TUC Congress 2008 - our report
15 September 2008
The Refugee Council’s campaign with the TUC to allow people seeking asylum to work scored a great success at the TUC Congress 2008 held in Brighton, when a motion supporting the campaign was passed – and separately leaders of 21 Trades Unions representing over 5 million workers pledged their support. Refugee Council staff together with volunteers from Brighton Voices in Exile leafleted delegates arriving at Congress on Brighton seafront, inviting them to support the cause. Our team were busy blogging as the day went on:
TUC Update: General Secretary publicly endorses 'Let Them Work'
TUC Update: Trade Union leaders back the Let Them Work campaign | Inside, leaders attending the General Council of the TUC were invited to sign the pledge board of support.
Download our pledgeboard The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), Scotland’s largest teacher union moved a motion supporting the campaign which was passed by Congress. A reception was held in Brighton in the evening, at which Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, showed his personal support for the campaign by making a strong speech of support. | 
Brendan Barber signs the board | 
Luka speaks at the conference | The meeting also heard from Donna Covey, Refugee Council CEO and EIS’s Helen Connor. Two people seeking asylum, Luka and Tendai, gave powerful personal testimonies. We also enjoyed some delicious food laid on by Brighton Voices in Exile. And finally, to cap a great Congress for our campaign…
Incoming TUC President Sheila Bearcroft pledged her support for the campaign in her first statement released to her own union.
(Read "Bearcroft elected as TUC president" - Publicservice.co.uk) | The Refugee Council is now planning the next stages of the campaign along with partners in the TUC - and Student Action for Refugees (STAR), which is devoting its campaigning activity in 2009 to the call for asylum seekers to work. 
Donna Covey and Brendan Barber meet Brighton refugees at the reception
|
