Image: TUC president Paul Nowak
The 156th annual Trade Union Congress, held from 8-11 September in Brighton, saw the Society of Radiographers raise multiple motions for consideration.
Its first motion called upon the Trade Union Congress (TUC) General Council and affiliates to work with the government, and across public and private sectors, to provide access to affordable, secure rented housing for public sector professionals and its second for the TUC to lobby Westminster about improving investment in falls prevention, education and awareness, and early diagnosis.
Paul Nowak, president of the TUC, said: “Politics isn’t a spectator sport. We need to roll up our sleeves and get involved. So, let's pledge today. We will work with the new government to rebuild our public services. We’ll play our part in recasting Britain’s industrial future.
“Our movement is playing its part to rebuild the country, and to bring our communities together. This is something we have done throughout history. In helping to rebuild the country after the Second World War. In helping to create the NHS.”
Secure housing for public sector professionals
Motion C09 was a composite motion, entitled “Housing that works for all”, proposed by the Society of Radiographers and supported by the National House Building Council Staff Association.
David Pilborough, immediate past president of the SoR and mover of the motion, explained: “The golden years of council housing are long gone and, with millions of people on social housing waiting lists in England, some are people facing a wai of more than half a century to move into their own social home. This includes many of my organisation’s members.”
He explained social house building in England is at its lowest rate in decades, with a net loss of 11,700 social rent homes due to sale or demolition between 2022 and 2023.
Dave continued: “This is contributing to the recruitment and retention crisis. Amplified by years of below inflation pay awards, our research shows the take home pay, or real disposable income for a third year professional renting a typical shared property in Manchester would have fallen by £50 a week between 2022 and last April, leaving them only £123 a week after rent, average transport, utilities and council tax.”
The SoR called upon the TUC to:
- work in partnership with unions and employers to identify effective, targeted incentives to improve public sector recruitment, including publicly supported accommodation
- prioritise renting in its housing strategy – securing access to affordable rented housing for all, including public sector professionals
- introduce fair rent control and legislation that prioritises tenants before landlords
The composite motion as a whole added actions including:
- secure investment in public sector infrastructure, including affordable rented accommodation, as part of its industrial strategy, linking to any tax breaks for private sector investment
- collaborate with industry to achieve the delivery of the promised homes, making safe, affordable, well built, environmentally friendly housing available to all workers
- Train a new generation of skilled workers
- work with employers in the private sector to improve the employment model, ensuring those workers have a secure future
Osteoporosis awareness
Motion 56, entitled “Early diagnosis and prevention of osteoporosis”, describes how the ‘silent condition’ puts more people at risk as the population grows and ages.
However, investment in falls prevention, education and awareness in primary care, combined with early diagnosis is proven to greatly reduce associated risk and costs.
Bone density scans (DEXA) carried out by trained specialists could hugely reduce the risk, but critical shortages of staff and equipment in this modality is impacting patients and communities after decades of under-investment in growing diagnostic radiography capacity.
The SoR called upon the TUC to:
- support World Osteoporosis Day on 20 October and other activities that raise awareness of the danger of falls and educating primary care leaders to the potential of DEXA based services
- lobby Westminster and devolved governments to develop an appropriately sized workforce, with the necessary specialist DEXA skills and equipment to meet current and future demand around prevention and early osteoporosis diagnosis.
Climate change and inclusivity
The SoR has also supported motions by other trade unions active at the congress, including “Climate Change and Workers’ Health” by the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union, which found impacts of climate change were an occupational hazard and a health and safety issue. It called upon the TUC to campaign for a climate action plan.
A motion entitled “Inclusivity in Maternity Services”, raised by the Royal College of Midwives was also seconded, which called for further investment in healthcare and trade union education that supports and widens acceptance of neurodivergent individuals in the NHS workforce. This motion carried.
(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)