AS is the case every year, the 2025 TUC South West (SWTUC) annual conference agenda was packed. Delegates from trade unions and trades councils from across the region gathered in Croyde, north Devon.

For many delegates, arriving the evening before conference, Thursday night was as busy as the days that followed, with a comradely atmosphere hanging over the picturesque bay as old acquaintances were renewed and new allegiances formed.

The Friday plenary session saw SWTUC regional secretary Ines Lage open conference with a resumé of the year prior and a look to the future. We heard how the TUC is “still holding the government’s feet to the fire” over strengthening trade union rights and repealing minimum service levels anti-strike legislation.

She made the point that if we can make collective bargaining work in social care, why not in any sector? The address was not all good news, though, with union-busting highlighted. Amazon was used as an example, with a question put to conference: can we still win when employers are throwing millions of pounds at legal experts to undermine us?

The “race to the bottom” approach by some was highlighted as a particular challenge; prior to new rights coming in, there are employers out there looking to derecognise unions. Improved legislation, conference heard, brings threats as well as opportunities.

Alarmingly, conference heard that trade union membership across the region remains in decline; new figures are due out in May but are unlikely to buck this trend. Conference was also concerned that our movement is still strongest amongst the over-50s, with 16 to 24-year-olds having the lowest percentage of workers in membership.

Conference was updated on the region’s attempts to tackle structural inequality issues; Sadie Fulton, policy and campaigns support officer, spoke passionately about setting up networks for young workers, also removing the price bar on youth attending the TUC’s flagship Tolpuddle festival.

She was keen to highlight social media, noting that “only activists are jumping ship” from Twitter, issuing a challenge to conference to help shape communications strategies in a changing world.

Conference didn’t shy away from addressing the rise of the far right. We heard concerns surrounding politics of fear being drummed up by the Daily Mail and Sun, with the Morning Star cited as a counterweight to this narrative.

Time and again, conference heard stories of activists being on the front line, despite numerous challenges as diverse as the ban on gender-affirming care getting worse under the current government, to questions around funding for union learning and education.

As with any TUC conference, motions played a big part in the agenda. By the close, conference had moved to support a progressive transport agenda, better buses and renationalisation of rail.

Further investigations into the four-day week were called for, alongside opposition to public-sector pay cuts and support for unions seeking to restore the Winter Fuel Payment. There were also practical motions pertaining to shipbuilding, calling for stability across the subsector, as well as the reindustrialisation of shipbuilding apprenticeships.

Friday’s afternoon session opened with a session entitled “Can devolution deliver change for working people?” Here, conference heard from academics and policy officers. The session was pertinent to the region: Cornwall has been calling for devolution for a long time. Conference was informed about the differences between Scottish/Welsh devolution (legislative) and English devolution (executive): this latest drive is about how to implement laws, not how to make them.

The devolution session touched on the differences between metro mayors and city mayors. Conference was reminded that the US, unlike England, is highly decentralised and still highly unequal; devolution alone is not the answer. Threats surrounding no new taxation powers for local authorities, a lack of consultation, also growth trumping net zero commitments, were all highlighted. Opportunities highlighted included the benefits of social partnerships in Wales; these could be built in even if not legislated for as part of the English devolution approach.

With the TUC’s current agnosticism around devolution, this session preferred nuance to easy answers, pointing towards the TUC’s devolution principles. An updated paper going to the TUC executive in May should give further clarity, but with additional responsibility not matched by extra cash, this will remain an agenda item for the coming year and beyond.

Conference heard from Dave Chappel, SWTUC JCC representative, on the importance of trades councils’ work across the region, alongside a challenge regarding the absence of various affiliated unions. An innovative trades councils recall meeting in November was also advertised; set to focus on networking and fighting the far right.

Time was taken to remember fallen comrades from the region and beyond: the vast contributions of Paul Stephenson, Bill Byrd, Les Kennedy, Dick Muskett and Jane Longshaw, were all marked by a well-observed minute’s silence.

Saturday’s agenda saw sessions on neuro-inclusivity in the workplace, the digital transformation of our unions and accounts from migrant workers bringing a personal perspective to proceedings. With workshop topics covering common sponsorship visas, digital organising and diversifying the reps’ base, once again SWTUC annual conference delivered, a hard-working gathering that addressed the real issues affecting working people and communities across the region.

Gareth Lowe is Bristol regional officer for Unite.