4 Economic and industrial affairs
25 The economy
Congress notes with concern the impact on working people of high energy, food and housing costs brought about by rising global commodity prices and reckless actions over past years by the global financial sector. Congress notes that working people bear the consequences whilst those responsible in the finance sector continue to receive obscene payoffs and oil and energy companies benefit from huge profits.
Congress rejects the idea that the most vulnerable in society should pay for the failings of corporate greed and re-asserts its determination to support fair rewards in both the private and public sectors.
The extended wealth gap presided over by a Labour government cannot be morally justified whilst child poverty, low pay and inequality remain prevalent across our society. City bonuses leading to short-termism and risk have been a major contributor to the credit crunch, which has fuelled the expanding wealth gap.
Congress demands that the General Council should campaign to bring about changes to the economic strategy of the Government based on the following principles:
i) increased regulation and transparency of all financial institutions including private equity firms;
ii) a windfall tax on the huge profits of energy companies;
iii) a progressive taxation regime;
iv) the protection of income of low and middle income earners; and
v) a strategic policy to bring about a redistribution of wealth.
Unite
Amendment
In paragraph 2, line 3, after 'and' insert:
'inefficiency, as demonstrated by billion of pounds wasted by the Tube PPP and the collapse of Northern Rock, and'
Add new sub-paragraph vi):
'(vi) the economic, social and environmental case for public ownership of utilities and services, including water, gas, electricity, coal, oil and the transport sector, and a massive extension of council housing provision.'
RMT
26 Tax justice
Congress welcomes the publication of the TUC pamphlet The Missing Billions, which reveals that many companies and wealthy individuals are manipulating the tax system to avoid paying £25bn in tax each year.
Congress believes this undermines the development of a more equal society, both in the UK and globally, supported by properly resourced public services.
Congress agrees that the capacity of government to collect the taxes needed to fund our public services is being eroded by arbitrary staffing cuts and office closures across Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
Congress condemns the Government for presiding over a tax system that enables many rich individuals and multinational companies to avoid paying their fair share while poverty and inequality increases.
Congress instructs the General Council to:
i) develop a campaign strategy to publicise and implement those measures outlined in the pamphlet which will contribute to closing the tax gap, including supporting a public meeting that will take place at the House of Commons later this year;
ii) make clear in campaigning that a fair and effective taxation system requires adequate staffing and resources and that this is being undermined by the Government's current cuts programme in HMRC, and to give full support to those unions campaigning against the cuts in HMRC; and
iii) support action to make multinational companies pay in full the taxes they owe on profits made around the world - including consideration of new taxes on foreign currency dealings to raise additional money for development, since 'global problems require public solutions'.
Public and Commercial Services Union
27 Greener pastures? Poverty and social exclusion in rural areas
Congress notes that tackling poverty has been among the Government's stated core priorities for nearly a decade and that educational qualifications are a key requirement for an individual's route out of poverty.
Congress also notes that government initiatives aimed at breaking the link between poverty and low educational outcomes are targeted at urban areas with high concentrations of deprived households. Research has shown, however, that these initiatives have had only a moderate impact, that the Government is not meeting its targets and that poverty is currently increasing.
Whilst poverty and deprivation are more prevalent and visible in urban areas, Congress recognises that one in five rural households in the UK, including 700,000 children, live below the official poverty line.
The isolation and invisibility of poor rural households is compounded by the Government's excessive focus on the social exclusion of individuals and families rather than on poverty as a result of structural discrimination based on social class.
Congress calls on the TUC and its affiliated unions to:
i) press the Government to develop coherent and all-inclusive anti-poverty policies based on a focus on social class; and
ii) lobby the Government to conduct a rigorous rural impact assessment of all its educational policies and initiatives.
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
28 Child poverty
Congress affirms that 'children are the aspiration of the world' and applauds the Government's target to reduce child poverty by 50 per cent by 2010. Congress notes that child poverty is a significant barrier to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social development of children. These barriers to development prevent many children from achieving by significantly reducing their life chances and by excluding them from opportunities open to others. Where pockets of child and family poverty exist, this has a further pervasive effect on children's and societal development and can lead to the creation of whole pockets of communities and society being excluded from the mainstream of social development and opportunity.
Congress also notes the recent evidence that suggests the Government may fail to reach its target for child poverty and other evidence that indicates there is a widening gap between the richest and poorest in our society. This is directly contrary to the aspirations of improving outcomes for children contained in the Government's strategy, Every Child Matters. Congress requests the General Council to engage in early discussions with the Government about measures to address the levels of child poverty in Britain.
Congress supports measures to tackle child poverty that will include:
i) a review of direct and indirect taxation;
ii) a revision of departmental spending priorities;
iii) an obligation on local authorities to target their resources to areas of specific child poverty and need; and
iv) development of social and learning opportunities to be available to those families living in poverty.
Association of Educational Psychologists
29 Tax exempt mileage allowances for private cars used on employer's business
Congress notes that many unions have members who have to use their private car while travelling on official business, and members of all of our unions have been badly affected by the recent sharp rises in the cost of petrol and diesel. However, the Government has maintained the rate of mileage allowance which is not subject to tax at 40p per mile since 2002. The cost of owning and operating a car has increased significantly in recent years, not only because of the recent severe rises in the price of fuel but also increases in road tax, insurance and servicing.
The consequence of the Government's current approach is that union members are, in effect, subsidising their employers by undertaking official duties in a private vehicle.
Congress also notes that the problem is exacerbated in the civil service because although departments may have the flexibility to pay rates above 40p per mile, they do not do so, given what they regard as the administrative burden of handling the taxable element that would be paid if the allowance is more than 40p.
Congress therefore calls on the General Council to raise this problem as a matter of urgency with the Government and HM Revenue & Customs, with a view to seeking a rise in the taxable allowance on mileage rates. Congress rejects the argument that the Government's refusal to raise the rate has environmental benefits given that these journeys are undertaken to fulfil the business requirements of the employer.
FDA
30 Nurses' mileage allowances
The continuing increase in the cost of petrol has a high financial impact on district nurses.
Congress believes CDNA members have no option but to subsidise the NHS to ensure patient care is not put at risk.
Mileage allowances have remained unchanged since 2000 and only increased slightly this summer, even though petrol prices have increased dangerously, and nurses have to bear the brunt of this while carrying out their daily nursing duties.
Congress asks the TUC and affiliates to join the CDNA in urging the Government to recognise and address the financial impact this is having on all nurses working in the community.
Community and District Nursing Association
31 Science and engineering skills
Congress welcomes the TUC's report Hybrid Cars and Shooting Stars, and it endorses the report's conclusion that the trade union voice on the future of science must be heard more strongly.
Congress recognises that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills will have a key role in addressing economic and societal challenges. Priorities include combating illness and disease, responding to global warming, and ensuring adequate food supplies for a growing world population.
Congress celebrates the success of the UK's scientists and engineers to date, but is concerned that national capability is being lost as a result of funding cuts, workload pressures, and continuing barriers to the engagement of women and minority groups. For example:
i) hundreds of jobs at the Science and Technology Facilities Council remain under threat;
ii) career progression for young scientists often depends on working long hours of unpaid overtime;
iii) three quarters of women who achieve STEM qualifications do not go into a STEM job;
iv) yet 27 engineering occupations have been added to the national shortage list for work permits.
Congress calls on the General Council to lobby the Government to:
a) ensure greater cross-departmental coherence on policies and decisions affecting investment in skills;
b) call a halt to cost-driven proposals to cut research programmes and require future proposals to include a science impact assessment and full consultation with stakeholders; and
c) work with unions to encourage greater take up of STEM courses at school and university and make science careers more attractive.
Prospect
32 Emissions Trading Scheme
Congress welcomes the positive contribution of the recent TUC conference, A Just Transition, and its emphasis on the fairness to all workers involved in this transition to a low-carbon economy.
To provide for this, Congress urges further government policy in this area. In particular the UK Government should take the lead within the European Union to promote the development and implementation of an EU-wide import adjustment system for energy intensive industries that are exposed to international competition, thus avoiding the problem of 'carbon leakage' and the negative impact that foreseeable EU climate change mitigation policies, such as ETS in its current form, could have on the competitiveness of UK and EU industry.
Furthermore Congress supports the current UNFCCC discussion to move ETS to a 'sectoral approach' constructed around a 'benchmark' system of achievable targets for global industries and sectors, and requests the UK Government prioritise its adoption.
This would create a fairer and more equitable system of burden-sharing and would also assist in maintaining a sustainable UK and EU industrial base.
Congress also believes the role of trade union environmental reps would be essential for the success of any benchmarking system and urges the UK Government to take immediate steps to legislate for trade union environmental reps.
Thus the UK will be demonstrating its further commitment to the TUC 'just transition' model, to reducing global CO2 emissions, and to the protection and promotion of decent jobs and to greening the workplace.
Community
33 Climate change
Congress congratulates the TUC on the excellent Just Transition conference. Congress recognises that trade unions can play a major role in educating everyone about the causes of climate change, the likely impact and the need for a planned and just transition to a low-carbon economy.
Much remains to be done to ensure everyone understands the causes of climate change and the scale of changes that are required if we are to be able to grapple with it. High oil prices and an economic downturn underline the importance of investing in clean, renewable energy alternatives, energy use reduction measures and green transport. While this is an opportunity, the transition to a low-carbon economy must be managed in a just and equitable way, not simply left to the market.
Experience suggests that pursuing a green agenda within local workplaces engages a wider and different group of people, developing environment reps and bringing new opportunities for local organising campaigns and activities.
Congress calls upon the Government to:
i) establish a framework to involve all relevant stakeholders in developing a just transition strategy based on the principle of social justice;
ii) increase massively the incentives to invest in clean energy production (including a renewable energy tariff in the Energy Bill), low energy housing and green transport;
iii) develop with the TUC and affiliates a green jobs strategy across all industries, with appropriate funding for training and retraining; and
iv) give statutory rights to workplace environment reps.
Connect
Amendment
Insert new paragraph 3:
'Congress recognises the central role of schools in climate change education and calls for greater flexibility in the curriculum to allow teachers to exploit fully the teaching and learning opportunities associated with a just transition.'
Insert new sub-paragraph iii) and re-number subsequent sub-paragraphs:
'iii) make climate change mitigation and adaptation a statutory requirement for all public sector building projects;'
National Union of Teachers
Amendment
At end of first paragraph, add 'that will see substantial changes from the nature and type of employment that currently exists.'
In sub-paragraph iii), line 4, after 'retraining' insert: 'that gives real protection to workers during a prolonged period of transition'
Add new sub-paragraph v):
'v) develop and introduce with the trade union movement and workers a coherent national strategy substantially to reduce workplace CO2 emissions.'
Communication Workers' Union
34 Workplace environmental reps
Congress notes the growing importance of the green agenda within our community. Domestically, individuals and families have begun to recognise the need to participate at local level through local authority schemes to recycle waste.
However it appears that within the NHS there is little national direction, and it is left up to individual NHS organisations to develop local initiatives. This lack of direction has resulted in great differences in the way the green agenda is prioritised at local level.
Congress believes that central government should be giving a lead, not only to the public sector but also the private sector, and should actively promote a green friendly environment within workplaces across the UK.
Congress believes this best achieved in partnership with the trade union movement and in this respect Congress calls on the General Council to lobby the Government for the introduction of workplace environmental reps who should have the same statutory rights as those currently enjoyed by accredited staff side reps, health and safety reps, and union learning reps.
Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
35 Floodings
Congress notes the publication of the Pitt report into the major floods experienced in various parts of the country in 2007. These floods caused major damage to communities across large areas of Britain, from which many have still not recovered. The report addresses all aspects of flood management.
Although such individual events cannot be directly linked to climate change, extreme weather events such as the 2007 floods appear to be ever more likely according to climate change models. It is therefore essential that planning for such challenges is developed as part of a process of adaption to a changing environment.
Congress notes the concerns raised within the Pitt review regarding the emergency response to the floods, in particular:
i) a lack of clarity over responsibility for emergency response;
ii) a lack of adequate equipment and training for responding to incidents on such a scale; and
iii) the continued lack of adequate preparation one year after the 2007 floods.
Congress believes that these issues must be addressed as a matter of urgency and calls on the Government to put in place a fully funded national capability for flood rescue with fire and rescue services playing a leading role. This should be supported by placing a statutory duty on fire and rescue authorities to plan for such events. Any such development of responsibility must be backed by adequate and long-term adjustment to funding arrangements.
Fire Brigades' Union
Amendment
Add at end of paragraph 2:
', and that key organisations, including the Environment Agency and Met Office, are fully resourced to carry out these functions.'
Add new paragraph at end:
'Congress also calls on the Government to work with the companies providing critical public services, such as electricity and water, to do more to protect these services from the consequences of flooding.'
Prospect
36 Security of energy supply
Congress demands that the General Council meet as a matter of urgency with the Labour Government to discuss the ever-increasing dependency on imported energy into the UK.
The UK has been blessed with massive indigenous energy reserves and it is time they were exploited by the people for the people of our nation.
The continuing plan to import large amounts of gas, coal and oil from politically unstable countries places the UK in a very dangerous and unstable position in terms of security of supply. Geographically the UK is the last in the complex energy supply network leading from Europe and across the world.
Common sense suggests that a balanced, secure, diverse mixed energy policy should be a priority of this Government with our indigenous resources being exploited to the maximum.
National Union of Mineworkers
Amendment
Insert new paragraph 4:
'Congress agrees that a more proactive approach to maintain and develop a skilled workforce is also critical to ensuring security of supply. This requires clear political leadership, effective co-ordination by the Commission for Employment and Skills, and a regulatory framework that gives due priority to investment in skills and safety.'
Prospect
37 Energy policy - coal industry
Congress shares the Government's energy objectives as set out in the May 2006 Energy White Paper (EWP): to secure sufficient energy from diverse sources on a sustainable basis and at an acceptable cost. Congress agrees that the Coal Forum, established under the EWP, has undertaken robust and credible analysis of the likely need for new coal generating capacity as the plant which has not opted into the European Union's Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD) is decommissioned.
Congress has engaged with this work through its Clean Coal Task Group Report established last March. The report highlights real concern that there has been insufficient work done to ensure that such plants are built in time for the gap in generation anticipated in 2015/2016. It is now urgent that the key recommendations of this report are acted upon. This includes developing clean coal technologies, such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and Oxyfuel firing. In addition, investment is needed to build the pipeline infrastructure to deliver captured carbon to offshore gas and oil wells. Congress is asked to continue to press these issues with the Government.
BACM-TEAM
38 Clean coal technology
Congress recognises the excellent work carried out by the TUC and affiliated unions in producing documentation, reports, technical data and evidence in support of the urgent need for indigenous clean coal power generation in the UK and in particular the CCTG document Clean Coal in the UK and European Electricity Mix.
Congress notes that global and domestic coal burn is on the increase. Almost 40 per cent of the world's electricity and at times 50 per cent of UK electricity is generated by coal burn.
World energy analyists project a huge shortfall in generating capacity of around 11GW between 2008 and 2016 and provision must be made to bridge that alarming gap.
Carbon capture and storage can have a massive impact on reducing CO2 levels into the atmosphere. Current CCS power plants are capable of reducing the emission levels by 85 to 95 per cent, yet little if any serious progress is being made by the Government, with one very small demonstration plant scheduled to be operating within the next seven years.
While paying lip service to the UK coal industry the Government has made little progress in the development of various types of CCS plants in the UK.
A clear commitment is required by the Government on the entire future of the UK coal industry.
Congress calls on the UK Government to act as a matter of urgency to secure the nation's energy needs for the future.
This involves bringing forward detailed plans on the replacement plant required to avoid an energy meltdown.
National Union of Mineworkers
39 Defence expenditure
Congress is concerned that UK defence capability is at breaking point, with grave consequences for the armed forces and members working in the UK defence sector. Underfunding is driving the MoD to make flawed decisions damaging both the civil service and private sector manufacturing and support services. The promise of the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) has given way to uncertainty with companies unable to maintain capacity, so destroying our future capability as skills and plant disappear.
Congress believes that unless this issue is addressed urgently, the damage will be irreversible. The DIS identified the vital contribution made by the private sector in meeting defence needs, but also that adequate resources were key to the MoD being an intelligent customer and undertaking activity that must remain in public control. On current plans, the MOD will, by 2011, employ 20,000 fewer staff than it did in 2005. Congress believes this puts UK defence capability 'from factory to foxhole' at risk as vital specialist and support functions are contracted out or cease altogether. In parallel, decision-making delays and blinkered cost cutting are eroding the assets and skills essential to private sector manufacturing, with inevitable impact on the quantity and quality of defence equipment. Without a government strategy that values 'onshore' capacity, the defence industrial base faces more devastating cuts once the current equipment programmes are completed.
Congress calls upon the General Council to raise this with the Government and to mount a public, high profile campaign to ensure a coherent strategy and adequate resources for defence.
Prospect
Amendment
In existing final paragraph, line 3, after 'campaign' insert: "to oppose job cuts and privatisation and"
Add new final paragraph:
"Congress condemns the arbitrary cuts of 20,000 civil service jobs since 2004. This has had a devastating impact on morale. Privatisation of thousands more jobs has worsened services and wasted billions of pounds."
Public and Commercial Services Union
40 Transport
Congress is appalled by the massive fare increases facing rail passengers, which demonstrates the impracticability of private ownership in a transport system where profit takes precedence over investment. The Government's failure to address the underlying problems of ownership and fragmentation mean that the rail industry continues to be prevented from fulfilling its full social, economic and environmental potential.
Congress criticises the Government for actively encouraging above-inflation price increases for rail passengers that not only penalise the travelling public but, by discouraging rail use, act as an inducement to growing road and air travel with consequent environmental degradation, while also filling shareholders' pockets. Congress calls on the Government to oblige train operating companies to adopt a more transparent approach to the availability of the cheapest advertised rail fares which customers regularly struggle to purchase. Congress reiterates its support for a publicly owned and accountable railway.
Congress welcomes the completion of the high-speed rail link between London St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel, but believes this compares adversely with other European countries such as Spain and calls for publicly owned and publicly accountable high speed links to be developed in the UK with an affordable fares structure to promote high usage.
Congress welcomes recent announcements in respect of high-speed rail lines and rail electrification but notes from Spain that long-term planning, public funding and political will are all prerequisites in delivering such projects. Congress calls on the Government to recognise the urgent need for these ingredients in the UK.
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association
Amendment
Paragraph 2, line 12, after 'purchase.' insert:
'Congress also calls on the Government to extend free concessionary travel for disabled people.'
Community
41 Rail freight
Congress notes that:
i) in the past ten years rail freight has grown by 66 per cent;
ii) the average freight train can take 50 HGVs off the road with an aggregate train removing 120 HGVs;
iii) per tonne carried, rail produces between five and ten times less emissions than road transport; and
iv) congestion currently costs transport users and operators about £15 billion a year and this could double over the next decade.
Congress believes that:
a) in the UK's struggle to reduce its carbon emissions, moving freight on to rail is an important tool;
b) putting freight on to the rail system will not only help defeat global warming but will also reduce road congestion, which has economic benefits;
c) in the current economic climate, the greater oil efficiency offered by rail makes it far more cost-efficient;
d) in order to facilitate the movement of goods on to the railways, there must be substantial investment in rail freight infrastructure, including rail terminals at airports and ports nationwide; and
e) only a fully integrated freight transport system can maximise the transportation of goods whilst lowering carbon emissions.
Congress instructs the General Council to:
1) support the construction of freight terminals to help the development of a fully integrated freight network;
2) support the campaign to put more goods on the rail freight network in order to reduce the UK's carbon emissions and relieve road congestion; and
3) examine the construction of freight-only railway lines to make transportation more efficient.
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen
42 Rail electrification
Congress notes that:
i) after negative reaction in the 2007 White Paper Delivering a Sustainable Railway, the Government now says it 'sees great potential for a rolling programme of electrification';
ii) the UK came 24th out of 33 in terms of percentage of European track that was electrified at the end of 2005;
iii) oil is believed to have already reached its peak production; and many experts believe oil will have run out completely 40 years from now; and
iv) operators do not hold franchises long enough to invest for the long-term.
Congress believes that electrification of rail in the UK:
a) would make for a railway that is cleaner for both driver and passenger;
b) would radically reduce emissions that cause global warming;
c) would, by cutting reliance on oil, ensure a rail network will exist in the future; and
d) will bring long-term savings - because there are fewer moving parts, train maintenance becomes simpler and cheaper, and because the vehicles vibrate less, electric traction trains have longer operational lives.
Further Congress is convinced that the introduction of change on the scale it envisages will mean funding from central government.
Congress therefore instructs the General Council to:
1) support, publicise and lobby on behalf of the electrification of rail, seeking the broadest support from passengers, trade unionists, environmentalists and government ; and
2) argue that nuclear power is not the best way to deliver the additional electricity that needs to be generated and call for a full government review of all alternatives.
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen
43 Transportation of musical instruments on planes
Congress notes that understandably, due to the continuing terrorist threat, all travellers face a high level of security checks, particularly when travelling by air. After evidence was uncovered of a new terrorist threat involving liquids being carried on board planes, a number of additional restrictions were imposed on hand baggage. Many of these have now been relaxed, but despite the Musicians' Union reaching agreement with the Department for Transport over the transportation by air of musical instruments, difficulties remain when taking a musical instrument into the cabin as hand baggage. This is partly because airlines appear to set their own rules arbitrarily and there is no cohesive policy across the aviation industry. Congress requests that the General Council lobby BAA, IATA and other appropriate aviation bodies with the intention of relaxing restrictions put upon the carrying of instruments as hand baggage and adhering to the agreed MU/Department for Transport guidelines.
Musicians' Union
44 Maritime security and shore leave/access for seafarers
Congress condemns the discrimination, persecution and hardship suffered by many seafarers as a result of the increasingly hardline approach being taken by many countries on maritime security issues. Congress notes with concern the new restrictions on seafarers' movements being introduced by countries such as the US and Australia, and the associated problems faced by maritime union officials and welfare representatives in gaining access to ships in many ports. Congress notes the International Labour Organisation's Convention 185 on Seafarers' Identity Documents, which was intended to address many of these problems and to create a globally applicable maritime security system that maintains seafarers' rights to shore leave. Congress further notes that this convention has so far fallen far short of the support it needs to come into effect. Congress therefore calls upon the TUC to work at international level to promote the adoption of the Convention and to press the UK Government to ratify the measure at the earliest possible opportunity.
Nautilus UK
45 National Identity Scheme
Congress notes that the Government proposes to require workers in aviation to enrol in the National Identity Scheme in 2009. Congress has deep concerns about the implications of the National Identity Scheme in general and the coercion of aviation workers into the scheme in particular. Congress sees absolutely no value in the scheme or in improvements to security that might flow from this exercise and feels that aviation workers are being used as pawns in a politically led process which might lead to individuals being denied the right to work because they are not registered or chose not to register in the scheme.
Congress pledges to resist this scheme with all means at its disposal, including consideration of legal action to uphold civil liberties.
British Air Line Pilots' Association
46 Transport
Congress urges the General Council to convene a meeting urgently with government ministers to press home the need to address the widespread flouting of legislation, designed to improve health and safety, in relation to working time for mobile workers and the use of 'periods of availability' to circumvent the legally permissible maximum working hours per week.
Despite written requests from the TUC to address this lacuna in the legislation, through a meeting with government ministers, its requests have simply been ignored, without even the courtesy of a response. Over 80 deaths of professional drivers occurred on United Kingdom roads during 2007. Congress believes this is unacceptable. Anything that can reduce this shameful loss of life must be grasped.
Restricting the use of 'periods of availability' to extend the working week will, Congress suggests, result in a concomitant reduction in accidents involving professional LGV drivers. Such mortality figures would not be acceptable to society on the railway, at sea or in aviation. Why should it therefore be acceptable on the roads of the United Kingdom?
United Road Transport Union
Amendment
In paragraph 3, line 4, after 'drivers.' insert:
'To achieve this will require the proper funding of the Vehicle and Operators Services Agency so that there are sufficient inspectors to enforce the existing legislation.'
Unite
47 Performance management systems
Congress notes that increasing numbers of our members are subject to performance management systems that determine their pay, job security and career prospects. Congress is concerned at the growing evidence that these systems are being abused in a way that lowers morale and commitment. Rather than improve performance, they are being used increasingly to drive down pay costs or drive employees out. The use of pay budgets which are set too low, forced distributions of performance markings and quotas for so-called underperformers mean that for too many employees, performance management systems work to their disadvantage. Moreover, the way that performance is managed puts individuals under pressure to work longer hours to avoid low performance assessments.
There is also growing evidence of bias within performance markings on grounds of ethnicity, disability, part-time worker status and being lower in the organisational hierarchy. In other words, the higher you are in the organisation the higher your assessed level of performance. Where there is a link to pay these patterns of bias also contribute to the gender pay gap.
Congress urges the General Council to:
i) highlight the way performance management systems are being corrupted by the use of restricted pay budgets and performance quotas;
ii) highlight the need for greater transparency and openness in the way they operate; and
iii) convene a meeting of unions and other experts to encourage and share best practice in identifying and eliminating bias.
Connect
Amendment
Insert new paragraph 3:
'Congress also notes the misapplication of LEAN methodology and other process management tools in the public sector, as crude means of cutting jobs, deskilling and demotivating workers.'
Insert at end of sub-paragraph iii):
', focusing in addition on the impact of process management tools such as LEAN.'
Public and Commercial Services Union
Amendment
Insert new paragraph 2:
'Properly applied, such systems can contribute positively to career development when used for appraisals in personal development planning. There is a link between good appraisals, personal development and job satisfaction.'
Add new sub-paragraph iv):
'iv) provide guidance to affiliates on personal development planning, including ensuring that performance management systems are subject to equality impact assessment.'
FDA
48 Pension policy
Congress notes the many steps that have been taken by the Government in recent years in response to consistent campaigning from trade unions. However, there is still a long way to go before everyone can be confident of living with dignity and decency in retirement.
Congress calls on the General Council to campaign for government action to:
i) immediately increase the basic state pension to at least £124.05, with indexation to the higher of average earnings or RPI;
ii) remove limitations on National Insurance buy-back to allow people to buy back all their missing periods of National Insurance contributions;
iii) bring pensions into the list of core issues for collective bargaining;
iv) compel trust-based schemes to incorporate 50 per cent member-nominated trustees;
v) introduce legislation to guarantee member involvement in the governance of contract-based occupational pension schemes;
vi) make necessary regulatory reforms to ensure member involvement analogous to trustees in statutory pension schemes;
vii) ensure that all employees working on public sector contracts have access to public sector pension schemes irrespective of employer;
viii) ensure the pension protection on transfer is genuinely equivalent to the TUPE protections that apply to other terms and conditions by requiring transferors to provide employees with access to actuarially equivalent pension provision;
ix) extend TUPE and pension-related legislation to cover share transfers and other changes in company control that negatively affect workers' remuneration, terms and conditions; and
x) review urgently the pension buy-out market that threatens to undermine occupational pension security.
GMB
Amendment
Insert new sub-paragraph xi):
'xi) ensure all falsely self-employed workers are automatically enrolled in the new personal pension accounts to be introduced in 2012 and for their 'employer' to be required to contribute towards their pension contributions.'
Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians
Amendment
Add new sub-paragraphs xi) and xii):
'xi) provide greater protection for defined benefit schemes threatened by unilateral action by employers including closure or reduction/withdrawal of funding, with employers being made fully responsible for any additional costs attributable to such actions; and
xi) restore provisions to enable occupational pension schemes to be made a condition of service.'
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association
Amendment
Insert new paragraph 2:
'Congress further notes that many employers are rapidly moving to reduce benefits or close defined benefit occupational pension schemes to active members in respect of future accrual.'
In sub-paragraph i), line 2, replace '£124.05' with '£151.00'
Add new sub-paragraph xi):
'xi) provide active support and encouragement for defined benefit provision as the major vehicle for combating poverty in retirement.'
Connect
49 Public services
Congress deplores the Government's continued privatisation of our public services and the increasing restrictions on spending and investment that are damaging staff morale and undermining service quality.
Congress rejects shared services models that further jeopardise public provision.
The day-to-day reality for too many public service workers is one of underfunding and understaffing, made worse by the increasing resort to private employers offering to cut costs by evading public sector standards of employment, accountability, and service quality.
Too often the Government has seemed more interested in responding to the demands of the 'public services industry' for more business, or pressure from the City for lower taxes, than listening to staff or meeting the needs of the public for essential services.
Congress urges the General Council to put pressure on the Government to:
i) bring privatised services back in-house and rebuild the role of the public sector as a guarantor and leading provider of innovative, responsive, high quality public services;
ii) review the effect of 'efficiency' programmes on the quality and availability of services to the public, and act to secure adequate funding to meet individual and social needs;
iii) inform and involve public service workers, trade unions and communities in all service reviews, efficiency programmes, commissioning and procurement processes; and
iv) take steps necessary to fulfil its commitment to eradicate the two-tier workforce and ensure that the outsourcing of services is not at the expense of staff terms and conditions.
UNISON
Amendment
Insert new paragraph 5:
'Congress calls on Government to set up an independent review to examine whether there is any true value for money delivered by the reported £130bn+ of taxpayers' money spent buying goods and services from the private sector and to examine the scope to save money by providing the services in-house.'
GMB
50 Protecting public services
Congress welcomes the TUC's Speak Up for Public Services campaign and the work of the PSLG in providing positive alternatives to the Government's attempts to privatise public services.
Congress condemns, for example, Government proposals of 10 June 2008 to threaten 638 secondary schools with closure and replacement by academies and trusts if they do not meet an arbitrary, one-size-fits-all exam target.
Congress recognises that this is just one example of why the TUC needs to re-double its efforts to defend the principles of the public sector.
Congress believes further that it is vital for the TUC and its affiliates to support industrial action by, and show solidarity with, workers in public services who are threatened with a change of employer, closure of provision or with punitive inspections.
Congress recognises that it is vital also that the TUC gives the highest priority to campaigning to protect public services, particularly in the run-up to the next general election.
Accordingly, Congress instructs the General Council to:
i) construct a publicly accessible campaign to protect our services from privatisation;
ii) develop a strategy for engagement with all members of TUC-affiliated unions and parliamentary parties in promoting its campaign;
iii) convene a representative group of affiliates, including affiliates on the PSLG, to advise on the direction of the campaign and organise a mid-week day of activities aimed at demonstrating the commitment of public service workers and the values they uphold; and
iv) affiliate to the Anti-Academies Alliance.
National Union of Teachers
51 Union recognition in public services
Congress believes it is vital to promote the benefits of union membership to existing members, potential members and employers and commends those employers who recognise the value that unions bring to their organisations, including the growing skills dividend from the work of union learning reps and the ground-breaking partnerships with learning providers brokered by unions.
Congress strongly opposes private sponsorship of public education services and deplores those sponsors of academies that have refused to recognise unions. Congress welcomes the approach by affiliates under which unions jointly apply for recognition in academies and set the agenda for bargaining on terms and conditions in such establishments.
Congress believes that there is insufficient control over which private organisations are involved in delivering public services and that any such organisations should meet a 'fit and proper' standard. Congress strongly condemns any employers who resort to so-called 'union-busting' techniques to bully and frighten members and potential members from participating in union activities.
Congress calls on the General Council to monitor and defeat any growth in the use of these anti-union techniques and calls upon the Government to ensure that all organisations that deliver public services, whether privately or publicly owned, recognise independent trade unions.
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
52 Marketisation in public services
Congress notes that the market model of public service reform has led to degeneration in the quality of, and access to, public services for users, worsening employment conditions and the erosion of the public service ethos.
Congress rejects:
i) top-up fees in higher education, cuts to entitlement and overall levels of provision in adult education and the conversion of education service users into paying customers;
ii) the conversion of government into a commissioning agent for a 'diverse provider base' that effectively promotes private sector providers and allows employers to control the level, content and form of educational provision;
iii) the overt privatisation of support services and, increasingly core educational provision; and
iv) the restructuring of funding which promotes an unstable, damaging, competitive environment, leading to the erosion of capacity, deskilling, casualisation, discrimination, redundancy and constant restructuring of staff. Specific examples include equivalent and lower qualifications funding, offender education and ESOL provision, where often the most vulnerable are put at risk.
Congress congratulates the TUC on the publication of its public value pamphlet which starts the campaign to reclaim public services.
Congress calls on the General Council to:
a) continue the research on public value, including further research and action on developing democratic models of delivery with public sector unions, employees and users in local communities;
b) publish new 'best practice guidance' on campaigning and bargaining to halt and reverse marketisation; and
c) organise a high profile public conference which develops and affirms a vision of education as a public service, free and accessible to all.
University and College Union
53 Cuts in public services
Congress condemns the cuts in public services which have arisen as a consequence of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review and which have affected both the devolved administrations and local authorities among other areas of provision within the public sector. Congress believes that these budget cuts will have a damaging impact on all public services including:
i) job losses (including compulsory redundancies);
ii) the erosion of employment opportunities;
iii) cuts in staffing standards;
iv) reductions in core funding for key public services; and
v) diminution in quality service provision.
Congress, therefore, calls on the General Council to campaign through the Public Services Liaison Committee and the Public Sector Forum for:
a) a moratorium on further cuts in public services;
b) a commitment to provide sufficient core funding to protect all public services;
c) the provision of adequate staffing standards to maintain the quality of public service provision; and
d) increased investment in the skills of public sector workers.
The Educational Institute of Scotland
Amendment
Insert new paragraph 2:
'Congress rejects the argument that the UK cannot afford further investment in public services. The recent TUC pamphlet The Missing Billions highlights significant sources of potential funding for our public services.'
Add new sub-paragraph e):
'e) a more progressive and equitable tax system that also addresses the current widespread practices of tax avoidance and evasion.'
Fire Brigades' Union
54 Local authority commissioning
Congress notes that increasingly the activities of local authorities and other public sector bodies are being directed to becoming commissioners and inspectors of commissioned services rather than providers of services. This year proposals have been put in place to make commissioning the key activity of Children's Trusts. Explicit in those proposals are the extension of the activities of the voluntary sector and implicitly the move to a business unit concept for local authority services - essentially a backdoor privatisation of the work of local authorities.
Congress notes that commissioning of services has been taken forward with undue enthusiasm by some local authorities, such as Manchester City Council, where the process of commissioning appears to take precedence over the most effective delivery of services to children. One effect of this exuberant race to change is that the continuation of equable educational psychology services to children in that authority are seriously threatened and are unlikely to be able to respond efficiently to needs of the city's most vulnerable children.
Commissioning as a blanket approach creates values that operate directly against the declared governmental policy, for example joined-up work based on responding to need. Commissioning specifically threatens small services within local authorities that provide developmental and across-authority initiatives.
Congress requests the General Council to research the effects of commissioning across local authority children's services and to develop a policy to support and ensure the continuation of the smaller services in those authorities when commissioning proposals are introduced.
Association of Educational Psychologists
Amendment
In final paragraph, line 1, after 'to' add a colon, delete all remaining text and replace with:
'i) research the effects of commissioning across all local authority services;
ii) support trade unions in their effort to defend and develop local services and to campaign actively against commissioning models that increase private sector involvement; and
iii) highlight the resulting democratic deficit from private sector involvement.'
UNISON
55 Public sector pay and the economy
Congress condemns the Government's continued pursuit of a pay policy across the public sector of 2 per cent annual rises, within a tight spending review to 2010.
Congress notes that this is based on a false premise that public sector pay drives inflation. Evidence shows that inflationary pressures are linked to the global slowdown and rising food, energy and housing costs. Cuts in public sector pay mean cuts in living standards, causing more fuel poverty and housing difficulties, and further contract the economy.
This restrictive pay policy is unfair and unjust and is penalising workers already suffering from economic uncertainty and rising prices. The Government's steadfast refusal to tackle boardroom greed and spiralling city bonuses further exacerbates the unfairness.
Congress believes that the Bank of England has concentrated too narrowly on inflation, and neglects employment at its peril. Congress believes that a change in Government economic priorities is necessary and action must be taken to implement them.
Congress believes that with sufficient political will funds can be found to protect living standards and pay public sector workers fairly. The TUC report The Missing Billions illustrates how this can be achieved.
Congress applauds those unions and members who have taken action on pay.
Congress demands that the General Council:
i) prioritises its Speak Up for Public Services campaign;
ii) co-ordinates the public sector unions on pay;
iii) supports those unions taking legitimate industrial action for fair pay demands; and
iv) continues to make a robust case for fairer and more equitable taxation solutions.
UNISON
56 Public sector pay
Congress notes that since declaring its opposition to the Government's 2 per cent limit on public sector pay increases in 2007, matters have got worse.
Inflation has risen dramatically despite this limit, leading to a significant fall in public sector workers' living standards - they are the victims, not the cause, of inflation. This has a particular impact on BME, disabled and women workers who are disproportionately represented in the lower grades of the public sector workforce.
Congress reaffirms that RPI is a better measure of workers' cost of living increases than CPI, and calls upon the Government to recognise this.
Congress recognises that incremental pay scales are common in the public sector, that increments represent commitments given to staff in recognition of increased experience in post, and that they should not therefore be considered as part of any cost of living increase. Congress further recognises that civil service bonuses represent money stolen from junior staff salaries in order to boost the earnings of the most senior.
Congress instructs the General Council to coordinate a major campaign on public sector pay, including:
i) encouraging local, regional and national joint campaigning, coordinating industrial action amongst those unions in dispute over pay, and giving full support to such action;
ii) organising days of action including one major national day of action;
iii) organising a major national demonstration against the Government's pay policy before the end of this year; and
iv) continuing to campaign for a fairer, progressive system of taxation to fund public services.
Public and Commercial Services Union
Amendment
Insert new paragraph 5:
'Congress further notes the government policy in favour of multi-year pay deals and the inclusion of 're-opener' clauses to provide safeguards against rising inflation. Congress calls upon the General Council to support public sector unions when such clauses are reneged upon.'
Unite
Amendment
In sub-paragraph ii), line 2, after 'of' insert 'strike'.
POA
57 Public sector pay
Congress reaffirms its opposition to the Government's continued adherence to its unfair and discriminatory 2 per cent public sector pay policy, despite rapidly rising inflation.
Congress calls upon the Government to recognise and address the fundamental incompatibility of its commitment to high quality public services and its imposition of below-inflation pay increases upon public sector workers which has:
i) cut their living standards;
ii) reduced their real and relative pay; and
iii) damaged the ability of vital services, on which the whole population depends, to recruit, retain and motivate staff.
Congress further deplores the Government's reliance on the Consumer Prices Index to justify its 2 per cent pay policy, while at the same time using the Index of Retail Prices to determine the rate on interest payable on student loans, thus cutting still further the real income of young teachers and other recent and newly qualified graduates.
Congress instructs the General Council to co-ordinate a major campaign to restore and protect public sector workers' pay, including:
a) a major national demonstration in opposition to the Government's public sector pay limits;
b) co-ordinated industrial action;
c) opposition to costly and wasteful reliance upon flawed and failed private sector 'solutions'; and
d) progressive taxation that ensures properly funded public services.
National Union of Teachers
58 Public sector pay
Congress welcomes the fact that the view of successive governments that public sector pay restraint can be used as a measure to control inflation has now been discredited.
Congress therefore believes that the recent attempts by the Treasury to impose an arbitrary limit on public sector pay increases are unacceptable, counterproductive and impede the effective delivery of essential public services.
Congress asserts that the use of the Consumer Price Index as an inflationary measure further disadvantages low-paid public service workers and increases the pay differentials between the public and private sector.
Congress further asserts that a continuation of these policies is having a detrimental effect on recruitment, retention and morale of key public service workers.
Congress calls upon the Government to engage in constructive dialogue with the General Council to:
i) identify a measure of inflation which reflects the true cost of living, including increases in food, housing and fuel;
ii) review the key worker housing scheme;
iii) examine the merits of multi-year pay awards as part of a package of improvements in pay and conditions of service;
iv) secure effective re-opener mechanisms to maintain confidence in multi-year awards; and
v) consider the impact of independent review bodies on pay levels.
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
59 Public sector pay
Congress reaffirms its support and respect for all public sector workers in health, education, transport, security, local government, civil service, justice and the emergency services. Our members make Britain work.
Congress condemns the below-inflation pay policy of government and employers and re-affirms its support for workers seeking a fair wage.
Congress notes the continued attacks on public sector workers, and the increased cost of living; we believe that the attacks on the ethos of public work through privatisation, marketisation and hardline industrial relations make mutual support regardless of sector or job or union essential.
Congress congratulates the TUC and the public sector pay group on its work in supporting union campaigns on public sector pay, including equality in the workplace.
Congress agrees to broaden further our campaign to defend our members into the community and agrees that the General Council should:
i) campaign to ensure all political parties are committed to properly government-funded - not privatised or marketised - public services;
ii) organise a conference before the end of October of all TUC affiliates with public sector membership, each sending up to three delegates, and the General Council to ask each union to set out and discuss their campaign plans, including industrial action, and determine the best date for the day of action; and
iii) co-ordinate action across all affiliates supporting a better deal for public sector staff, celebrating their contribution and in particular co-ordinating activity and, where appropriate, industrial action across the public sector.
University and College Union
60 Public sector pay
Congress believes that the attempts to restrict public sector pay awards at levels below the rate of inflation are unfair, based on questionable assumptions and must be revised urgently. Continuous, real-term cuts in public sector pay undermine the quality of public services and damage the morale and motivation of public sector workers.
Congress rejects the argument that public sector pay is the cause of inflation.
Congress also rejects the use of the Consumer Price Index, which specifically excludes housing costs, as the Government's preferred measure of inflation.
Congress notes that the public sector is a large employer of women, hence current government policy will have a disproportionate impact on women and undermine attempts to address the gender pay gap across the economy. Congress notes that there is no restriction on boardroom pay or share dividends.
Congress believes public sector workers are entitled to pay and conditions that adequately reflect their contribution to society and should not be used to pay the price for economic policies over which they have no control.
Congress congratulates the General Council on organising the 9 June rally and lobby of Parliament and for supporting unions campaigning for fair pay across the public sector.
Congress calls on the General Council to further assist unions engaged in campaigning on behalf of their members through the production of appropriate briefing materials, promoting the union case to both government and the media, and supporting joint union activity.
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
61 The future of the NHS
Congress recognises that political devolution means the NHS at 60 is now effectively four separate systems.
Congress believes that NHS core values of equity, universality and care free at the point of need must not be compromised and that our staff uphold these values.
Congress recognises the many continuing dangers from the Darzi reform agenda, including:
i) the introduction of multinationals to the primary care sector;
ii) the extension of market incentives through expanded patient choice and the continuation of the payment by results system;
iii) greater encouragement for staff to break away from the NHS to form social enterprises; and
iv) the adoption of personal budget pilots which could be a first step towards bringing means-testing to the NHS.
Congress notes that meaningful trade union engagement secured positive outcomes in education and training and in the NHS constitution which should ensure the future of the service.
Congress recognises issues around the EU directive on cross-border healthcare that would increase inequality and potentially mean the UK NHS paying for private treatment abroad.
Further, Congress recognises the challenges presented by the review into co-payments.
Congress calls on the General Council to:
a) campaign for reforms to be underpinned by robust protective regulation on all employment rights;
b) continue opposing marketisation;
c) call for a proper analysis of the impact of personal budgets on the NHS before extending it;
d) resist any future initiatives around co-payments that would damage NHS values; and
e) resist the imposition of European plans for healthcare.
UNISON
62 The NHS
Congress calls on all affiliates to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS and the enormous benefits to the health of the population that have been seen during this time, delivered through the hard work and dedication of its staff.
Major reforms currently underway in the NHS will have a long-term impact on service users and staff. These include the Darzi Next Stage review, the Carol Black review of the health of the working age population, and the introduction of an NHS constitution to name but a few.
There is much to welcome within these reforms. However, Congress is mindful of the importance of ensuring that the NHS keeps faith with its core principle of being free at the point of need, and does not jeopardise its future through fragmentation and privatisation of services.
Congress calls on the General Council to:
i) support affiliated health unions in their efforts to ensure that members working in the NHS are able to contribute their expertise and be genuinely involved in future decisions on healthcare delivery, through effective partnership working at national, regional and local level; and
ii) stimulate a debate among the wider trade union movement about what the latest reforms will mean for the health of workers and their families, with the aim of producing an authoritative TUC position paper on the NHS, to be published as part of the TUC's current series of Touchstone pamphlets.
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
63 Education workforce development
Congress recognises and acknowledges the commitment and achievements of the education sector, at all levels, and the continuing importance of educational improvement to the future prosperity of the UK economy, which requires a well-educated and increasingly skilled national labour force. In this context, Congress notes the particular value of ongoing professional learning to the education sector workforce itself and appreciates the growing body of available research evidence underlining the significance of this factor to overall educational advance. This evidence includes the work of such internationally respected educationalists as Professor Michael Fullan in promoting the continuing professional development of education professionals at the national level, local authority and individual school levels.
Congress therefore welcomes the renewed attention to the issue of teachers' professional development in England now emerging within broader government educational improvement policies. Congress believes that future high-quality CPD should represent an entitlement for all teaching and education professionals, and should be:
i) enabling and formative in nature;
ii) supported by appropriate staff facilities and sabbaticals to ensure effective participation;
iii) duly co-ordinated by local authorities to secure consistency of quality within local provision; and
iv) accompanied by dedicated funding provision.
Association of Professionals in Education and Children's Trusts
Amendment
Add new final paragraph:
'Congress condemns, however, the Government's determination to continue with the English national curriculum tests despite the fact that they undermine children's learning and staff morale. Congress urges the Government to act on this year's marking chaos by replacing the current testing system with evaluation that supports, not damages, school communities.'
National Union of Teachers
Amendment
At the start of paragraph 2, insert:
'Congress recognises that the development of a highly skilled education team is essential to meeting the needs of every child and young person.'
In paragraph 2, line 5, after 'policies.' Insert sentence:
'Congress also supports efforts to improve access for school support staff to high quality training and career development opportunities.'
In paragraph 2, existing line 6, replace 'represent' with 'be'.
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
Amendment
In paragraph 2, line 5, after 'policies.' insert new sentence:
'It further welcomes the contribution of the school workforce social partnership to this agenda, through revised performance management arrangements which require a discussion of continuing professional development (CPD) needs and its detailed work with the Training and Development Agency on the supply of CPD.'
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Amendment
Paragraph 2, line 6, after 'entitlement' insert 'across the entire sector'
Paragraph 2, line 7, after 'professionals' insert ', including those in management or support roles'
Add new final sub-paragraph v):
'v) recognised and accepted throughout the UK.'
Association for College Management
64 Regular foot health screening in schools
Congress believes that the provision of foot health education is of great importance to the entire population of the UK. Regular foot checks keep the public mobile and are a vital element in the assessment of good health.
Congress agrees that the foot health of children must be a fundamental part of school health assessment and care. In this respect Congress calls for a dedicated programme of regular foot health screening to be introduced in schools, delivered by registered podiatrists, to carry out annual foot checks and foot health education.
Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
65 The prison system
Congress recognises the effects of crime on society in general and demands that the justice system address the needs of those directly affected by crime. Society as a whole must have confidence in the system to ensure that offenders are not only caught, but punished appropriately and then rehabilitated to reduce the risk of reoffending.
With the prison population expected to reach 100,000 Congress expresses grave concern at the failures of the Government in their approach to crime, punishment and imprisonment. Congress accepts that prison officers are at the sharp end when the failures of the current policy result in custodial sentences, and that even though the Government has accepted the serious underlying issues surrounding crime they have failed to deliver real end-to-end justice in which society as a whole can have confidence.
Therefore, Congress supports the need for all key stakeholders to be engaged in establishing policies that are fully resourced and deliver a system that society can trust and in which the workers are paid accordingly for the work they perform.
POA
Amendment
Insert new paragraph 2:
'Congress further recognises the importance to rehabilitation of providing from public funds a properly resourced and professionally staffed offender learning service and notes the recent failures in privatised provision. Congress celebrates the work of prison educators in reducing reoffending.'
University and College Union
66 Inappropriate imprisonment
Congress views with great concern the Government's stated commitment to a significant growth in the prison estate. The United Kingdom already has the highest prison population in the European Union. Any plan to extend this folly is both economic madness and completely illogical in the face of Government evidence of falling crime rates. Our experience over the years tells us that once built, prisons, like motorways, will generate their own demand and fill up. Moreover, the Government is committing this country to the building of huge 'Titan' prisons, whose record in other countries is, at best, debatable. These human warehouses are to be located in three regions, drawing their inmates from large catchment areas. The Government itself acknowledges that ideally, prisoners should be located locally so as to maintain community ties and enhance employment and accommodation prospects - all of which are the factors most strongly linked to reduction in potential reoffending rates.
Congress commits the trade union movement to a campaign against inappropriate imprisonment with the aim of reducing the prison population to a humane and manageable level over the next five years. Not only will this save the public purse huge amounts of money but it will also enable the country to raise its head from the gutter of a shameful penal policy.
Napo
Amendment
In paragraph 1, line 12, insert 'privatised' after 'huge'.
POA
67 Royal Mail
Congress notes the renewed threats to the privatisation of Royal Mail arising from submissions by Postcomm and Royal Mail management to the Hooper review on the liberalisation of Royal Mail.
Congress registers that the Labour Government's 2005 election manifesto ruled out the privatisation of Royal Mail. Congress therefore believes that it is vital that the Government delivers on its promise made to the electorate.
Congress recognises that liberalisation has severely unbalanced Royal Mail, and the Hooper review of postal liberalisation acknowledges that competition has worsened service provision for millions of business and domestic users, stifled product and service innovation and created a financial crisis for Royal Mail which has raised serious questions about the company's long-term commercial future and its ability to sustain the universal service.
Congress opposes the continued cut-back in the Post Office branch network, and the continued franchising of Crown Offices. A comprehensive system of Post Office branches is vital to provide the universal service, and to create community cohesion.
Congress views with alarm proposals made to the Hooper review to franchise out, split up, and separate parts of Royal Mail. Congress believes the integrity of Royal Mail is crucial in the delivery of an economic and efficient universal service.
Congress deplores the failure of Royal Mail to negotiate a pensions settlement which guarantees the final salary scheme, and supports the efforts of the affiliates to resolve the future of the pensions scheme.
Congress agrees to support the initiatives of the affiliated unions on these matters.
Communication Workers' Union
68 Ownership of news
Congress welcomes the House of Lords' report Ownership of the News which concludes that current media ownership rules have failed to ensure investment in newsgathering and the maintenance of a range of voices and high quality news provision. In the UK four companies control over 70 per cent of regional newspaper circulation. Just three companies produce all national television news. One company controls 35 per cent of the national newspaper market.
Congress believes public service broadcasting - at BBC, C4 and ITV - is central to ensuring high quality news.
Congress welcomes the report's opposition to top-slicing the licence fee and ITV's plans to reduce its local and regional programming. Congress shares concerns expressed at the fact that media companies have cut newsgathering resources so much they are often no longer able to provide quality news services. Congress reiterates its support for the NUJ's Journalism Matters campaign.
In particular, Congress welcomes the proposal that rules on media mergers should be changed to ensure the impact on newsgathering should be explicitly considered as part of a new public interest test, that the needs of citizens be put ahead of the needs of consumers and that Ofcom should monitor and check the resourcing of all commercial public service broadcasters to ensure they can maintain high quality news provision.
Congress urges the General Council to work with affiliates to lobby the Government for changes to media ownership rules to ensure a diversity of media voices, space for alternative and community media and a defence of public service broadcasting.
National Union of Journalists
69 Review of public service broadcasting
Congress notes that the six-year BBC licence fee settlement introduced in 2007 broke the longstanding link between the licence fee and inflation and has already resulted in significant budget reductions and job losses at the Corporation. Congress further notes that commercial public service broadcasting (PSB) - especially ITV and Channel 4 - faces a growing funding crisis in the face of increasing competition from non-PSB digital channels and that there are growing calls for this to be resolved by top-slicing or redistributing the BBC licence fee to commercial broadcasters.
Congress believes that the current PSB review being conducted by Ofcom and the subsequent policy debate in government and Parliament provide a platform for significant changes in broadcasting policy.
Congress therefore calls on the General Council to defend public service broadcasting in the UK by campaigning vigorously:
i) for a review of BBC licence fee settlement with a view to achieving a necessary increase in BBC funding;
ii) against any proposal to top-slice the BBC licence fee and redistribute licence fee funding to commercial broadcasters; and
iii) for much-needed alternative funding measures for commercial PSB, such as a levy on non-PSB broadcasters, gifted spectrum and revenue from extra advertising minutage.
Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union
70 Protecting the nation's film heritage
Congress notes that the nation's film heritage is held in a range of British film archives that preserve and restore filmed material from throughout the audiovisual history of the UK and without which such material would be lost or decay beyond recovery.
Congress is concerned at the lack of long-term and consistent public funding for our film archives - including not only the specialist buildings and equipment but also the skilled labour force engaged in archiving and film preservation. Congress believes that funding is too often dependent on private philanthropic sources or on uncertain lottery awards, and furthermore that commercial archives may be financially induced to sell off parts of their collections.
Congress therefore calls on the General Council to campaign for significant and designated long-term public funding for our film archives as part of a strategy for protecting, preserving and making available our unique film heritage for the benefit of future generations.
Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union
71 Trade union recognition by the Co-operative Group
Congress condemns the board of the Co-operative Group for its anti-trade union actions in derecognising the GMB union and withdrawing from the collective bargaining and recognition agreement held with the GMB within the funeral care business of the Co-operative Group.
Congress recognises that trade union derecognition goes against all the values and principles of our movement and denies employees their fundamental right to be represented by an independent trade union.
Congress condemns the victimisation and harassment of GMB shop stewards working in Co-operative Funeral Care.
Congress applauds the decision taken by the South West TUC to refuse sponsorship and participation by the Co-operative Group at the recent Tolpuddle Martyrs festival.
Congress instructs the General Council to campaign for the re-recognition of the GMB in Co-operative Funeral Care, and instructs the TUC General Council to:
i) call meetings involving all unions with a membership interest with the British co-operative movement to organise representation to the Board and Directors of the Co-operative Group;
ii) invite all affiliates and trade councils to examine their financial arrangements with the Co-operative Bank and to alert their members to the current situation through their magazines or special mailings; and
iii) request shareholders in Unity Bank to meet to discuss the future involvement of the Co-operative Group within the bank.
Furthermore, Congress agrees to impose a bar on all sponsorship or involvement by the Co-operative Group with TUC activities until such time as they re-recognise the GMB within Funeral Services.
GMB
72 Protection of employees in the betting industry
Congress recognises the wealth being generated by the betting industry in the UK and the thousands of jobs it creates. Congress is concerned about the negative effects that problem gambling and its associated anti-social behaviour can have on both betting shop employees and the wider community.
Congress draws attention to the continuing failure of employers in the industry to accept their responsibilities to protect their employees effectively in regard to shop safety, security and welfare, risks to which staff are exposed on a daily basis and the refusal of the employers to enter into meaningful dialogue on these issues with trade unions.
Congress calls on the UK Government to set enforceable, minimum standards to ensure every employee can work in an environment free from physical or verbal abuse and urges the provision of effective training for frontline staff in cash-handling, conflict management and managing problem gambling.
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