I recently attended the GFTU New Political Economy Conference on behalf of Aegis, and it was a valuable opportunity to step back from day-to-day workplace issues and look at the bigger picture shaping our members’ lives and futures.
The conference focused on how our current economic model continues to fail working people — particularly younger generations — through insecure work, rising inequality, unaffordable housing and increasing debt. What came through strongly was that these outcomes are not inevitable; they are the result of political and economic choices, and trade unions have a crucial role to play in challenging them.
For me, one of the most important discussions was about the role unions must take beyond the workplace. We are not just here to respond to change after it happens — we must help shape the economic decisions that affect pay, job security, access to opportunity and the impact of technology, including AI.
Coming out of the conference, my focus for Aegis is clear. We need to:
- Strengthen our voice in wider economic debates, particularly those affecting financial services
- Champion better opportunities for young people, including fair access to secure careers without a lifetime of debt
- Ensure workers have a real say in organisational change and the use of new technology
- Continue building Aegis as a union led by its members and reps.
The New Political Economy Conference reinforced why this work matters. Aegis will continue to stand up for our members — not just in the workplace, but in the wider fight for a fairer, more democratic economy that works for everyone.
