I was privileged to attend the TUC women’s conference on the 6th – 8th of March at Congress House London. I went along with the Movement for an Adoption Apology who are seeking formal apology for all affected by historic forced adoption in the UK. I was delighted to be part of their latest effort to raise awareness of this terrible social injustice. So many women were forced to endure forced adoptions. Thank you to all those who signed our petition and those that told us how prevalent this practice was. Many women shared stories of forced adoption in their own families.
We made many useful and supportive contacts, and are now inputing into the Labour Party National Policy Forum and assisting unions to submit motions via regional TUC. The more shoulders we have to force this door open the better! Please visit the campaign’s petition to add your much needed signature.
It’s time overdue for the government to issue an apology, time for them to undertake more research and time for them to offer proper practical support.
Mr Sunak – your time – is in fact – up!
BBC covers the MAA campaign
Whilst at the TUC Women’s Conference, we were interviewed by BBC Radio Kent. The coverage dominated the station’s breakfast show on International Women’s Day, Friday 8 March. You can hear one of the 15 minute segments in the recording below. Next week there is more on the topic of forced adoption, including interviews with women affected by the practise.
Paul Nowak adds his support
I last attended TUC women’s conference in 2016 leading the Royal College of Midwives delegation and before that way back in my ‘GMB days’ in the late 1990’s early 2000’s. I’m pleased to report that I still felt very much at home, and caught up with many friends from the trade union movement. Even managing to get my old friend and now TUC general Secretary Paul Novak to sign our petition Paul Nowak | TUC photo 2
The TUC has in-fact been part of my life since I first worked for them when I was 19 years old. Where on earth does the time go?
It was enlightening to discuss the new deal for working people A New Deal for Working People | Labour Unions at a fringe meeting. The sisters spoke so clearly about the urgent need for a Labour government. This includes repealing the Trade Union Act 2016 and associated restrictions on industrial action. Read more here. This is vital if we are to increase sectoral collective bargaining and build trade union membership and membership density.
Why? Well no one puts it better than the great writer and black activist Angela Davis
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”
And I’m not intending to stop anytime soon…