee equal status for accredited and non-accredited courses, including skills, leisure, social and cultural; and to prioritise adults benefiting least from school and a return to a fair fee policy for all;

iv) learning in the workplace to be 'employment'-led rather than just employer-led so the needs and aspirations of workers are taken into account and are met alongside those of the employer and particular attention is paid to the need to ensure equality of access to learning in the workplace;

v) a right to paid educational leave for all employed young people and adults up to Level 2 within the current Skills Pledge initiative, and within legislation after 2010 if there is insufficient take-up by employers of the Skills Pledge;

vi) all employers to support lifelong learning through the provision of paid time and resources for lifelong learning; and to set an example by requiring this to be mandatory in the public sector by 2012; and

vii) the Government to establish statutory workplace training agreements so that workplace and Lifelong Learning Committees become part of collective bargaining procedures.

Congress expresses alarm over government funding proposals for ESOL.

The ESOL programme has been a major success and has embedded in many training programmes run by affiliates in cooperation with employers. ESOL has been the first step for many home-based migrant workers on the learning and education path and is invaluable given the entry of the new accession states. Congress believes that ending universal entitlement to ESOL is contrary to the Government's stated intention of promoting social inclusion and that it will have a detrimental effect on low paid workers in particular.

Congress calls on the Government to recognise this essential work being carried out in this area and to protect the funding for this work. Specifically Congress agrees to work with other interested partners in order to secure restoration of the right to universal free ESOL training up to Level 2 and the right of asylum seekers to free learning from when they arrive in this country.

Unions are vital in ensuring this campaign remains high profile. We urgently need evidence of the damaging effect withdrawal of funding has had or could have on members' lives and union organisation. Congress urges unions to gather and share evidence and to use this to further the campaign. The extension of ESOL, which we welcome, should be through extra resources from the Government, not through a switch of resources from successful programmes.

Mover: University and College Union

Seconder: Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union

Supporters: Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers

Connect

Society of Radiographers