Unite at Labour: in the hall and on the fringe

Implementing an industrial strategy that supports jobs at the heart of a green economy and calling time on ‘bandit capitalism’ are among the key themes for Unite on the floor of this year’s Labour party conference in Brighton.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey is expected to move the union’s motion on an ‘industrial strategy for the many’ on Monday (23 September) morning. A second Unite motion calling for an end to ‘bandit capitalism’ and an overhaul of corporate governance is anticipated to be heard on Tuesday (24 September).

Away from conference floor Unite has a packed line up of fringe meetings tackling subjects from miscarriages of justice to the damage of austerity, insourcing of public services and the impact of Universal Credit.

17:30 Saturday 21 September – Tackling working class miscarriages of justice

Chaired by Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett, speakers include: Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, Shelia Coleman, Hillsborough Justice Campaign, Lois Austin, Campaign Against Police Surveillance (Cops), Dave Smith, Blacklist Support Group, Christine Peace Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign and Eileen Turnbull from the Shrewsbury 24 Campaign.

Venue: Consort Room, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

17:30 Saturday 21 September – LabourList rally with Unite

Speakers include: Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, Diane Abbott MP, Lara McNeill Labour NEC youth rep, Sadiq Khan and many others.

Venue: Charlotte Suite, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

12:30 Sunday 22 September – Unite and the Daily Mirror’s Real Britain: Austerity, the elephant in the room

Chaired by Daily Mirror associate editor Kevin Maguire, Speakers include Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, Daily Mirror Real Britain columnist Ros Wynne-Jones plus anti-austerity campaigners.

Venue: Charlotte Suite, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

12:30 Sunday 22 September – We own it: Public ownership in the 21^st century

Chaired by Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail, speakers include: Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Andy McDonald MP, Cat Hobbs from We Own It and Andrew Towers of the CWU.

Venue: Consort Room, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

13:30 Sunday 22 September – LabourList and Unite: Winning back Labour’s heartlands

Chaired by Sienna Rodgers, speakers include: Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, Gloria de Piero MP, Jon Trickett MP, Ash Sarkar and Chris Peace PPC for North East Derbyshire.

Venue: Pavilion Suite, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

17:30 Sunday 22 September – Tackling bandit capitalism on your doorstep, insourcing public services

Chaired by Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail, speakers include: Jeremy Corbyn MP leader of the Labour party, John McDonnell MP, Andrew Gwynne MP, Cat Hobbs from We Own It, Cllr Sara Hyde, Islington council, Cllr John Stockton, Halton council and Cllr Joe Cullinane, leader of North Ayrshire council.

Venue: The Empress Suite, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

17:30 Sunday 22 September – It’s time for equality: No turning back the clock

Chaired by Unite assistant general secretary Diana Holland, speakers include: Marissa Begonia from the Voice of Domestic Workers, Tracy Blythe Unite women, Susan Matthews Unite BAEM, Sean McGovern Unite disabled members and Jenny Douglas Unite LGBT+.

Venue: Consort Room, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

12:30 Monday 23 September – Show Racism the Red Card: Education is key to fighting racism

Chaired by Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett, speakers include: Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, Laura Pidcock MP and Leroy Rosenior from Show Racism the Red Card.

Venue: Charlotte Suite, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

12:30 Monday 23 September – Universal Credit: Not fit for purpose

Chaired by head of Unite Community Liane Groves, Unite will be launching its ground breaking report and survey of Universal Credit claimants and their experiences. Speakers include Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner and Daily Mirror Real Britain columnist Ros Wynne-Jones.

Venue: Consort Room, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

19:30 Monday 23 September – Robin Hood Tax Campaign and Unite: Fixing finance

Speakers include: Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail, John McDonnell MP, Grace Blakely, IPPR research fellow, David Hillman director of the Robin Hood Tax Campaign, Professor Prem Sikka and Phil Jones Unite finance sector chair.

Venue: Charlotte Suite, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

12:30 Tuesday 24 September – Daily Mirror’s Britain talks: A nation split into leavers and remainers

Speakers include: Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner and Daily Mirror Real Britain columnist Ros Wynne-Jones.

Venue: Empress Suite, Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 2FW

Stay tuned to UNITElive for more updates as they happen