Janine's blog

On Monday evening, around 80 delegates attended a fringe meeting to demand the repeal of
Britain's anti-union laws.

Earlier in the day, Congress had unanimously passed a composite motion on 'fairness at work' calling for legal rights for trade unions. OK, so it usually does that every year, but the...

The major topic of Tuesday afternoon was 'industrial policy', which, as you can imagine, covers a range of subjects.

The National Union of Mineworkers moved a motion calling for renationalisation of the coal industry, predicing that without this step, the industry would be completely gone within 18...

As promised, here is the speech I made in Congress yesterday on abortion rights ...

Statements made during the General Election campaign and since suggest that women's abortion rights could soon come under attack.

One in three women in Britain has an abortion. Every one has her reason. For many, it...

The cameras clicked and the TUC leaders smiled as Gordon Brown addressed Congress.

This was Gordon Brown with his labour movement face on. He kept referring to “this labour movement”, talked about redundant coal miners and steel workers, praised the TUC’s award-winning reps and honoured the movement...

I've been at it again - up on the rostrum shooting my mouth off. Oh well, the members elected me to come here and speak up for them, not just to give me a week's break by the seaside.

This morning, we had the delights of Gordon Brown's speech - about which more later. Then we had a parade of workers...

Monday afternoon started with a debate on childcare. It began with a panel session chaired by Guardian journalist Yvonne Roberts, with Carol Ball (UNISON nursery nurse) and Philippa Thompson from 4Children, speaking. This was followed by a couple of motions.

Speakers talked in particular about low...

As promised, here I am, blogging from TUC Congress – courtesy of a natty little internet access stand in the Brighton Centre. But you don’t want to hear about that. You want to hear about what the great and good of the trade union movement have been talking about.

The first big debate of the day was...

I'm off to TUC Congress in Brighton tomorrow. I'm hoping to do some blogging while there, so check back for news of the latest goings-on.

The first highlight should be the demonstration by the sacked Gate Gourmet workers on Monday morning, the same day as debates on the anti-union laws.

I know of...

School year started today. My son Alex is going into Year 2 (SATS year - boo hiss!) at Brook Community Primary School here in Hackney. His brother Joe starts in the nursery class in a couple of weeks' time.

Brook is entering its first full year as a Fresh Start school, after its forerunner Amherst...