“We must put an end to the militarisation of our economy, which only serves the needs of wars.”
By Maryam Eslamdoust
At TUC Congress, we’re calling for real action to tackle the cost of living and provide real security.
Life is projected to get more expensive for working people in Britain. That’s why, at this TUC Congress, TSSA has brought a motion – Motion 26 – calling for real action to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and address some of its root causes.
While we’ve seen reductions in inflation from 2021-24 levels and 2022’s massive 41-year high of 14.2% RPI, wages have lagged. Households are now significantly worse off, which is reflected in people’s own perceptions of how easy it is to get by. For example, earlier this year, 79% of adults reported an increase in their cost of living.
Fuel prices at the pump have spiked, and energy costs rose by 13% in July, with the average bill reaching £1862 per year. Lenders have also raised rates, increasing mortgage repayments.
All this is expected to get worse. For example, by November, food is projected to have become 50% more expensive compared to 2021.
The new Burnham Government have made promising signs on tackling the cost of living. Knocking VAT off energy bills, allocating funding to end rough sleeping, capping bus fares at £2, and making disabled bus travel free 24/7 are all positive. But to address the challenges people are facing will require much more – a shift in spending priorities and an attempt to tackle the root causes of the crisis.
One of the main drivers has been Trump’s illegal war against Iran. The war has cost lives, damaged civilian infrastructure, and brought the Strait of Hormuz to a clanking halt, creating fossil fuel chaos and surging prices.
The effect on the cost of living proves beyond doubt that the war stands against the interests of British workers. Every effort should be made to end it alongside any British involvement, or use of military bases, in operations.
Just as it’s obvious who the losers of the Iran crisis have been, the beneficiary is equally clear. According to the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, since January 2026 the energy industry has posted profits of £26.2bn (as of May).
We need to tackle this directly, taxing profits and using that money to fund a package of measures to defend living standards in the face of rising prices. We also need to end our dependency on oil and gas, the supply of which will only become more insecure in the years to come.
Our continued reliance on fossil fuels, whether they are bought abroad or pumped from the North Sea, will mean we continue to be in hoc to the chaos of international prices. We must hasten, rapidly, the transfer to renewables, reducing our dependence on oil and gas markets.
From the above follows a rethink of Government spending priorities and the strategy for growth. Last year saw huge spending increases in defence whereas transport – the area of concern to TSSA members – faced deep cuts. We must put an end to the militarisation of our economy, which only serves the needs of wars – like the war in Iran – that are in no one’s interest but the fossil fuel and arms industries.
That’s why TSSA is supporting Motion 75 – ‘Building real security’. Instead of pumping money into armaments, we should invest in the things that actually build a secure future for people: green infrastructure like our railways; increasing the number of good, secure green jobs; planning for a meaningful industrial strategy; creating strong health and public services; building more and better housing, insulated from the cold; and protecting people from the cost-of-living crisis.
This TUC Congress, TSSA will be speaking up for action to tackle the cost of living, create a more peaceful, climate-resilient world, and invest in what really makes people safe and secure in their future.
- Maryam Eslamdoust is the General Secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA). You can follow the TSSA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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