TUC Cymru Congress 2026
- North Wales economy, Wylfa SMR (nuclear)
Congress notes that on 13 April the Westminster Government signed the contract for a Small Modular Reactor programme at Wylfa nuclear power station despite uncertainty over the timescale for Final Investment Decision.
Prospect union is concerned that without sustained progress, long-term investment decisions will come to nothing, placing at risk skilled jobs and the wider economic transformation of North Wales that new nuclear could deliver including in the Welsh supply chain.
It is for good reason that Wylfa has previously been identified as the best available site for large-scale nuclear development, and Congress believes that the Wylfa site must remain viable for such developments, with alternative plans for the site developed if the SMR programme is subject to continued delays.
Congress therefore calls upon TUC Cymru to:
- Lobby the next Welsh Government in the Senedd to ensure planning frameworks and decisions keep open the option of a large-scale reactor at Wylfa;
- Demand that the Welsh Government funds a targeted skills, apprenticeships and workforce development programme to prepare the next generation of nuclear build workers in North Wales;
- Urge the Welsh Government to challenge Westminster to provide regular, transparent reports on progress of the Wylfa SMR programme;
- Insist that social partnership is embedded as the cornerstone of all developments, ensuring meaningful engagement between employers, contractors and trade unions at every stage.
Congress resolves to campaign for a just transition that delivers secure, unionised, high-quality jobs for our members and communities.
Moved by Prospect
- Employment, security and investment in the rail and maritime industries
Congress welcomes the Employment Rights Act receiving royal assent which includes the delivery of the mandatory Seafarers Charter by the end of 2026. The Charter, introduced following the P&O Ferry scandal, will provide protection for pay and employment conditions and training in the ferry industry in Wales.
Congress agrees to campaign with the RMT and maritime affiliates to ensure that the Charter achieves its fullest possible potential to deliver improvements to employment rights and job opportunities for Welsh seafarers on passenger and freight ferry services between Wales and Ireland, and in also the offshore wind supply chain through the eradication of P&O-style contracts that pay below the minimum wage for months of work at sea.
As well as remaining vigilant to protect seafarer jobs and conditions Congress is also concerned by the increasing frequency of storm conditions caused by climate change and the impact on the safety of crew and passengers on Irish Sea ferry and shipping services, including the offshore energy supply chain.
Congress notes that investment in offshore renewable energy and the associated port infrastructure in Wales presents a significant opportunity for the Welsh workforce and for Welsh maritime professionals; whose expertise is vital to the successful delivery and ongoing operation of these projects.
Congress recognises the potential for such activities to drive employment, enhance skills, and strengthen industrial capabilities within Wales. In particular, the growth of offshore renewables and port facilities can create new roles and career paths.
However, Congress further acknowledges that without deliberate intervention, supply-chain and operational benefits could easily bypass Welsh communities and domestic professionals, including those in the maritime sector.
Congress believes that whenever public bodies provide funding or support, there must be a clear and measurable return for Welsh workers. This should take the form of fair employment practices, robust training opportunities, and meaningful support to build domestic capability in maritime and renewables.
Congress resolves that TUC Cymru will continue to work with affiliates and partners to ensure that investment associated with the energy transition delivers high-quality, sustainable jobs for all.
Congress therefore asks the General Council to:
- Campaign with the maritime trade unions in Wales for local seafarer jobs and apprenticeships on ferry services covered by the Mandatory Seafarers Charter.
- Extend sectoral collective bargaining across the ports and maritime sector in Wales, including Holyhead and Celtic Freeports.
- Work with trade unions, employers and the Wales Government to reduce seafarer fatigue and to mitigate climate change impacts on ports and maritime transport as part of a comprehensive ports, maritime and freight plan.
- Campaign to actively promote workforce development and targeted apprenticeship opportunities connected to supported projects;
- Work with Welsh Government to encourage structured engagement with recognised trade unions in these sectors;
- assist Welsh-based engineering, fabrication, and marine service businesses, to compete for work;
- improve transparency regarding employment and skills outcomes for all sectors, with specific reporting on opportunities realised by supported projects
- Use all available options to encourage and mandate sectoral bargaining across this sector and the wider economy in Wales, which Congress believes would be an effective mechanism for protecting and providing decent employment whilst also fairly managing and implementing changes in employment in working class communities in Wales.
Moved by NAUTILUS and RMT
- Paid Release for Workers to Upskill in Carbon-Intensive Industries
Congress recognises the need to deliver a just transition to a low-carbon economy that safeguards the planet and the livelihoods of workers.
Frontline workers in carbon-intensive industries— energy, steel, cement, and manufacturing—possess the skills and expertise essential for the transition to a net-zero future.
Without dedicated support for training and upskilling, these workers risk being left behind.
Congress believes that if Welsh workers are to benefit from a just transition, they need to be trained for low-carbon jobs across the economy that sustain and strengthen our communities and environment. Retraining should encourage a more gender equal distribution across industries. Workers should have the right to paid time off to retrain and upskill for a sustainable economy.
Congress calls on TUC Cymru to:
- Campaign for a statutory right to paid release for workers in carbon-intensive sectors to access accredited training and upskilling opportunities.
- Engage with employers, sector bodies, and trade unions to develop sectoral just transition training plans that identify future skills needs and ensure accessible routes into green jobs.
- Advocate for the creation of a Welsh Green Skills Fund to finance paid release, jointly supported by public and employer contributions.
- Advocate for the Welsh and UK governments to utilise public procurement to ensure that employers in receipt of public money prioritise training to retain jobs in Wales.
- Campaign to create or support economic demand for those skills in Wales.
- Work with affiliated unions to highlight examples of best practice where paid release for skills development supports job security and climate action.
Moved by GMB
- Strengthening Access to Maritime Careers in Wales
Congress notes the importance of ports, shipping and the wider maritime industry to the Welsh economy and to high skilled high-quality employment in many coastal communities.
Congress recognises that employers in maritime have highlighted difficulties in recruiting and retaining appropriately qualified seafarers, engineers and technical specialists. Congress further recognises that individuals seeking to enter the sector can face financial barriers, limited local provision and challenges in gaining the certification and sea time required for progression.
Congress observes that improving access to training and career pathways can assist in retaining skills within Wales and support quality sustainable employment including on scheduled roll-on roll-off ferry services from Welsh ports.
Congress believes that successful workforce development relies upon partnership between government, education providers, employers and trade unions, and that the involvement of workers’ representatives strengthens safety, relevance of training and long-term career prospects.Congress therefore calls upon the Welsh Government, working with social partners, to:
- improve coordination between identified workforce needs and publicly supported training provision;
- expand access to apprenticeships, cadetships and accredited maritime courses for people living in Wales;
- consider measures to reduce financial obstacles faced by new entrants;
- ensure recognised trade unions are represented in appropriate advisory and partnership arrangements;
- ensure that employers and training providers in Wales provide a full range of maritime apprenticeships, particularly in port communities;
- encourage employers in receipt of public support to offer high-quality training linked to employment.
Congress resolves that TUC Cymru will work with affiliates to promote access to maritime careers and the expansion of decent, secure, and collectively bargained work.
Moved by NAUTILUS
- Welsh language lecturers and tutors on 'zero hours' contracts
Congress notes that the vast majority of over 500 Welsh for adults lecturers and tutors have effectively 'zero hours' contracts and are paid on a range of pay scales with more than three different pension schemes.
Congress believes that all Welsh for adults lecturers and tutors should have permanent full-time or permanent fractional contracts and that they should all be on the same pay scales with the same pension scheme.
Congress resolves to campaign for pay justice for Welsh for adults lecturers and tutors.
Moved by Torfaen Trades Council
- Fair funding for Post 16 Education in Wales
Congress believes that following the same financial models as before will only place further pressures on the sector and ultimately increase poverty in Wales. It will stunt growth and impede social mobility. This will leave us vulnerable to the climate change crisis and the rapid change through AI in the workplace.
Congress believes we must widen access to post-16 education, particularly for potential students in deprived areas and examine how obstacles preventing adults from returning to education might be overcome.
Investment in the whole of the post-16 workforce would improve student wellbeing, retention and achievement.
Congress calls on TUC Cymru to engage with the Welsh Government to overhaul a broken financial model and recognise Post-16 education as the key driver for the prosperity for the Welsh economy.
Moved by UCU
- Qualified Teachers for Teacher Absence Cover
Supply teachers in Wales are fully qualified professionals, registered with the Education Workforce Council. Increasingly, schools are using unqualified staff to cover teacher absences, including for extended periods. This practice is driven by cost pressures rather than educational need. Many qualified supply teachers, including NEU members, are being denied work while unqualified cover is normalised.
The NEU believes that:
- Teaching is a skilled profession and should only be undertaken by qualified teachers.
- Covering teacher absence is teaching, not supervision.
- Pupils are entitled to high-quality teaching delivered by properly trained professionals.
- The routine use of unqualified cover undermines educational standards and devalues the teaching profession.
We call on Congress to instruct Wales TUC to campaign to ensure:
- Welsh Government and local authorities to insist that schools use qualified, EWC-registered teachers to cover teacher absences.
- Schools to prioritise the employment of qualified supply teachers over unqualified cover staff.
- Clear national guidance that protects educational standards and supply teachers’ access to work.
- An end to the routine and inappropriate use of unqualified cover in Welsh schools.
Moved by NEU Cymru
- Support for Welsh Manufacturing
Congress recognises that the manufacturing sector is central to the Welsh economy, employing around 150,000 workers in Wales. Key employers such as Airbus and GE provide highly skilled, well paid jobs that are fundamental to the future prosperity of Wales.
The importance of the Welsh manufacturing sector has been recognised by Welsh Government through the introduction of its Manufacturing Action Plan (MAP) in 2021 that was the updated and revised in 2023.
Welsh manufacturing continues to face severe pressures including increased global competition, a technology explosion and new trading arrangements with the European Union. Well publicised job losses at employers such as TATA and Aston Martin reinforce the need for continuous assessment and improvement in Welsh Government support for our manufacturing sector.
Congress calls upon the Wales TUC to;
- Call for an urgent review of Welsh Governments Manufacturing Action Plan.
- Build upon and further develop its existing campaign “Save Welsh Industry - No more site closures!”
Moved by Unite
- Artificial intelligence
Congress, at our last meeting two years ago, you gave us a clear signal that you wanted TUC Cymru to prioritise its work on AI in the workplace – a motion on the subject received nearly ten amendments, demonstrating the levels of interest and concern.
Subsequently, TUC Cymru delivered a priority project on “AI: Preparing the workforce; ready for the future” which aimed to ensure workers have access to reliable information on AI’s workplace impact and to equip unions to negotiate effectively on AI issues. Stemming from your resolution AI was embedded in the organisation’s strategic plan. Unions provided regular strategic input through TUC Cymru’s AI reference group.
The project focused on three core activities:
- Research and dissemination – Investigating AI’s impact on workers in Wales and sharing findings through guides, webinars, blogs, and videos.
- Training and awareness – Developing tailored training for union reps and supporting union-led courses for workers.
- Policy influence – Shaping Welsh Government policy on AI through social partnership and advocacy.
Key Achievements
- Research outputs: The flagship report AI Inequalities at Work by the Data Justice Lab examined discriminatory impacts of AI across dimensions such as disability, age, ethnicity, and language. Complementary blogs and social media videos amplified engagement.
- Workshops and toolkits: Collaborations with Connected by Data produced a toolkit for embedding worker voice in AI procurement. Additional workshops promoted worker-centric AI approaches, aligning with feedback from government and TUC at UK level.
- Training and development: A new course for union reps on AI and equality is scheduled for early 2026, complementing existing union-led worker training supported by the Wales Union Learning Fund.
- Policy wins: TUC Cymru successfully influenced Plaid Cymru’s manifesto commitments, securing a pledge to “encourage the ethical, innovative and worker-led adoption of AI and emerging technologies in both the public and private sectors, to improve productivity, competitiveness and service delivery, while protecting workers’ rights”
- Workplace agreements: The Workforce Partnership Council (WPC) guidance on AI in the public sector was negotiated and disseminated. A Social Partnership Council sub-group on AI and skills has also been established.
Overall, the project advanced union capacity on AI, strengthened policy influence, and laid foundations for future training and advocacy, positioning TUC Cymru as a leader in ethical AI implementation. That said, challenges remain in securing workplace agreements on the subject.
Congress calls on TUC Cymru to:
- Conduct research on the implementation of pro-worker AI policies and agreements reached through collective bargaining
- Work with unions and their branches to embed AI protections into workplace agreements
- Work with partners to expand training on the opportunities and risks of AI
- Work with the Welsh Government to encourage the ethical, innovative and worker-led adoption of AI and emerging technologies.
Moved by General Council
- Wales Union Learning Fund: Work-Based Learning Delivered Through Trade Unions
WULF is a highly successful and cost-effective education initiative, rooted in the realities of Welsh workplaces and trusted by workers across sectors. It is the only Welsh Government fund specifically designed to support people in work, enabling progression, resilience, and opportunity through trade union-led learning.
Through WULF, workers are supported to access training that enables in-work progression, enhances job security, and provides vital assistance during redundancy and organisational change. In the past three years alone, WULF has leveraged an additional £2.5 million in co-investment from employers and partners, demonstrating its strong value and impact.
WULF supported the training of over 100,000 workers in the most recent three-year funding round and is on course to match this achievement in the current round. Its outcomes are consistently strong:
- 83% of participants report improved communication skills
- 80% report increased self-motivation
- 23% of learners reported having a disability – showing the widening access of the WULF programme
- 64% say their training has led to greater job satisfaction1
Among self-employed and freelance workers, 60% of respondents reported securing more work following participation - reflecting a sustained positive impact in line with previous evaluations.
WULF’s unique strength lies in its delivery model. Through trusted trade union networks, it reaches workers who might otherwise be excluded from learning, ensuring that support is targeted where it is most needed.
WULF delivers:
- Life-changing opportunities for workers with no prior qualifications or low confidence in learning
- Essential skills in digital literacy, the green transition, communication, and trade-specific areas
- Targeted support for workers at risk of redundancy or automation
- Recognition and certification of existing ‘on-the-job’ skills
WULF is a vital pillar of Wales’s fair work agenda - supporting a more equal, skilled, and resilient workforce.
We call on the Welsh Government to commit to safeguarding and increasing investment in the Wales Union Learning Fund, recognising its proven impact and strategic importance.
With enhanced funding, TUC Cymru can support even more workers to realise their full potential, strengthen their workplace rights, and contribute to a confident, highly skilled Welsh workforce.
Moved by General Council