Conference Day One Roundup

Day one of Community Union’s 2026 Biennial Delegate Conference got off to a fantastic start on Tuesday with a surprise performance from a Welsh choir, and a rousing speech from our General Secretary Roy Rickhuss CBE.

The event, being held at Newport’s Celtic Manor Resort, also saw a speech from our NEC President Reg Gutteridge, who spoke about his familial connections to the union as a third-generation steelworker in South Wales.

Elsewhere, political speaker, Newport East MP Jessica Morden, discussed the city’s steelmaking history as well as the Labour Government’s continued commitment to workers.

Members from across the UK gather at Celtic Manor

Shortly after our members and guests took to their seats, Mynyddislwyn Male Voice Choir surprised delegates when they took to the stage to perform a selection of Welsh hymns, including the songs Gwahoddiad and Llef.

Also in the conference hall, attendees listened to supporting speeches favouring motions on issues including paid rest breaks, trade union access to dental practices, and safety in the justice sector.

At our #StrongUnionStrongFuture conference, National Secretary for Justice Gavin Miller laid bare the severe risks faced by front line justice, custodial and immigration workers on a daily basis.

Through our #KeepUsSafe campaign, Community is demanding the safer staffing levels,… pic.twitter.com/y42Oli18sm

— Community Union (@CommunityUnion) July 7, 2026

Among our NEC speakers of the day were Director of Operations Helen Osgood, who spoke about our expansion into new sectors and also mentioned the 12 recognition agreements Community has secured this year.

Elsewhere, our National Secretary for the Justice and Custodial Sector Gavin Miller drew attention to the overcrowding crisis in UK prisons and told delegates Community would continue to engage with the Government and Civil Service so voices are heard.

“I genuinely would not be standing here today as a Member of Parliament, let alone as the Minister for Employment Rights, without the incredible support and backing of my union.”

At our 2022 conference, @Kate_Dearden stood on stage to speak about a vision for a New Deal for… pic.twitter.com/cpz68alenB

— Community Union (@CommunityUnion) July 7, 2026

NEC President Reg Gutteridge delivered his opening speech on Tuesday morning and discussed the importance of solidarity.

You can read his opening speech in full here.

In the third speech of the day our General Secretary reflected on the past two years of Labour rule and thanked members for being the “lifeblood of Community”.

You can read his remarks, in full, here.

Political speakers address delegates at BDC 2026

Among the political speakers on Tuesday were Jessica Morden and Minister Kate Dearden MP, former Head of Research, Policy and Politics at Community.

Jessica spoke on the Labour Government delivering the UK Steel Strategy, while Kate reflected on her time working at Community.

Also at conference was MP for Scunthorpe Sir Nic Dakin, who spoke about British steel, as well as important Community campaigns and reports, including Beyond Bars.

Labour MP for Newport East, Jessica Morden

In an address to conference, Jessica Morden said:

“The story of steel in Newport isn’t just about our past. It’s about our future too.

“That’s why I’ll never stop fighting for the British steel industry.

“Because when Britain builds, British steel should be the foundation.

“And when Britain prepares for conflict, it should be British-made steel that’s being used to defend us.

“I can’t tell you how frustrating it has been that we’ve had more than a decade of calling on the ever-changing steel ministers in the previous Government to put steel and jobs at the centre of economic policy, to have a plan.

“Now in under two years, this Labour Government has delivered a steel strategy, an industrial plan, and a plan to put steel at the heart of what we build in this country.”

Referencing the Employment Rights Bill, Kate Dearden said:

“When I stood at this conference in Belfast in 2022, I spoke about what a future Labour Government could achieve.

“Four years later, I’m back as the Minister responsible for helping deliver it.

“I don’t think there is a better example of what can be achieved when the Labour Party and the trade union movement work together.

“The conversations we had at Community. The evidence gathered by workplace representatives. The experiences shared by members. The campaigning that never stopped.

“Together, they became the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. Let’s never forget that this legislation didn’t begin in Whitehall. It began in workplaces. In branches. In conversations with members. In trade unions like Community.”

Speaking about the importance of protecting domestic steelmaking, Sir Nic Dakin said:

Sir Nic Dakin

“We believe Britain must remain an industrial nation, not because of nostalgia for the past, but because of confidence in the future.

“It was very positive to hear Andy Burnham in his speech last week, outlining his priorities for Government, committing to ensure that steel is made fit for the future.”