TUC says education is the engine of national renewal

The motion, Education is the engine of national renewal, was proposed by UCU general secretary Jo Grady. Speaking to the motion, Jo referred to the 1997 Labour government's commitment to education followed by successive Tory government's undermining of it: 'Labour swept to power in 1997 telling everyone that would listen - education, education, education. For the last 14 years the Tories went with cuts, cuts, cuts.'

Jo said that after Tory cuts, Labour must reinvest in post-16 education and its staff: 'Infrastructure is on its knees. Underfunded, undervalued and underpaid. The call from our union is to back Labour, but they must back UCU members as well.'

Jo argued that reinvesting in post-16 education will also promote social cohesion and help prevent far-right racist riots like the UK saw last month: 'Congress, just over a month ago we witnessed an atrocious attack in Southport. Fascist thugs exploited this tragedy to launch racist and Islamophobic violence...Congress, these attacks have not happened in a vacuum. For years we have seen increasing Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Black racism, alongside a permanent hostile environment...There is a clear role for post-compulsory education to play in renewing society. Our colleges, adult education centres and universities give people the skills and knowledge they need and also prepare people for active citizenship.'

Jo finished by calling on all trade unionists to join UCU in campaigning for proper investment in post-16 education: 'UCU will never stop fighting for proper investment in post-compulsory education. But, we want you all to join us, we want the TUC to acknowledge the unique and crucial role that colleges and universities have in producing an educated and engaged society, with opportunities and hope.'

Full text of UCU general secretary Jo Grady's speech:

Labour swept to Power in 1997 telling everyone that would listen - education, education, education.

For the last 14 years the Tories went with cuts, cuts, cuts.

Congress the truth is after this period of Tory decay, post-16 education like the rest of the UK's infrastructure is on its knees.

Underfunded, undervalued and underpaid.

The call from our union is to back Labour, but they must back UCU members as well.

Education is the engine of national renewal.

Congress, just over a month ago we witnessed an atrocious attack in Southport.

Fascist thugs exploited this tragedy to launch racist and Islamophobic violence. I know Congress will want to send solidarity to the families of those little girls murdered in Southport, and to all those under attack, including the many Black and Asian people who were assaulted, and also Jewish communities who are facing antisemitic attacks.

But congress, these attacks have not happened in a vacuum.

For years we have seen increasing Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Black racism, alongside a permanent hostile environment. At the same time, hard-right views have been normalised in public life, thanks to our political and media class scapegoating and indulging in hatred of migrants and refugees.

There is a clear role for post-compulsory education to play in renewing society. Our colleges, adult education centres and universities give people the skills and knowledge they need and also prepare people for active citizenship.

But university and college staff cannot deliver if we do not see investment in further and higher education by the government.

Labour has set out plans for a decade of national renewal focused on the interests of working people. This is clearly needed if we are to see economic recovery. But more than that, we crucially need social cohesion. Labour cannot, and will not deliver that unless they reverse over a decade of brutal cuts to post-16 education and arts funding.

Cuts which stripped away opportunities for learning, skills development and cultural engagement, especially for those in marginalised communities.

Cuts that have played a direct role in fueling social divisions that - as we have seen most recently - are having extremely damaging consequences.

Congress, UCU will never stop fighting for proper investment in post-compulsory education. But, we want you all to join us, we want the TUC to acknowledge the unique and crucial role that colleges and universities have in producing an educated and engaged society, with opportunities and hope.

Vote for this motion and work with us to engage in lobbying and campaigning to ensure that government produces meaningful investment in all forms of post-16 education - whether in colleges, universities, community settings or prisons - our members need your help.

Let's bring back Education, Education, Education as a slogan and a mantra - and show the world it's not just Oasis who can make a comeback from that era!