General Council Report 2025
Introduction
Welcome to the 157th TUC Congress in Brighton.
I’m looking forward to a vibrant, lively debate as the TUC’s 48 unions come together to decide our priorities for the year ahead. From the future of our public services to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, we have a packed agenda.
And this year’s Congress takes place amid huge global uncertainty. The far right poses a clear and present danger across the world, with President Trump unleashing chaos in America and far beyond. As well as attacking federal workers, trade unions and migrants, the new regime in Washington has introduced punitive tariffs and turned its back on European security.
The Employment Rights Bill represents the biggest upgrade to workers' and trade union rights in a generation.
All of this, coupled with a dire economic inheritance from the Conservatives, has made it harder for our government to deliver its manifesto commitments. The TUC welcomed the agreement the UK reached with the EU in May to build a closer trade relationship, tackling some of the damage caused by Brexit.
We continue to work with the government to deliver the change people voted for last July. With Reform UK emerging as the largest party in the local elections, our priority must be to deliver the better jobs, rising living standards and improved public services working people deserve. That’s the best way to challenge the right’s narrative about a country in decline.
Despite a tight spending review, positive change is happening. The government is investing in public services, with NHS waiting lists coming down and 6,500 new teachers being recruited. The TUC continues to work with our affiliates to secure a fair deal for public sector workers who are fundamental to delivering better services.
Meanwhile, the new industrial strategy will create good, skilled jobs in every region, helping us meet the profound challenges posed by technological change and the climate emergency. The National Wealth Fund will deliver new investment in innovation and research. And Great British Energy, publicly owned railways and support for British Steel all signal a welcome recalibration of our economy.
At the heart of the government’s plan for change is the Make Work Pay agenda. The Employment Rights Bill represents the biggest upgrade to workers’ and trade union rights in a generation. Unions have campaigned vigorously for the legislation to be delivered in full, urging ministers to resist the business lobby’s orchestrated campaign to water down the reforms. Throughout, we have shown that stronger rights will deliver improvements in growth, productivity and industrial relations.
With insecurity a massive problem in our labour market, we have also urged the government to implement the new laws at the earliest opportunity. Stronger rights at work are overwhelmingly popular with the British people, including voters from across the political spectrum. Delivering better work isn't just good economics - it's also sound politics.
Inevitably, the government has not got everything right. The TUC opposed cuts to the winter fuel allowance and we had real concerns about plans to reform social security, making clear our opposition to cuts to disability benefits. Rather than hitting some of our poorest citizens with £5bn of cuts, we instead urged ministers to raise taxes on those at the top. Industrial- scale tax avoidance by the likes of Amazon only underlines the need for a fairer tax system.
We are the largest democratic mass movement in the country, and our five million-plus members work across a vast spectrum of occupations. But to remain the authentic voice of Britain at work, and to win for working people, we too must adapt to a world that is changing fast.
While government must take the lead in improving working people’s lives, trade unions remain powerful agents of change in their own right. We are the largest democratic mass movement in the country, and our five million-plus members work across a vast spectrum of occupations. But to remain the authentic voice of Britain at work, and to win for working people, we too must adapt to a world that is changing fast.
The TUC’s new organising strategy will help our affiliates recruit the next generation of trade union members and activists. I remain determined that we build a stronger, more inclusive movement, reflecting the diversity of today’s workforce. That’s why the TUC continues to develop schemes like our new Black activists’ programme, helping us diversify our reps base – the lifeblood of our movement.
I saw first-hand the appalling situation facing the Palestinian people in the West Bank, suffering under an illegal occupation. I also heard harrowing accounts of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where thousands of people have been killed.
More than ever, we must bring people together. With the far right and populist right pitting worker against worker – scapegoating migrants for problems caused by a failed economic system – our movement must promote unity. Rooted in antiracism, the TUC’s new anti-far right strategy shows how unions can tackle the politics of hate and division. And because the far-right threat is global, we must work with our sister unions overseas to defend the interests of workers, whatever their background.
Internationalism will always be part of our DNA. As I write, devastating conflicts continue to rage in Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza. In April, I travelled to Israel and Palestine where I met Israeli peace campaigners and trade unionists, Palestinian politicians and human rights defenders, and workers in the West Bank. I also addressed the conference of our Palestinian sister union centre, the PGFTU, in Ramallah.
During my visit, I saw first-hand the appalling situation facing the Palestinian people in the West Bank, suffering under an illegal occupation. I also heard harrowing accounts of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where thousands of people have been killed in the latest Israeli onslaught. The IDF’s blockade of Gaza – cutting off supplies of food, aid and medicines – rightly attracted international revulsion.
Throughout, the TUC has reiterated our calls for a new, immediate and permanent ceasefire; for the release of all hostages and political prisoners; and for respect for international law, including an end to all licences for arms traded with Israel. We have also called on the UK government to immediately recognise the state of Palestine, so we can begin the road towards a two-state solution.
In the Middle East and across the world, there's never been more need for our values of solidarity, equality and respect. Despite the huge challenges we face, I'm optimistic we can make progress - securing the better work, wages, rights and services working people are crying out for.
Let's build our movement - and win for the change we need.
Solidarity to all.
Paul Nowak
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