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Super union debates challenges for UK's workers

20th November 2009

Unite sector conferences, Brighton
Monday November 23rd - Friday November 27th inclusive

The challenges facing workers in an economic downturn will be debated when Unite, the biggest union in the UK and Ireland, holds its first unified sector conferences next week.

Measures needed to restructure the finance sector so it acts more responsibly, the outlook for workers employed by famous-name UK companies in food as they combat takeover bids and, as in aviation, where they are battling recession, plus the support required for manufacturing and construction so that skills are retained, will be among the issues on the agenda as delegates from the 1.6 million-strong union gather in Brighton.

The conference will be opened by the joint general secretaries, Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley, before the 24 industrial private and public sectors which make up Unite break into their dedicated conferences.  With each deciding the industrial policy for the country's foremost trade union, the conference week is among the most important in the labour movement.

On each day, delegates will hear from invited government and overseas speakers.  Among the guest speakers are cabinet ministers Hilary Benn and John Denham plus parliamentary under-secretary Ian Lucas, as well as trade union leaders from Colombia and Zimbabwe and the international transport and food unions.

The five days of conference will include debates on:

• Monday: passenger transport; retail distribution and civil aviation.
• Tuesday: finance; the energy sector; and the construction and food industries.
• Wednesday: car and components manufacturing; aerospace and shipbuilding.
• Thursday: the public sector, including health and local authorities; and the Ministry of Defence.
• Friday: the IT and chemicals sectors.

This is the first sector conference since Unite was formed in 2007 by the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union.

Members of the media wishing to attend the conferences are asked to contact Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861 or email pauline.doyle@unitetheunion.org

ENDS

For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861.