First Conference

It’s the end of summer in Brighton, I’m dressed in my best office attire, courtesy of the Next sale as always. Our journey from Scotland started out far too early on a Sunday morning but we were determined to get there early so we didn’t miss a second of the conference.

This was the first time myself and Brian Linn, our General Secretary, were attending the TUC Conference as delegates and it signalled the climax of three years of hard work. First of all getting our small specialist union Aegis legally recognised as an independent trade union, then persuading our reps and members that affiliating to the TUC was the right thing to do - which was no easy task. The final hurdle was getting agreement from all the other TUC affiliated unions - so I felt we’d really earned our place here.

The Brighton seafront was already buzzing with life as conference delegates of all shapes and sizes made their way to the hall. My lanyard was swinging with pride in the breeze - almost shouting, ‘I’m one of you now!’ as we stepped up the pace, terrified we would miss something. When we finally arrived outside the hall, we were met with a barrage of leaflets thrust into our hands from a variety of causes I’d never heard of. I took the lot and resolved to read them all as we made our way through the crowd.

We walked into the conference hall and my eyes were full of wonder. I couldn’t believe that we’d finally arrived in the union world. There were musicians playing classical tunes that seemed at odds with the feverish atmosphere surrounding me. The TV cameras were everywhere as Laura Kuenssberg interviewed the giants of the union world at that time - Dave Prentice, Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley, to name a few.

All around me delegates were chatting, writing speeches and catching up with old friends. The hall smelt of coffee and aftershave mixed with the stale scent of sweat that comes from too many people wearing suits on a hot summer’s day.

I was excited and overwhelmed about what I knew was the start of something special. I wanted our voices to be heard, however small they may be. I wanted to be part of the trade union family – even though no-one knew who I was!

Then the seeds of doubt crept in. Would I fit in? Would anyone speak to me? Where do I sit?

We wandered aimlessly down to the front of the hall and sat in the free seats. Before we had the chance to even take off our jackets a loud voice piped up to tell us we had to move as we’d sat in the seats reserved for guest speakers!

At that point the very brief sight of the stage and lectern terrified me. What happens if I have to go on and mumble through my motion after Bob Crow has whipped the crowd into a frenzy? My mouth was dry with the fear and anticipation of it all. Oh god, I thought, what is an imposter like me doing here and how do I get out?

Before I could embark on a full-scale panic attack, I spotted a lifeline - at last someone I knew. He told us where we were meant to sit and invited us for drinks at the end of the day’s session and I felt our adventure had now really begun.

By the time it was my turn to speak I had calmed down a bit. When I stood on stage I realised that the lectern was my friend, not only could I lean on it to keep me upright but it hid my legs shaking behind it and ready to buckle at any minute. I made it through the speech, the motion was passed and I could relax and enjoy the rest of the day. The sense of relief I felt was colossal and as I got back to my seat the trembling finally stopped and I was so elated I wanted to laugh out loud.

We still laugh about that first experience now, every time we go to the conference. How isolated we were then compared to how confident and comfortable we now feel in amongst the trade union friends we’ve made over the years. But, above all I was so proud that we did it. Proud of the difference we have made to the members we represent by bringing their voices into that hall and ultimately making the world of work a better place for them. That’s what drove me then and it still does to this day.

Written by Fiona Steele, Aegis