Congress notes at the Transport Committee hearing on 7 September 2011 the Secretary of State for Transport and European Commission representative said it would be legally possible to reverse the decision not to make Bombardier preferred bidder for the Thameslink rolling stock contract.

Congress welcomes the leader of the opposition’s call on 8 September for a parliamentary debate in support of the campaign to save Bombardier jobs.

Congress condemns the government’s betrayal of rail workers and their abject failure to protect jobs and act in the national interest.

Congress welcomes the campaign of the TUC and affiliates to date and requests the General Council convene an urgent meeting of affected affiliates to consider all possible steps to stop the closure of the Bombardier Derby Litchurch Lane works and to consider supporting the parliamentary rally for Bombardier called for 12 October.

Congress agrees to continue to campaign to save Bombardier for as long as it takes. Noting existing Congress policy to re-nationalise the railways and that train manufacturing was previously undertaken by British Railways Engineering, Congress believes in the event of Bombardier withdrawing from the UK, consideration should be given to nationalisation to save UK train manufacturing and prevent devastation of jobs and communities.

Congress recognises that a reversal of the decision is likely to impact on the expectation of other workers employed by Siemens and would assure its members that the principle of supporting British manufacturing and protection of jobs is the overriding issue.

Mover: National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

Congress notes with concern the report of 5 September 2011 that the government plans to reduce the rights that the Agency Worker Regulations introduced on 1 October this year. Congress, however, believes that the existing regulations already fall short of the legal and moral requirements that the Agency Workers Directive imposes on EU states.

The subsequently issued statements by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) on 6 and 10 September supported the review of so- called “gold-plated” provisions. The REC has produced a specific briefing document on the ‘Swedish Derogation’ advising agencies how to use this to best advantage.

Congress notes with concern in recent weeks the increasing numbers of employers, including the major supermarkets’ meat supply chain, seeking to avoid the application of equal rights for agency workers by applying ‘the Swedish Derogation’. This will allow employers, in conjunction with agency businesses, to avoid equal pay by directly employing the agency workers on contracts that may offer as little as one hour’s work per week.

Congress therefore instructs the General Council to explore grounds for a legal challenge against the UK government in respect of its failure to properly implement the spirit and the legal requirements of the Agency Workers Directive.

Mover: Unite

Congress is appalled at the treatment of NUJ members in East London on Saturday 3 September 2011.

Journalists were carrying out their work, reporting the EDL event, taking photographs and recording eye witness accounts on behalf of a wide range of media outlets.

Journalists were subjected to harassment, threats and abuse including physical assaults, racist abuse and bottles and fireworks being thrown at the press. One journalist was subjected to a sexual assault and another suffered burns after an EDL protestor set the journalist on fire.

Congress publically condemns the actions of the EDL and the ways in which they target media workers and Congress will continue to support all trade unionists that are targeted by the far-right.

Far-right attacks on media workers are aimed at deterring them from carrying out their work and are designed to intimidate trade union members and stop the media reporting on far-right activity.

Such attacks are a violation of press freedom and an attack on our democracy.

Congress expresses solidarity with NUJ members and calls on the General Council to campaign publically against far-right groups.

Congress urges the General Council to:

• i.   call on the police to take action to identify and prosecute EDL supporters who attack trade unionists
• ii.  support and assist affiliate unions when far-right groups threaten the health and safety of their members.

Mover: National Union of Journalists
Seconder: National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

Congress welcomes the TUC response to the riots that saw some of the worst rioting for over a decade in England towns and cities.

Congress recognises that criminality and violence cannot be condoned or excused, but simplifying the underlying causes can lead to the wrong solutions.

It is accepted that this is a complex area and does not need a knee-jerk reaction from the coalition government nor senior politicians giving soundbites and blaming certain sections of society or indeed the criminal justice system.

Congress recognises that government needs to reflect and a root and branch review involving the trade union movement can assist government in ensuring an outcome that is fair and balanced.

Congress also recognises the professionalism of public sector workers and indeed those in the private sector who did everything to protect the general public during the riots and aftermath: the emergency services such as prison officers and related grades, fire fighters, police officers, ambulance workers along with nurses and doctors. Without our frontline services putting the general public first, the riots could have been so much worse.

Congress places on record its condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives during the riots.

Congress instructs the General Council to further influence the coalition government in establishing the true underlying causes of the recent riots.

Mover: POA
Seconder: Fire Brigades’ Union

Congress notes that parliament debated and voted on abortion rights in May 2008 when MPs voted to maintain the upper limit of 24 weeks. The move to reduce the upper limit to 20 weeks was supported by Cameron. This time Cameron has supported and then not supported the amendment, flip-flopping on a crucial issue for women.

Congress notes that the government now intends to review abortion counselling services.

Congress believes in a woman’s right to choose with balanced, professional support and care from regulated bodies. Congress believes that women’s access to impartial, non-directive and clinical information on pregnancy choices must be maintained and unions must challenge any move that would result in women being offered pre-abortion counselling, where there is no such guarantee.

Congress instructs the General Council to:

• reaffirm Congress policy of a woman’s right to choose as set out in motion agreed at 2008 TUC Congress
• encourage affiliates to do the same
• re-issue the TUC leaflet ‘abortion – a trade union issue’
• continue to support the campaign against these detrimental changes to abortion counselling.

Mover: University and College Union
Seconder: Unite