9. TUC - to affiliate or not
Suffolk Branch
(MFD) That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether the RCN should be affiliated to the TUC
Debate report
Sally Gooch from the Suffolk Branch said that after 25 years of existence as a trade union, it was time for the RCN to debate Trades Union Congress (TUC) affiliation once again.
She outlined the TUC’s role, highlighting its similarities with the RCN and pointing out that the RCN in the Isle of Man is already affiliated. She told delegates that due to the numbers of RCN members, any affiliation agreement would mean the RCN would sit on the General Council. The TUC doesn’t require a pro-striking policy from its affiliated members, she said, and the RCN would not be expected to have a political affiliation. She said the cost would be £2.50 per member, a price she thought was worth paying.
Sally said that it was now the time to debate the issue as the RCN already has a close relationship with the organisation and as members are now facing an imminent threat to facilities agreements, it is now time to stand side by side with sister unions. She thought that becoming an affiliate member would send a powerful signal to the Coalition Government. Quoting the former RCN General Secretary, Trevor Clay, speaking in 1979, she said this was the next logical step in the RCN’s development.
John Hill said he had spoken in similar debates many time before. He said the influence of the TUC had declined, but the RCN’s influence remains strong. He therefore concluded this would not be money well-spent. Paul Smith agreed, asking if affiliation was worth the total cost of £1 million per year.
Members expressed their concerns about the threat to the RCN’s apolitical stance. Nykoma Hamilton said there was a possibility the Coalition Government would “slam the door in our face,” rather than continue to negotiate with us. Kathy Doughty asked delegates to consider the RCN’s professional side: “That’s what sets us apart from other unions,” she said.
Tom Bolger highlighted the existing excellent relationship between the RCN and TUC and said it was time to find out more and for RCN Council and Dr Peter Carter to make a full recommendation to members on any action.
Background
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) brings together nearly 60 trade unions in England and Wales to develop and further common policies on issues such as employment, employment law and equality. Total membership of these unions stands at 6.5 million, and three unions - Unite, UNISON and GMB - make up approximately 50 per cent of the total TUC membership.
Generally seen as the voice of the trade union movement in the UK, the TUC campaigns, lobbies and influences government. They work to develop policy and strategy in the fields of the economy, pension reform, protecting public sector services and employment, equality and diversity, as well as the rights of full and part time workers and the unemployed. The TUC also represents workers on international trade bodies, has a significant research function, and delivers learning and training for members.
Public sector issues are coordinated through the Public Service Liaison Group (PSLG) of the TUC, and TUC affiliated organisations meet with Government under the auspices of the TUC in the Public Service Forum (PSF).
Policy is set at the annual TUC Congress, but responsibility for day to day planning and organisation lies with the TUC General Council and its General Secretary Brendan Barber. Larger unions are automatically represented on the Council; seats for smaller unions are allocated under a ballot process.
The TUC affiliation rate is related to the average subscription rate of all member organisations. At present this would be in the region of £2.50 per RCN member. However it does not follow that a union has to affiliate all of its members. While a number of TUC affiliate unions are also affiliated to the Labour Party, this is not a requirement of TUC membership.
There are separate TUC structures in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, trade unions affiliate to the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) which covers trade unions in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In Scotland, trade unions affiliate to the Scottish TUC (STUC). Although trade unions in Wales are affiliated to the TUC there is also a Welsh TUC and TUC Council. Each year the TUC holds a ‘Council of the Isles’ where they bring together all the TUC organisations; the RCN on the Isle of Man is affiliated to the Isle of Man TUC.
The RCN and the TUC have a positive ongoing relationship with good working arrangements, and opportunities to share ideas and give mutual support. The RCN has worked with the TUC on a number of issues, the most recent being public sector pension reform and the protection of the NHS and other public services. The RCN is also involved closely in the TUC Union Learn project (England), which is being delivered by the TUC and supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
This matter was discussed at Congress 1994 (the feasibility of seeking affiliation to the TUC and STUC) and again at Congress 1999 (ways of improving the relationship between the RCN and the wider trade union movement), but no action was taken to seek membership of the TUC.
Useful resources
TUC Home Page http://www.tuc.org.uk
Union Learn http://www.unionlearn.org.uk
‘The union makes us strong’: TUC history online http://www.unionhistory.info/
