The Institute traditionally holds its main fringe event on the Monday evening on Congress. The aim is to inform the debate on labour law, which usually takes place on the Tuesday of Congress.

At the 2007 Congress, the debate on employment law took place on the Monday afternoon. But the change in schedule did not prevent the Institute’s fringe meeting attracting one of the largest fringe audiences of Congress.

For the past few years, the Institute has joined with the United Campaign for the Repeal of Anti Trade Union Laws and organised a joint fringe meeting. This year was no different and both organisations joined forces to offer an excellent platform of speakers, offering an excellent analysis of what should be on Brown’s labour law agenda.

The pictures below provide a flavour of the meeting.

Tony Woodley: expressing his outrage at the government’s objection to the moderate proposals in the Trade Union Freedom Bill.

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  Tony Woodley: speaking with John Hendy QC chairing the Fringe meeting and Sarah Veale of the TUC in the background

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  Brian Caton: updating the audience on the recent dispute by Prison Officers

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  Sally Hunt: General Secretary of UCU, outlining her expectations from Gordon Brown

John McDonnell, MP: whose Private Members Bill has put the Trade Union Rights and Freedoms Bill on the Parliamentary agenda, encouraged people to attend the National Rally in support of the Bill on 18th October

Bob Crow: General Secretary of the RMT and Chair of the United Campaign received an enthusiastic response to his call for full support for John McDonnell’s Trade Union Rights and Freedoms Bill

Sarah Veale: Head of the Equalities and Employment Rights Department of the TUC thanked John Hendy for the assistance he had given the TUC in drafting the Trade Union Freedom Bill

Keith Ewing: President of the Institute, outlined 6 areas of law that he said should be on Brown’s Agenda

Platform speakers: with John Hendy, QC chairing the event