Six delegates from Aegis attended the 155th TUC annual conference, held in Liverpool this month.
Attending these events is vital in ensuring our union is fully up to date with the latest workplace issues and that our representatives feel equipped to deal with matters that are important to you, our members.
The four-day event featured powerful keynote speeches from Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner, the TUC General Secretary, Paul Nowak, TUC President, Maria Exall and President of the AFL-CIO (America’s Unions), Liz Schuler.
In her speech, Angela Raynor talked about how a union changed her whole life.
She said: “It was thanks to my union, UNISON, that I was able to improve my life – and life for my fellow workers who I represented. I may have been born in Stockport, but I was raised in the trade union movement.
“That kind of Levelling Up transformed my life and my prospects – because it was done right.
A house and a job, a good unionised job – with decent conditions a thriving community, empowered to create good local services and educational opportunities.
“These things were my lifeline and they’re what REAL Levelling Up means to me
What Levelling Up could have been and could still be.
“Good jobs and secure homes are the foundations of thriving lives and of a strong economy.
“True growth, which benefits all people in all places of Britain is built on the pillars of decent jobs and secure housing.
“They were the pillars I relied upon to get to where I am today.”
Paul Nowak gave an impassioned speech about his own experiences growing up in Liverpool and the importance of the right to strike.
He said: “The right to strike is fundamental.
“Without the right to withdraw our labour workers become…Disposable. Replaceable. Exploitable.
“This new law isn’t about preserving services for the public. It’s about telling us to get back in our place.
“Don’t demand better. Sit down – shut up
“Well, that’s not going to happen. Not on our watch
“We fought their attack on the right to strike in Parliament.
“We’ll fight it at the ILO and in the courts.
“And, when the first worker is sacked for refusing to work on a strike day we’ll fight it in workplaces and on the picket lines.
“And Congress, this movement will fight it every single day until it is repealed!”
Listen to his full speech here
Aegis the Union’s General Secretary Brian Linn and Deputy General Secretary Fiona Steele each took the podium during the event to speak about current key issues, one of which is Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Fiona said: “It is important to ensure that employees are equipped with the necessary skills to adapt to the evolving nature of roles.
“We are still to see action plans from the Government and employers to tackle the transition.
“We urgently need to see both parties investing in retraining and upskilling programmes to ensure that everyone benefits from AI and that it improves inequality in the workplace, rather than exacerbates it.
“Too many employers see it as a cost cutting tool rather than as an opportunity for workers to develop themselves into new and hopefully more fulfilling roles.”
Aegis the Union representative for the Skipton Building Society, Ania Lomax, was one of the group attending the event.
She said: “The conference was four days packed with insightful information covering a range of issues which could affect employees in the workplace.
“It is so important as a representative for fellow employees to keep informed about such issues, so that we are each well placed to offer sound advice to employees in need.
“I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend the conference with Brian, Fiona and fellow Aegis representatives.”
You can read all about the TUC Congress here
