# Unions call for defence cash to be given to workers

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/unions-call-for-defence-cash-to-be-given-to-workers/
- Published: 2026-09-12T23:57:44+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-13T00:18:02+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16126641/Unions-call-defence-cash-given-workers.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Art, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- TUC conference demands defence funding be redirected to workers and public services
- Campaign "Wages Not Weapons" rejects trade-off between defence and welfare spending
- Tories plan to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030 via benefit cuts

## Summary

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has opened its annual conference by demanding that money earmarked for defence spending be redirected to workers instead, as part of a campaign called Wages Not Weapons. The motion argues that "real security" comes from strong public services and social protection rather than military spending, putting the union movement at odds with government plans to boost national security funding. This matters because it sets up a direct clash between unions and the Conservative government's fiscal priorities at a time when Britain says it faces heightened security threats.

The motion calls for sustained public investment in health, education, housing, social care, social security and climate resilience, rather than increased defence budgets. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said ministers should reject the idea that they must choose between higher defence spending and welfare support. The intervention comes as the Conservatives have committed to raising defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, a pledge they plan to fund partly through cuts to benefits.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.