Unions call for defence cash to be given to workers

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 19:55 EDT, 12 September 2026 | Updated: 20:14 EDT, 12 September 2026 Money set aside for defence should instead be channelled to union workers, according to a conference of members.The Trades Union Congress (TUC), starting today, will argue ‘investment in workers’ should come before rises in national security spending.The motion, part of the Wages Not Weapons campaign, says ‘real security’ is built through – among other things – ‘strong public services’ and ‘social protection’. It calls for ‘sustained public investment in health, education, housing, social care, social security and climate resilient [sic]’.TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the Government should reject the idea it needs to choose between increasing defence spending and welfare.It comes as Britain faces unprecedented threats to security. The Tories have vowed to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030 by slashing benefits. Soldiers drive British battle tank as they take part in urban combat exercise during at the Sissonne camp, north of the city of Reims, in northeastern France on April 22, 2025 (file image)