TUC President Steve Gillan speech to Congress 2026

Check against delivery

Congress, delegates 

It is an absolute privilege to stand here today as President of the Trades Union Congress, as well as General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association. 

It is a privilege I never imagined when I first put on a uniform when I began my career as a prison officer. 

I am humbled by your confidence and proud of our movement. 

And I've been determined to serve every union represented at Congress, no matter how big or small those unions were. I hope I have achieved that throughout the year. 

But before I say another word, there are people I simply could not have reached this moment without. 

My family has stood beside me through the long hours, the missed family occasions, the endless meetings, the phone calls that never seem to end, and the pressures that come with representing working people. 

My wife has been my greatest supporter, my strongest critic when I've needed it, and my biggest source of strength.  

To my family, thank you for your patience and belief, as that has carried me to this stage. This honour belongs to you as much as it belongs to me. 

Congress, every trade union leader knows something very important. 

None of us gets here alone. 

We stand on the shoulders of our families. 

We stand on the shoulders of our members. 

And we stand on the shoulders of those trade unionists who came before us and fought battles that many of us now take for granted.  

I would like to thank the POA National Executive Committee, full-time officers and the fantastic staff at our offices.  

I could not have done the role of General Secretary without their support, or indeed the role of TUC President.  

I also want to pay tribute to my dear friend and previous Deputy General Secretary who sadly died in 2024. A man that I not only worked with closely, but who was a dear friend for over 30 years. Joe Simpson taken from us far too early. 

The last year, and today, are historic. 

For the first time in the history of Trades Union Congress, a general secretary of the Prison Officers Association had been elected President and chairs Congress. 

That isn't just a personal achievement. 

It is recognition of the incredible work carried out every day by POA members across the United Kingdom. 

Men and women who work behind our prison walls, in secure hospitals and in immigration. 

Often unseen, sometimes forgotten, but absolutely essential to keeping the public safe.  

And I hope every prison officer grade, Operational Support Grade, Custody Officer, secure hospital nurse – and every POA member watching today – feels that this is your moment too. 

I am immensely proud to come from the POA, a union stripped of its fundamental human rights – banned from taking any form of industrial action for the last 32 years. A vindictive and pernicious piece of legislation.  

The POA will always campaign vociferously so that legislation is changed to right that wrong.  

Some may describe our campaigning as tubthumping. I describe it as punching above our weight. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again: prison officers are just like any other group of workers and it's time to restore our fundamental right to strike. 

Congress the whole trade union movement is at its best when we are together. That's why our Congress theme is “UNITY WORKS”. 

And it gives me great pleasure to welcome the parents of Zane GBANGBOLA to Congress, Kye and Nicole.  

I am proud of the FBU and every union who campaigned for an inquiry into Zane’s death. You will recall Zane tragically died from spillage from a toxic landfill site.  

Congress, last year we passed an FBU motion calling for a Zane’s Law to register toxic landfill sites.  

And I am proud to report that the pressure from Zane’s parents and the trade union movement and supporters has resulted in the Government finally announcing an inquiry to uncover the truth about what happened to Zane.  

And Congress, let us not rest until we get the Zane’s Law we need to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again. 

Congress: “Unity Works”. Two simple words. 

But perhaps the two most important words our movement has ever lived by. 

Unity gave us weekends. 

Unity gave us paid holidays. 

Unity gave us safer workplaces. 

Unity gave us equal pay. 

Unity gave us maternity rights. 

Unity gave us pensions. 

Unity gave us dignity. 

Every victory this movement has ever won has begun with ordinary people deciding they would stand together instead of standing alone. 

Unity has always worked. 

And always will. 

Today our country finds itself at another crossroads. 

I want to congratulate our new Prime Minister Andy Burnham in taking office, he is like a breath of fresh air. 

With that office comes enormous responsibility. 

At the last election in 2024 working people voted for hope. 

They voted for fairness. 

But most of all they voted for change. 

We all want to see this country succeed. 

And where government delivers for working people, it will find the trade union movement ready to work constructively. 

I also warmly welcome the Employment Rights Act. 

For years, unions campaigned for stronger protections at work. 

For years, too many workers faced insecurity, exploitation and unfair treatment. 

The ERA 2025 marks real progress. 

It says working people matter. 

It says fairness matters. 

But conference, let's be clear. 

Passing legislation is the start of the journey, not the destination. 

Rights must be enforced; bad employers must be challenged. 

Workers must know their rights and unions must remain at the heart of every workplace. Because rights only become real when working people can rely on them. 

The Employment Rights Act 2025 is a foundation, but there is still so much more to do. 

Too many people still work hard and struggle to make ends meet. 

Too many families worry every month about paying the mortgage or the rent. 

Too many workers are exhausted, undervalued and underpaid. 

Too many public services remain stretched beyond breaking point. 

And we cannot ignore the challenges facing the next generation. 

Young people deserve more than warm words. 

They deserve secure jobs, affordable homes, quality apprenticeships and decent wages. 

A chance to build a future with confidence rather than anxiety. No young person should believe they'll be worse off than their parents. Yet for far too many, that's exactly how it feels. 

That should concern every single one of us.  

And while we fight for tomorrow's generation, we must honour yesterday's generation. The people who built our communities, worked all their lives, paid their taxes, raised families, served this country.  

Older generations deserve dignity. They deserve a social care system that's fit for purpose. They deserve proper healthcare. 

Growing old should never mean being forgotten. 

Congress, the strength of Britain has never been measured by the wealth of the richest. 

It is measured by how we treat those who need us most.  

The child starting school. The apprentice beginning work. The nurse working nights. The refuse collector keeping our streets clean. The prison officer walking onto a wing. The care worker comforting an elderly resident. 

The firefighter. 

The energy worker. 

The teacher. 

The rail worker.  

The supermarket worker. 

The paramedic. 

Every single one of them deserves respect. Every single one deserves safe working conditions. Every single one deserves a union.  

Some will always try to divide us. 

Public sector against private sector. 

Young against old, North against South. 

One union against another. 

We've seen it before. 

And we know exactly where division leads. 

Our answer must always be the same. 

“UNITY WORKS”. 

Because when workers are divided, workers lose. But when we stand shoulder to shoulder, there is nothing we cannot achieve. 

That has been true for over 150 years. 

It remains true today, and it will still be true long after we have left this Congress. 

Congress, I believe passionately in this movement. 

I believe in collective bargaining, I believe in solidarity, I believe in fairness, I believe in justice, and above all I believe in people, ordinary people, working people. 

As your President, I also believe in internationalism.  

I'm extremely proud of the work the trade union movement has done in relation to Cuba, Colombia and the genocide in Palestine. 

Proud too of our work with ordinary Israeli citizens. 

And proud of our support for the Ukrainian trade union movement.  

As President throughout this year, it has been important to speak out against those who attempt to create division in our communities.  

History will never remember those who stood on the sidelines. It remembers those who stood together.  

So, when we leave this Congress, we should do with confidence. And we must always remain true to our values. 

There can be no place in the trade union movement, in workplaces or indeed society for any form of discrimination. 

I've been immensely proud to support the TUC's work to tackle sexual harassment within our own ranks, and make our movement a more effective force for racial justice. 

Let us organise. 

Let us campaign.  

Let us negotiate. 

Let us build a Britain where every worker is valued, where every young person has hope, where every older person has dignity, and where every workplace respects those who make success possible. 

Let us show our country that the trade union movement remains its greatest force for fairness and let us prove once again what generations of trade unionists have already taught us. 

That when we stand together, when we speak together, we win together. 

“UNITY WORKS” 

Solidarity forever.