Saturday, 20 July

10:45-12:00 – Stop Calling them Culture Wars: How systemic inequalities are exploited to keep the working class from rising up

From housing, to education, to medical treatment, our system is rife with inequality and systemic barriers. This panel argues that the media’s framing of the “culture wars” is an inaccurate twist on a dire systemic situation; these are not clashes of culture but clashes of access, keeping people from the decent quality of life to which they should be entitled. Our real enemy is not each other but the systemic barriers which hold us down.

With Patrick Roach (NASUWT General Secretary), Giovanna Lewis (Portland Global Friendship Group), Kudsia Batool (TUC Head of Equality), Dr. Lucy-Jane Davis (BMA South West Regional Council Chair & GP), David Renton (Author and Barrister, specialising in housing, discrimination and employment)

12:00-13:00 – Speak Out: Tim Lezard invites stall-holders to say a few words

The union movement supports a range of campaigns and organisations who seek to change the world for the better. In this showcase, they share their stories and campaigns.

13:00-14:30 – Next Steps for a New Deal for Working People

For the first time in 14 years, we now have a Labour Government – who have committed to an Employment bill in their first 100 days of office that promises a new deal for working people. But what are the movement’s red lines? What do workers desperately need? And what difference will this make to growing our economy? Hear from leading union voices as we discuss what could be the biggest boost to workers’ rights not seen for generations.

With Mick Lynch (RMT General Secretary), Fran Heathcote (PCS General Secretary), Stef Kasprowski (Unite South West Regional Chair), Kate Bell (TUC Assistant General Secretary)

14:45-15:45 – Growing Our Movement: Averting a Crisis

The wave of industrial action in the past two years has proven how critical active solidarity is to the union movement. Inter-union, community, and cross-border activism has strengthened workers’ voices against greedy bosses and beligerent ministers. But with union membership figures stuck at alarmingly low rates, and a new era of politics, how can we grow our movement – fast!?

With Carl Roper (TUC National Organiser), Frank Macklin (GMB), Jacqui Brown (RCM Regional Officer), Paul Fleming (Equity General Secretary), Maria Chondrogianni (UCU President-elect), Hannah David (TUC South West Chair)

16:00-17:00 – Tackling abuse and sexual harassment

The ground-breaking TUC report in 2016 laid bare the level of harassment and abuse women face at work. And crucially how much further we have to go as a movement. As more reports surface about the scale of misogyny, harassment and abuse women face on a daily basis, we hear what unions are doing to stamp it out.

With Jenn Forbes (TUC Tutor), Robyn Richardson (FBU), Lynda Rooke (Equity), Kudsia Batool (TUC Head of Equality)