WGGB was in Brighton at TUC Congress this past week, with General Secretary Ellie Peers and Chair Emma Reeves representing the union.
On Tuesday 15 September, WGGB seconded two motions, both of which were carried.
C15 Protecting public service broadcasting
WGGB also supported Motion 73 Keep music live, which was also carried.
Seconding the motion on Protecting public service broadcasting, WGGB Chair Emma Reeves (pictured above left) spoke about the impact of BBC cuts to scripted drama and comedy: “BBC is the largest scripted commissioner in the UK but commissions are in free fall and the shows which are made are not fully funded; budgets are scraped together from international investors, and tax credits from various countries – and all of these competing voices have a detrimental effect on the final product … When the industry is in crisis, commissioners are under pressure to ‘play it safe’. This leads to creative stagnation, and ironically, a loss of audience, as they seek more innovative content elsewhere.”
She went on to speak specifically about the impact on children’s television, and how, “in divisive times” we need to bring people together. “We know what happens when people are isolated in their own echo chambers”.
She concluded by saying “It is our BBC. We pay for it. If we allow it to die a slow death of a thousand cuts, we will miss it when it’s gone. We are already losing valuable skills. Talented workers are leaving the industry and there is no pipeline to replace them … We will be left with a culture where the only voices we hear are those of the privileged and wealthy who can literally pay to make us listen.”
Seconding motion C16 on AI, WGGB General Secretary Ellie Peers (pictured above right) opened her speech by highlighting the importance of our creative sector: “The creative industries are currently worth billions to the UK economy … our stories, our music, our theatre, our television is sold worldwide”, adding that these are all “human created”.
She was at pains to point out that “We aren’t fundamentally against new technology and AI if regulated and ethically produced” but that “Regulation, formulated in agreement with unions and creators” was essential, that a regulatory body must have the teeth to “enforce that regulation” and “If AI companies cannot operate lawfully in the UK, then they should not be allowed to operate in the UK.”
She concluded by saying that urgent Government intervention on behalf of creators was essential: “Governments have repeatedly stated a commitment to the creative industry, but this commitment is worthless unless it recognises that human creation takes precedence over machine creation in the UK.”
Congress is the policy-making body of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and motions are proposed and discussed to form the basis of the TUC’s work for the next year.
The high-profile event – widely regarded as the first big set piece occasion after the summer break and before the party conference season – is attended by hundreds of delegates from TUC-affiliated unions. It sees thousands of people take part in debates, the fringe, exhibits or to report on the proceedings.
You can read reports and other information on the special Congress 2026 website