Prospect reps make your voices heard on first full day of TUC Congress 2026

Yesterday was the first full day of TUC Congress 2026. Prospect reps and members in our delegation are joining other trade unionists in Brighton to propose and discuss motions that will form the basis of the TUC’s work for the next year. 

Prospect’s delegation at TUC Congress 2026

Members of the Prospect delegation spoke in several debates throughout the day, including our own motion, motion 30, on supporting regulators and opposing deregulation, which passed unanimously.

Prospect delegate contributions:

Motion 44

John Rogers speaking at TUC Congress 2026

Bectu sector member, John Rogers, spoke in support of the Musicians’ Union motion on improved pay, funding and retention of teachers in music education.

The UK’s live music industry contributed more than £6.68 billion to the economy in 2024 and supported more than 234,000 jobs. This includes Bectu members working as technicians, riggers, venue staff, production staff, festival workers, corporate event staff and catering.

If we value that success, we must invest in the foundations that make it possible. Congress called on the Government to invest in music education to support one of the country’s most successful creative exports.

Motion 54

Eadwine Brown, TUC Congress 2026

Energy sector member Eadwine Brown spoke in support of the FDA’s motion calling for the Civil Service to be properly funded, and for civil servants to be protected.

Prospect’s members in the Civil Service are proud of their work, and Prospect is proud to represent them. All of us rely on these public servants for the quality of our public services, the strength of our economy, and the stability of our democracy.

But today the Civil Service is in a state of profound crisis. The workforce is having to carry out its vital public functions alongside years of budget cuts and job losses, real terms salary cuts, and a recruitment and retention crisis.

Composite 3

Alice Black, TUC Congress 2026

Prospect Vice President and Bectu sector member Alice Black spoke in support of Composite 3, which called for enhanced employment rights and support for self-employed workers.

Self-employed workers in the creative industries and across the economy contribute significantly to economic and cultural life, yet they continue to face greater insecurity, weaker protections, and poorer access to social security than other working people.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 has brought landmark improvements to workers’ rights. But genuinely self-employed workers remain excluded from many basic rights and protections, despite promises from the Government to do more.

Motion 30

Eamonn Guilfoyle, TUC Congress 2026

Prospect Deputy Vice President Eamonn Guilfoyle, from our energy sector, moved Prospect’s own motion to Congress on supporting regulators, and opposing deregulation.

We are proud to represent members working in regulatory organisations that keep us safe, protect our environment, protect consumers, and protect workers.

But for well over a decade, most UK regulators have been struggling with chronic underfunding and uncompetitive pay. This started with the Conservatives, but has not been solved by this Labour government.

The Government must urgently resource our regulators properly to promote growth, and protect working people.

Motion 17

Along with other unions, Prospect supported a motion from the TUC LGBT+ Committee calling on unions to promote trans equality at work and challenge aspects of the EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions, and Associations.

This motion, along with the accompanying statement from the TUC General Council which reaffirms the TUC General Council principles first agreed in 2025, are in line with the policy positions established by Prospect National Conference in June.

You can catch up on Congress 2026 speeches, reports and more at TUC Congress 2026