TUC Congress: Unions narrowly back motion opposing increase in defence spending

Delegates at TUC Congress have narrowly backed a motion that opposes the government’s increase in defence spending.

In a closely contested and emotive debate at the conference in Brighton, which went to a card vote, the TUC voted to reverse its previous policy in favour of immediate increases in military spending and instead prioritise campaigning for public investment in public services and “reaffirm our movement’s priority is welfare and wages, not weapons and war”.

After the vote, the votes for were 2,871,000, compared to 2,291,000 against.

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Jo Grady, general secretary of the UCU – which brought forward the motion – argued that, as public services and workers are told “there’s no money left”, funding being allocated to increases in spending in the defence sector should instead be redirected to support workers.

However, Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect, urged delegates to remember that defence workers are also members of the trade union movement and warned of the consequences that the motion would have on their jobs and of the potential for division among unions.

In response to the vote, a spokesperson for the Stop the War Coalition said: “It is brilliant news that the UCU motion on defence spending – Wages not Weapons – has been carried at the TUC conference. The vote wipes away the stain on the movement which the TUC’s 2022 decision to campaign for an increase in military spending represented.

“It was a really powerful debate that exposed the lie being peddled by the government that growth in communities can be built on increased militarism and laid bare the real impact that hiking spending on arms to record levels of GDP has on working people, as public services and the welfare system are stripped cut to the bone. Thanks to everyone who campaigned so hard for the resolution and who spoke on it.

“Now let the trade union movement unite in fighting for welfare, not warfare.”

Clancy expressed disappointment that the motion passed and said: “Prospect is proud to be a defence union, representing people working in the service of our nation and our allies. It is hugely disappointing that a group of trade unions, which do not represent defence workers brought a motion to Congress seeking to reverse the TUC’s position in favour of defence investment, and even more disappointing that it passed.

“Prospect will continue to speak out against those who seek every opportunity to devalue the contribution the defence industry makes to our society and our communities, while having no understanding of the huge economic benefits it brings.

“This motion in no way changes our stance and I will continue to stand up for our defence members and for all measures which enhance our national security and deliver good quality unionised jobs.”

Read the motion in full here.

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