Unions urge Congress to raise organising support

Delegates to this month’s Trades Union Congress will hear calls to maintain recruitment and organising as a priority for unions, and for the TUC general council to increase funding to support that work.

The motion, brought by the T&G general union, wants the general council to “focus a minimum of 5% of its income, and, as soon as possible, 10% of its income, on measures to research and assist unions’ organising”. It also asks the TUC, “as a matter of urgency”, to amend its procedures to ensure that there is no return to “sweetheart” deals with employers which undermine other unions’ organising efforts.

Banking union Accord will call for more TUC support and research around organising in the private sector, and for unions to step up their work in this weakly organised area. It will also urge the movement to press the government for an improved framework of time off and support for union reps.