TUC Women’s Conference: dignity and the union movement

The 2026 Women’s TUC took place in Bournemouth from 4 to 6 March. The PCS group of six delegates and an observer included PCS National Women’s Forum members Lyndsay and Ginette. 

This year, the conference focused on the impacts of AI and digital misogyny, sexual harassment, violence against women in the workplace, and equality, flexible working and adjustments. The PCS pre-conference meeting decided which delegates would move which motions, and which motions put forward by other unions PCS would support. 

Misogyny, sexism and the far right 

Misogyny, sexism and the far right were the topics of the conference opening panel. The speakers were Anki Deo of Hope Not Hate, Dr Olivia Brown from Bath University, Kudsia Batoo from the TUC and Vicky Thompson from Unite the Union. Anki noted that, as the far right grows, women’s rights shrink. Far right politics is a gateway ideology to everyday misogyny. Sexism and misogyny aren’t new, but Reform mainstreaming it on a national scale is.

We can see this at an obvious level: large proportions of men who attend anti-immigrant protests have convictions for violence against women. The Epping protests against hotel accommodation for asylum seekers were conducted in bad faith and drove a wedge between two marginalised groups – women and asylum seekers. Women were told to be scared of immigrants in the same breath that licensed the violence of male protesters.

The influence of social media, especially on younger men is very concerning. One study found that 73% of Gen Z social media users have seen or engaged with misogynist content within 25 minutes of logging onto their accounts. The intersecting types of money-making influencers (from Andrew Tate manosphere bros, to tradwives, to self-professed incels) create large-scale messaging that begins to shift the Overton window around what is acceptable or not. Male behaviour at work is a key factor in normalising derogatory talk about women and seeming to legitimise violent behaviour in private. We need to consider counter narratives, set examples, and draw people to unions rather than harmful alternatives. We are all vulnerable if far right views get a foothold, and no woman should face career damage for highlighting the truth of harassment in the workplace.

Community action and kinship

These themes pervaded much of the discussion and PCS’s first motion was included in a composite: ‘Tackling the Far Right and The Weaponisation of Women and Girls’ Safety’. Against the sad rise in racism and sexism, the union movement must be at the fore of building narratives to drive community-based action like foodbanks, youth clubs, community groups, outreach with young children, work with trades councils, and visits to schools. The movement must also create online content to challenge racism and sexism. We must also collectively hold platforms accountable both for what they allow users to publish and for the addictive algorithms they use to create toxic echo chambers. This motion was later voted by the conference to take through to the main TUC in Brighton later this year.

PCS also submitted a motion on kinship care, instructing TUC to campaign for a statutory definition of kinship care with statutory rights and policies for kinship carers, equal to special leave for foster carers. The impacts of caring fall mainly upon women and this increases the gender pay gap (for example, forcing a move to part-time hours to accommodate school pick up). Angela Grant spoke about how PCS supported a member from DWP who is a grandparent looking after her grandchildren. After support from the union, she was given six months of paid special leave. Kinship carers deserve workplace support as they adjust to changes in finance and their own personal plans as they provide a loving home.

Solidarity, support and change

PCS seconded a motion from the POA (number 42) on support for victims of sexual violence, and supported motions on the impacts of AI, pension inequality, menopause and climate resilience (which, a DEFRA report acknowledges, women will bear the brunt of). Our successful PCS nominations to TUC Women’s Committee for 2026/27 were Jackie Green to the general seat and Bridget Corcoran to the LGBT seat.

Much of the content of the conference was uncomfortable to hear, but we were all encouraged by the sense of solidarity in the room, of everyone working in the best interests of women. Whereas women’s issues are sadly but all too easily glossed over in larger conferences, the TUC Women’s Conference ensured the necessary space for examining all issues that impact on women and for hearing women’s opinions.

It was a cordial and womanly conference, and we felt good to be a part of a it. To anyone considering applying for place as delegate or observer, get your application in – we really enjoyed it and we’re sure you would too. It is all part of the key work that unions do to fight against the objectification of women, to fight for our rights as people with opinions, voices and dignity.