Speech to Congress 2008 by Dave Prentis
Speech to Congress 2008 by Dave Prentis, TUC President and Unison General Secretary
Monday 8 September 2008, Brighton - Check against delivery
Delegates, It is a great honour and a privilege to address you as president of Congress.
And what a year it's been. Twelve months ago things looked fine. Alan Milburn had long left the government to spend more time with his new family - Pepsi co, Lloyds Pharmacy. Patricia Hewitt had gone too - An advisor to Boots and BUPA. Others had jumped ship, turning to more profitable friends.
And for us - a new era beckoned. With Gordon brown at the helm. The economy strong. Employment high. Inflation low. Flash Gordon - fighting floods, fire, pestilence, and winning. The government riding high on the crest of a wave. Real optimism in the air.
Then Congress in September 2007 I became president of the TUC. One year on. How things have changed. Prices spiralling. Unemployment rising. Our government struggling - our members too. Many in the big tent long gone - Fair weather friends. Some now even working for project Cameron.
Digby Jones about to quit, despite swearing allegiance to Gordon. With friends like him, who needs enemies. Others desperate to make a comeback. To turn the clock back. Charles Clarke, a paid consultant to KPMG, unlike KPMG - now offering free advice. The siren voices of the disaffected. The old squad. Those people left out of the team. Some now playing for the opposition. Desperate for revenge whatever the price.
Our government needs to start listening to the people who need support it and need it.
Listen to those who are struggling. It's tough for them. And it's getting worse. Our people don't really care if it's the credit crunch, or a downturn. They don't really care whether it's the worst economic crisis for 20 years, or the worst economic crisis for 60 years. It's academic.
They don't even want our government to feel their pain. They want our government to heal their pain... They want our government to be bold. They want our government to give them a chance. To give them a chance to live their lives - a chance without worrying themselves sick about putting food on the table or the next gas bill or even having their home repossessed.
Last week's announcement to help the deepening housing crisis - too little too late. What is so wrong with our government taking the bold decision to build the thousands of council houses so desperately needed?
And what is so wrong with a windfall tax? Sharing out the obscene profits of the energy companies. A proposal that would be popular. Signal a determination. Signal that our government hasn't deserted it's commitment to justice and fairness
And why stop there? Our tax system is one of the most unfair in the EU. The lowest top rate apart from Luxembourg. Those at the top can and should pay more... pay more to help relieve the suffering of the very poorest in our society. A bold step to show whose side Labour's is really on.
And it's not for me to re-run the debate on public sector pay. But I cannot let the opportunity go by without saying a word about the members of my union. And members of other unions too. Who provide public services.
It has been fashionable now for far too long to deride the public services. 'Private' good : 'public' bad. A mantra that is heard far too often in what passes for mainstream political debate. Of course, the private sector has its place - it always has had. But who would have believed 10 years ago we'd have gone this far. The enabling council rejected as too right wing by Thatcher. Now the new model promoted by our government. The commercialisation and break up of our NHS. A no go zone for the Tories. Now Labour dogma.
The discredited PFI still alive and kicking, despite wasting billions. And public service workers rarely given the credit that they deserve.
Congress, there is a public service ethos - And it deserves to be acknowledged. People really do go to work, not just for themselves and certainly not to make a profit, but because they want to help others. And it is time we acknowledged them and paid them fairly. They deserve our thanks. They deserve our applause and they deserve a decent wage. The 2% pay policy is iniquitous. It was bad enough last year.... But with rising prices it's now unbearable. With widespread action and rising anger this will not subside - and unless there's a change of heart this unfair pay policy millions of public service workers will desert labour.
But our Congress is not just about one campaign or just one union. It's about all trade unionists and all our unions. Unions working together - Fighting for justice - Fighting for fairness. Not with each other. Working together through the TUC.
Never stronger than when we work together. Who would have believed it. After a century fighting. The general secretaries of the GMB and Unison - now brothers in arms. Paul Kenny and me - the little and large of the trade union movement. And my good friends - Tony and Derek - a marriage made in heaven. But how far they've come. Only last year I said to Derek, 'what would you do if you saw Tony staggering down the road'. Derek replied, 'I would reload'.
Congress, we have already paid tribute to Steve Sinnott. But I must add my own tribute. Our union's offices are opposite each other. We often met up for a chat. Share our thoughts. For me, Steve Sinnott epitomised everything that is good. His ability to work with others - To build bridges - unity. He always saw the very best in people and that's the Steve I'll remember. He is greatly missed.
And that unity that we all strive for was there this year - There in our NHS together campaign - All unions working together. There when we joined together to win those crucial rights for agency workers. Our work on vulnerable workers. On pensions. On work life balance. Ground breaking work in Palestine - In Iraq. Working in Zimbabwe, In Colombia - the big unions and the smaller ones. The general unions and the professional ones. The new and old.
All with so much to offer. And all of us with so much to gain.... Our strength comes from our diversity. There is no single model nor size that is perfect. We have our traditions, We have our ambitions. Our job is to share the best, The stronger supporting the weaker. That is what our movement is all about.
And in a changing world, and in difficult times. That unity, that strength and solidarity is our future. It has no bounds. At this time more than ever we need to reassert our belief in the collective - The value of our movement. That in these rocky times - the best place to be is in a union. Yes, it may be tough - but we're still recruiting ...Unions are still seen as relevant. And that is a testimony to the work and profile we've all worked so hard to achieve.
And I do want to thank Brendan, Francis, Kay and all staff at Congress house - not only for the work you do, but for the support, professionalism, and friendship you have extended to me over this past year. And my own family - so important to me - My wonderful daughters - Emma and Lauren. My touchstone with the real world... And our children - can drive us all mad but they also keep us sane ... and my girls do just that ... They may clear out my wallet.... They make and shape my life... and I'd have it no other way. And to Liz - my partner - Liz is special - unique. We've been through so many good times but also faced some tough times. Times which have shaken us to our roots. It was Liz - her strength, her sheer determination that pulled us through. Proud of her roots - Fierce, feisty - living proof - you can take a girl out of Liverpool but.... Liz works tirelessly for our union - A hockey mum with lipstick - Fantastic mum - my soul mate.
And to my extended family, Unison. It's a union I helped build - part of a team with my great friend Rodney Bickerstaffe - one of our movement's greatest. Lay members and officers - shaping and nurturing our future. Now a powerful progressive force - and with a million women members - who am i to argue.... And to the unison members here - you are my strength, You are my friends, You keep my feet quite firmly on the ground. And I would do anything for you - Well almost anything - Norma.
Congress, like so many in this hall, I was a senior official during the dark and dismal Tory years. I remember a period in opposition with David Cameron's Tories back in power, might well entertain the chattering classes, but it will do nothing for the people we represent.
So Congress this is our week. To state our case. To set our agenda. An agenda to help families cope with rising prices. Giving local authorities the resources to build council housing. Standing up for the vulnerable. Giving UK workers the same rights as the rest of Europe. A government which fights for them. An agenda that turns our anger into aspiration. Bringing hope. Building confidence.
Congress, It is right that we have ambition. It is right that we want to change the world. Ambitious, united, that is when we are at our strongest. Have a great Congress and thank you once again for the honour and privilege of being your President. And thank you Unison for giving me the honour of being your General Secretary.
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