TUED Bulletin 63: UK Unions to Vote on Public Ownership of Energy, Climate Crisis

TUC Congress 2017: UK Unions to Vote on Public Ownership of Energy, Climate Crisis

The annual conference of the 5.7 million member TUC will take place on September 10-13, 2017 in Brighton. The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) has submitted a resolution that calls on the TUC to “work with the Labour Party and others that advocate for an end to the UK’s rigged energy system to bring it back into public ownership and democratic control.” The debate and vote is expected to take place on Tuesday, September 11th, following Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s speech to Congress

Full text of the Resolution and Background Information

Also in Brighton:

Congress Fringe Meeting: Jobs and a Safe Climate (organized by Trade Union Campaign Against Climate Change) Tues Sept 12, 5:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

TUED meeting: Public Ownership of Energy, TUC Debate Debrief and Next Steps for Labour Party and Trade Union Policy Tues Sept 12, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m

Will UK Unions Back Jeremy Corbyn’s Election Commitment to Take Energy Back Into Public Hands?

This year TUC Congress is expected to vote on a Climate Change resolution moved by the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) that, if passed, urges the TUC to “Work with the Labour Party and others that advocate for an end to the UK’s rigged energy system to bring it back into public ownership and democratic control.” Friendly amendments to the resolution have been submitted by the Communication Workers Union, Fire Brigades Union, the train drivers union ASLEF, and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association.Meanwhile, the Labour Party’s 2017 election manifesto For the Many, Not the Few pointed to the failures of electricity privatisation, energy poverty, the need the honor the UK’s climate commitments, and to put the UK on course for 60% of its energy to be met by zero carbon or renewable sources by 2030.

The Manifesto also committed to “take energy back into public ownership to deliver renewable energy, affordability for consumers, and democratic control.” The Manifesto calls for the creation of “publicly owned, locally accountable energy companies and co-operatives to rival existing private energy suppliers.”

Of this writing, it is not clear whether or not the resolution will pass or be defeated. TUED will report on the outcome as soon as the vote is taken.