“The campaign continues at Labour Party conference 2026 in Liverpool, where we take the argument from the trade union movement directly to the government.”
By Jo Grady, University and College Union (UCU) General Secretary
Last year, at TUC Congress in Brighton, delegates backed UCU’s Wages Not Weapons motion. It was an important statement of the trade union movement’s priorities, reversing a previous position in support of rearmament. Congress agreed that public money should be invested in jobs, wages and public services, rather than diverted towards ever-increasing military spending.
A few weeks ago, at TUC Congress 2026, delegates restated their support for this position by backing UCU’s Building Real Security motion. This motion built on last year’s decision, setting out a trade union vision of security based on decent work, strong public services, social protection, climate action, democracy and peace. It committed the TUC to campaigning for more public investment in education, health, housing, social care, social security and climate resilience, while defending workers’ rights and conscientious objection, and opposing compulsory military service.
The campaign continues at Labour Party conference 2026 in Liverpool, where we take the argument from the trade union movement directly to the government.
UCU will be holding a fringe event on Wages Not Weapons on Monday, 28 September, 12.15-1.15pm at The Long Shot on Albert Dock.
And I’m also delighted to be speaking about the campaign at the Arise Festival rally on Monday 28 September, 6.30-8.30pm at The Raquet Club Hotel and Ziba restaurant.
This is a timely discussion. Britain has been involved in military operations in the Middle East throughout the US/Israeli war on Iran. But this week the government announced that it will provide military support to Saudi Arabia in their war on Yemen. The Saudi-led war has already inflicted enormous suffering on Yemen’s civilian population. The current escalation is once again forcing families from their homes and deepening the humanitarian crisis. When the government redirects money from public services to defence, this is what it is spent on.
That makes our campaign even more urgent. I hope you will join us and keep up the fight for a world free from war, where workers can live in real security.
- The UCU is holding a fringe event on Wages Not Weapons on Monday, 28 September, 12.15-1.15pm at The Long Shot on Albert Dock.
- Jo Grady is also speaking at the Arise Festival fringe at 6.30PM Monday 28 September: A Fork in the Road Moment: For an Irreversible Shift in Wealth and Power.
- Jo Grady is UCU General Secretary, you can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and Twitter/X. You can follow the UCU on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
