Annual conference

TSSA’s annual conference is the supreme governing body of the union, where our members set our key policies and priorities for the year ahead.

Conference is held in May or June every year. It is made up of delegates from our Branches, with the larger Branches able to send two delegates. Branches can submit motions and amendments for debate which go on to set the union’s organising and strategic agenda. The Conference agenda is painstakingly organised by a group of members in the Standing Orders Committee, who are themselves elected by members every year.

TSSA policies are largely determined by motions at annual conference and these decisions are then binding on all members and officers. Annual conference ensures that TSSA is a fully democratic organisation and that every single member can have a say in how their union is run.

Annual conference is far more than a governing body, it’s an opportunity for activists from all over the country to meet, to organise, to share best practice and to network; it’s an opportunity to build campaigns for the year ahead; it’s an opportunity for our union to set the agenda and influence government policy. Our annual conference features keynote speeches from senior politicians, conference is an occasion for our members to speak truth to power and be inspired.

Conference features many exciting fringe events, including the Socialist Fellowship, an evening of music, song, poetry, and humour, which has been a regular feature at the TSSA annual conference since 1908. The Disability Working Group also traditionally hold inspiring and informative events at annual conference.

The full rules regarding our Annual Delegate conference are available in the TSSA Rulebook (Rule 10) and the Guidance Notes (Note E).

TSSA conference will run from Saturday 18 September to Monday 20 September 2021. You can find more details below.

The EC considered very detailed and thorough risk assessments undertaken by the venue to ensure that the event is as safe as they can reasonably make it. 

Our EC appreciates that some delegates will, however, remain apprehensive about attending a face-to-face event given the current levels of covid infections. They have therefore agreed that the Conference should be a hybrid event with those delegates who wish to do so being able to participate online. Details of the practicalities around this will follow in due course and following consultation with the Standing Orders Committee. 

Given the ongoing threats which Covid is placing on members jobs, our EC has agreed to submit an emergency motion for the consideration of conference. The emergency motion will focus on our unions strategic plan and will be a key debate at Conference. The Standing Orders Committee will be asked to sheet the debate for Saturday afternoon (18th September) if possible, in a closed session. 

Details of the motion will be circulated to delegates when registering at the Conference and there will be an opportunity for amendments. The Standing Orders Committee will also be asked to allocate Conference time on Saturday morning for a presentation from the General Secretary followed by a question-and-answer session to allow delegates to better understand some of the challenges facing our union. 

The EC considered very detailed and thorough risk assessments undertaken by the venue to ensure that the event is as safe as they can reasonably make it. These are available at the bottom of this page and will hopefully reassure Conference delegates.

Our EC appreciates that some delegates will, however, remain apprehensive about attending a face-to-face event given the current levels of Covid infections. They have therefore agreed that the Conference should be a hybrid event with those delegates who wish to do so being able to participate on-line. 

Details of the practicalities around this will follow in due course and following consultation with the Standing Orders Committee. A hybrid event will require all delegates, online and at the venue, to vote using an online voting system and it is appreciated that the conference experience will differ for delegates depending on which format they choose to engage with conference. It is also likely that there will be some teething problems in running a hybrid event and whilst every effort will be made to keep these to a minimum our EC would ask delegates to be understanding if any problems do occur.

For those attending Conference in person, there will be a number of requests that our EC would respectfully ask them to comply with in order to keep the conference as safe as is practicable. These are as follows:

• All delegates will be provided with a pack of lateral flow tests upon arrival at Conference and will be asked to take a test each morning before attending Conference.
• Anyone showing a positive test will be asked to report this as soon as possible to a member of our staff.
• Disposable face masks will be made easily available for delegates and staff at Conference

In order to minimise the number of people attending the event, and therefore the possible spread of Covid, there will be no stalls at the venue and any of our members who might have been planning to attend as visitors are asked to reconsider.

Delegates will also be asked to remain in the hotel and conference centre as much as possible and to avoid visiting public bars and restaurants outside of the hotel in order to minimise the risk of bringing Covid in from outside.