Dave Chapple speaks on behalf of trades councils (at 1hr 56.18min): https://youtu.be/Jp4rY2PdOUw?si=KIM1Je4DBWakvhjG&t=6978 supported by FBU, POA and BFAWU.
Motion 80 Trades Councils’ participation within the Trades Union Congress 2026; received from: TUC Trades Union Councils Conference was remitted, to be discussed by the TUC General Council:
Congress accepts that trades councils have a rich history in the trade union movement and play an active part in communities supporting the wider movement and TUC campaigns. Further, it is recognised that trades councils have a combined affiliated membership of hundreds of thousands of members throughout the movement.
Yet, trades councils are seriously under-represented within Congress. Currently, they are entitled to a single delegate to Congress and can submit only one motion.
Trades councils’ total affiliated membership, in a single trade union, would mean a far larger Congress delegation.
Congress, therefore, agrees a rule change so that at Congress 2026, trades councils shall be entitled to:
i. a Congress delegation of three
ii. a single seat on the TUC General Council.
And that:
a. the Trades Councils’ Congress delegation shall be entitled to speak and vote on any motion, amendment or other Congress business, in addition to its own single motion.
The TUC General Council Asst. Sec TUC Kate Bell opposed it (at 1hr 52.55min) https://youtu.be/Jp4rY2PdOUw?si=nA1Cvdj68WI1OvF0&t=6775