TUC Cymru Congress 2026 - Equality for All

Congress notes:-

• The electoral growth of Reform and the rise of the far-right
• The increase in racist and xenophobic rhetoric by mainstream political parties and in the media to divide the working class in Wales
• The use of racism and xenophobia to divert attention from the austerity and capitalist economic crises that cause social problems
• The threat to trade union rights and public services in Wales posed by Reform and the threat to trade unionists by far right and fascist groups

Congress condemns the attacks on refugees, asylum seekers, migrant workers and Black and Asian and Muslim communities

Congress believes:-

• That it is essential that the trade union movement in Wales plays the leading role in building a united movement against the far right
• With 400,000 members in Wales, across all working-class communities, the unions are best placed to unite workers against racist division
• The votes for Reform are a warning of how vital it is to support a workers’ political voice that fights for socialist policies

General Council remains committed to fighting racism in Wales. Our United Cymru Campaign is clear – diversity strengthens Cymru and hate is not welcome in Cymru.

Congress instructs the General Council to ensure a discussion at a future meeting to decide its’ response to far-right protests in Wales.

It is important to have further discussion on the health and safety of union reps, members, and staff in relation to responding to far-right demonstrations in Wales.

Moved by Cardiff Trades Council

This Congress notes:-

• The high level of the population of Wales who qualify for PIP and the highest proportion of Limited Capability for work and work related activity claims in the UK
• The negative effect on the economies of some of the most deprived communities in Wales if disability benefits are cut further
• The UK Government has made it clear it will cut spending on disability benefits which will take millions out of the pockets of disabled people and the Welsh economy
• The Timms review is due to report Autumn 2026
• The DWP failed to deliver consultation meetings in an accessible way in Wales

This Congress condemns the cuts already being implemented:-

• Stopping access to UC health element for under 22-year olds and raising age to claim PIP to 18 from 2027
• The LCWRA rate of UC to be frozen for existing claimants and cut by nearly half for new claimants from April 2026

This Congress instructs the General Council to:-

• Work with DPAC Cymru and other disability campaigning groups to oppose cuts to disability benefits.
• Support demands for an independent review of PIP to improve social security provision led by disabled people and involve trade unions representing thousands of disabled workers in Wales as well as representing the workers responsible for the day-to-day delivery of services that disabled people rely on.
• Put forward alternative demands for the incoming Senedd to tackle the poverty of disabled people in Wales.

Moved by Cardiff Trades Council

The Curriculum for Wales came into force in 2022 to revamp the delivery of education to our children.

The ethos and vision of the curriculum are centred on helping every learner become a capable, confident, and compassionate citizen who can thrive in a changing world.

At its heart is the goal of developing four purposes, which describe the kind of learners the curriculum aims to nurture.

These include enabling all pupils to become ambitious, capable learners; enterprising and creative contributors; ethical, informed citizens and healthy and confident individuals.

This ambition is supported by practitioners but there is a fear that this vision is being threatened by forces far beyond the school gates.

We are seeing a fear creeping into our communities across Wales, a growing tide of division and extremist views; the use of anti-immigrant, racist and xenophobic beliefs and a campaign of misinformation which is creating social division.

Given the potential political instability in Wales in 2026, NAHT must mobilise to protect and defend our members and most importantly the values of our union.

We call on Congress to commit to ensuring that the new Curriculum for Wales continues to be available to all learners; to ensure the rights of children to a fair and balance education for protected and that legislation around Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE), Religion, Vales and Ethics (RVE) and the LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales which includes as an action the development and publication of national trans guidance for schools and local authorities remains.

Moved by NAHT

This Congress notes the continued weakness of the media sector in Wales is of concern because it does not properly reflect life in our communities, nor of the devolution settlement.

This information deficit means that people use social media to get news and information, which has allowed far right groups to spread misinformation and lies pitting members of communities against each other.

Congress congratulates TUC Cymru for its hard work to help union activists have the tools to counter far right propaganda in the workplace. But having a stronger media sector would also help counter misinformation and debunk false stories.

Public interest journalism is a public service and is the bedrock of a democratic society and the cultural life of Wales. Congress supports the work of the NUJ to strengthen public interest journalism in Wales, and applauds the continued use of public funding by the Welsh government to support the sector.

Congress also notes the recent establishment of the social partnership council for the cultural sector, and calls on it to support moves to strengthen the media sector in Wales.

Congress agrees to support the NUJ in its continued campaigning work to bolster public interest journalism in Wales, which will help counter the lies of the far right.

Congress calls on the general council to urgently lobby the newly elected Welsh government to enact the recommendations in full of the Of and For Wales report to ministers.

Moved by the NUJ

Congress recognises that culturally competent, culturally safe, anti-racist and trauma informed care is fundamental to patient safety and equitable, person-centred healthcare in Wales. Evidence from Diverse Cymru and the MBRRACE UK recommendations demonstrates that culturally unsafe care leads to miscommunication, misdiagnosis and preventable harm, with Black, Asian and global majority women and babies experiencing significantly poorer outcomes. Workforce Race Equality Standard data demonstrates racism, discrimination and lack of progression for global majority staff.

Some Health Boards are engaging with cultural competency initiatives, including certification schemes, provision remains inconsistent across Wales. Inequity places women and babies at avoidable risk. In maternity and neonatal services, midwives and maternity support workers witness how culturally unsafe practice and poor organisational culture undermine trust, safety and outcomes for families.

Congress therefore calls on Welsh Government and all Health Boards to mandate high quality, evidence based, face to face and reflective cultural safety and anti-racism, including senior leaders. This training must include protected time, robust impact evaluation clear accountability. Congress calls for organisation -wide standards promoting inclusive environments, representative recruitment and meaningful co production with diverse communities, and clear leadership responsibility for cultural equity. These expectations must align with Anti -Racist Wales Action Plan, Maternity and Neonatal Quality Statement and Perinatal Engagement Framework.

Congress resolves that Health Boards must publicly report annual progress and demonstrate of measurable change beyond certification. Congress instructs TUC Cymru to campaign for consistent standards across health, develop cross-union resources and advocate for sustained funding to deliver culturally safe care across Wales.

Moved by RCM

Congress notes the Welsh Government’s Anti Racist Wales Action Plan as a vital commitment to tackling structural racism and advancing racial justice across Wales. The plan sets out clear expectations for public bodies, employers, and institutions, and its success depends on sustained political will, meaningful engagement with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, and long-term investment.  However, it seems that implementation is not taking place at the pace or depth that Trade Unionists have fought for.

Congress further recognises that trade unions have a central role in ensuring that workplaces across Wales become actively anti racist, and that workers affected by racism are supported, represented, and heard. However, without robust funding, transparent monitoring, and continued implementation, the ambitions of the Anti Racist Wales Action Plan risk being diluted or delayed.

Congress therefore calls on the General Council to lobby Welsh Government to:

• Ensure the Anti Racist Wales Action Plan is fully and securely funded so that public bodies, employers, and unions can deliver the commitments within it.
• Guarantee consistent and accountable implementation across all sectors, with clear timelines and reporting mechanisms.
• Commit to the long-term continuation and development of the plan beyond current political cycles, ensuring that anti racism remains a national priority.

Congress agrees that TUC Cymru will continue to champion anti racist practice within the trade union movement, support affiliates in challenging racism in all its forms, campaign actively to the Government of the day at Senedd level, and work collectively to build a fairer, more equitable Wales for all.

Moved by the TUC Cymru Equalities Committee

This Congress recognises the growing number of neurodivergent workers, including those who are autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic or those who have ADHD and other conditions. Despite protections under the Equality Act 2010, many still face discrimination, inaccessible recruitment processes, and lack of workplace support.

Conference welcomes increasing awareness of neurodivergence across unions and employers but believes urgent action is needed in Wales to ensure that disabled workers receive the essential reasonable adjustments they need in a timely manner.

Reasonable adjustment outcomes for neurodivergent workers should be equal to the outcomes of their comrades with physical impairments.

Congress calls for TUC Cymru to:

1. Create a Reasonable Adjustment Toolkit for Neurodivergent Workers
2. Campaign for mandatory neurodivergence workplace reporting for Welsh Public Sector bodies
3. Campaign for mandatory neurodivergence training (delivered by neurodivergent people with lived experience) for all managers in Welsh Public Sector bodies
4. Encourage and expect all workplace reps and union officers to attend neurodivergence awareness and reasonable adjustments training
5. Campaign and encourage private and third sector employers to ensure that all managers are fully trained and understand how to support neurodivergent staff and offer appropriate reasonable adjustments

Moved by TUC Cymru Equalities Committee