“We are coming together as trade unions to demand investment in workers, not war. Standing in the best traditions of our movement, for peace and real security, we are demanding fair wages not more weapons.”
By Ben Hayes
With workers from across different sectors and areas set to gather in Brighton for this year’s TUC Congress, numerous unions have come together to launch a new initiative in support of a motion tabled by the University and College Union (UCU) opposing greater militarism and defence spending, and calling for resources to instead be invested into industry, public services and action to address the climate crisis.
The motion argues that the TUC should “stand, in our best traditions, for peace and against militarisation” and “reaffirm that our movement’s priority is welfare and wages, not weapons and war”, with ten different unions collectively representing over a million members having offered their support.
A video backing the campaign sees numerous General Secretaries and workers active in a range of unions criticise the government (as well as the Conservatives and Reform) for failing to offer a meaningful break with the damaging austerity economics of the Tories, whilst “bouncing to the tune of Donald Trump” and going along with his demands for European governments to spend greater sums of money on weaponry.
You can see the video in full below:
- You can find out more about the Wages Not Weapons campaign here.
- You can view the UCU’s motion to TUC Congress here.
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