UCU at the TUC: 10-13 September 2007

They also attended and participated in lively fringe meetings and put a question to the secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform, John Hutton.

• UCU president, Linda Newman, urged delegates to back the union's fight against privatisation in further and higher education and general secretary, Sally Hunt, told delegates that lifelong learning must be at the centre of the government's strategy for education and skills:
  
  UCU president urges TUC to back UCU privatisation fight
  
  TUC told education must be put back at centre of government policy
• NEC member Jim Guild and Linda Newman presented a cheque for £2,000 to Justice for Colombia. Jim donated the money he receives as a member of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension advisory committee:
  
  UCU donates £2,000 to Justice for Colombia
• UCU delegate Jon Bryan took part in a question and answer session with the secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform, John Hutton. Following reports of the prime minister's commitment to making people learn English, Jon asked Mr Hutton, if the government is commitment to adult education as the gateway to greater economic opportunity and civic contribution, why is it cutting entitlement to free English classes.