John Williams, Delegate from Unite Wales Young Members Committee

As a first-time delegate, it was great to see other first-timers and many young people who were active in union branches and trades councils, including taking leading positions, attending this TUC (Trades Union Congress) young workers’ conference. It was reported that there were nearly 200 people in attendance – the biggest ever!

The chair’s opening comments laid bare the worries of young people today, which hit home to all attendees. How young people are losing faith in the future, and feeling there’s nothing they can do about it. The under-organising  in industries like hospitality. The threat of Reform and the far right. “Conditions are as bad as they ever have been”.

Employment rights

Both the TUC President and Assistant General Secretary stated their view that the Employment Rights Act, though not perfect, is a transformative piece of legislation. They failed to make the points that I did in my speech later on – that the Tory anti-union 50% turnout threshold for strike ballots is still in place 20 months into Starmer’s government, despite promises to repeal it. The promised bans of fire and rehire and zero-hour contracts have been scrapped.

It was astounding that they didn’t talk once about any of the attacks the Labour government has inflicted or tried to inflict on the working class over the past two years. Both warned about the threat of Reform UK but, listening to their speeches, you wouldn’t get the impression that Starmer’s austerity policies are rolling out the red carpet for them.

There were many good motions, such as one on ‘Tax justice for young workers’. I spoke on this and highlighted the austerity over the past 16 years has that has taken away from young workers’ living standards. The refusal of UK governments to nationalise industries like Tata steel, allowing 2,000 jobs to go, or energy. The Labour government is considering scrapping equalising the minimum wage. I argued to tax the rich and for nationalisation; for full funding of public services. “For that we need a workers’ government, fighting for a socialist society.”

Birmingham bins

I used the opportunity to support the Birmingham bin workers, and said it wasn’t a coincidence that it was a young worker who moved the emergency motion at last year’s Unite the Union policy conference to debate its relationship with Labour, in response to the Labour council’s brutal pay cuts and strike-breaking efforts.

Other motions discussed the scandal of outsourcing, which has increased under this Labour government, protecting migrant workers from racist policies, and raising awareness of neurodivergent workers. The motion that will be sent to the TUC from the young workers conference will be on the housing crisis affecting young workers, demanding the Labour government does things like re-introduce rent controls.

What was clear was a real militancy from young workers who were not afraid to criticise the Labour government. The overall mood of the conference that young workers have to organise and re-energise the trade union movement – put pressure on the leaders, and fight to be leaders ourselves! 

  • John Williams is standing for election to the Unite Executive Council for the LGBT seat