Community attends TUC Congress 2026

Community Union reps and officials enjoyed an action packed week of motions, debates, fringe events and networking at this year’s TUC Congress in Brighton.

In the conference hall, Community delegates voted in support of a range of motions covering topics to do with the steel industry, logistic workers and funding in education.

Elsewhere, our General Secretary Roy Rickhuss CBE met with TUC’s Paul Nowak and representatives from Heathrow Airport to discuss expansion and how it will help to create jobs, strengthen skills, and support opportunities for different industries, including steel.

Community General Secretary Roy Rickhuss CBE

We had a number of delegates in attendance, including Community member Elaine Ledger-Jones who said Congress was a “rewarding experience” that left her with “a much better understanding of the wider trade union movement.”

Community officials, including our union President and Vice President, spoke in support of various motions, with our Assistant General Secretary instructing the General Council to persuade the Government of a deeper partnership with the EU.

Community Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid

Speaking at Congress, Community Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid said:

“Across Europe, there is growing support for a ‘Made in Europe’ approach, backing domestic industry and high-quality jobs.

“It would be devastating were British steel to be excluded from that future. Be in no doubt, reckless euro-scepticism does tremendous harm to our steel industry.

“The last Tory Government’s failure to align our Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism with that of the EU, has left us open to cheap steel imports that would have gone to Europe, but instead will end up on our shores, threatening our jobs, because of our weaker protections.

“This Labour Government has begun to heal the wounds by linking our emissions trading systems, but if wider CBAM policies remain misaligned, the differences will continue to damage our steel industry and its workers.

“The difficulties of navigating the global energy crisis and the transition to a low-carbon economy should not be exacerbated by unneeded and self-inflicted trade barriers.

“Congress there is a path to industrial renewal and re-industrialisation in our country, but that path does not lead away from our European neighbours. It runs beside them. A UK and EU aligned together. In partnership.”

Elsewhere, our President seconded a motion, on behalf of Community, which called on the TUC to:

• Pressure the Government to keep to their stated ambitions for procurement and back British manufacturing.
• Work with GMB and other affiliates to promote investment for re-industrialisation, including vocational education.
• Campaign for a stronger steel procurement framework that extends requirements to procure steel strategically to all entities that benefit from public money.
• Campaign for procurement rules that require; recognised collective bargaining arrangements; workforce development plans; UK training opportunities and greater measurable social value commitments throughout supply chains benefiting from public funds.

“Workers in steel have endured years of uncertainty, underinvestment and unfair competition that has left its mark on towns like mine in South Wales where opportunities for meaningful employment have been decimated by this neglect.”

Community President Andrew “Reg” Gutteridge… pic.twitter.com/7ZRIW5sh6j

— Community Union (@CommunityUnion) September 15, 2026

Community President Andrew “Reg” Gutteridge said: 

“Congress, the new Prime Minister has told us that reindustrialisation is at the heart of his Government’s mission to secure economic growth in every postcode. It is an admirable ambition that is long overdue. For too long, manufacturing has been neglected, undermined and offshored, often to places with emissions-intensive production methods and a dismissive attitude to ethical labour standards.

“A driving force behind this reindustrialisation mission must be our steel industry. As my union has stated on this stage countless times before, steel is the bedrock of communities across the country that are most in need of economic renewal.

“Workers in steel have endured years of uncertainty, underinvestment and unfair competition that has left its mark on towns like mine in South Wales where opportunities for meaningful employment have been decimated by this neglect.

“To obtain growth in these postcodes again requires political upheaval. It requires an active state working effectively to combat the forces of decline by securing the future of production and bolstering demand for domestic steel goods.”

Congress was an opportunity for our officials to represent members and assert the union’s priorities. It was also an opportunity for Community delegates to network and play a vital part in TUC policy-setting.

Reflecting on her experience at TUC Congress, Community delegate Elaine Ledger-Jones said:

“Attending the TUC National Conference as a Community delegate was a fantastic experience and one I’m really glad I had the opportunity to be part of. It was a busy few days, but everyone was incredibly welcoming and supportive, which made it easy to settle in and enjoy the experience. It was also a great chance to meet delegates from different unions, hear their stories, and learn more about the issues affecting workers across the UK.

“I found the conference genuinely interesting and came away with a much better understanding of the wider trade union movement. It was inspiring to see so many people passionate about making a difference for their members and standing up for workers’ rights. I left with new ideas, new connections, and a real sense of optimism about what we can achieve when unions work together.  A most rewarding experience.”