Local Governnment Conference

LOCAL GOVERNNMENT CONFERENCE

The Local government conference started with the early debates around social work and social care including direct payments.

One of our delegates Mark gave a brief statement in relation to the benefits of a separate NJC for Wales Dawn also asked a question with regards to what advice and help unisons SGE and NEC could provide to branches to help fight the out sourcing agenda and what the panel’s stance was on this. The tactics of using out sourcing to drive down member’s terms and conditions along with pay to drive down wages and reduce jobs. There was no real answer given to this which was very disappointing.

Sunday 13th June 10

We saw composite C debated on cuts to jobs, pay and public services. Pat was one of the first speakers to get up and support the motion. Pat gave a typically sarcastic speech with the lines from the beetles and he sang the majority of this. It included a scathing attack on the condem coalition which set the tone for the rest of the debate. Both Pat and Mark’s speech had great praise in the news sheet. (Copies are available). A delegate from another branch christened the condem’s as the Cami knickers which filled the hall with laughter.

Monday 14th June 10

Monday’s debates were largely on pensions and the ‘total place’ agendas and easy council which are similar to shared services.

Heather Wakefield spoke on recruitment and building a stronger union. They seem to think there’s a fight for industrial action out there. It was also mentioned that other councils are looking at similar cuts to services as our council in relation to enhancement’s being reduced etc.

Emergency motions were accepted and opposition to the setting up of academies’ and defending pay and conditions in schools was supported. There was a further emergency on the condem budget and expected cuts. Disability issues were also discussed in relation to the workplace.

Motion 33 in relation to the debates on green jobs and green services was strongly supported by all delegates. This was followed by cuts on services, shared services and pensions.

NATIONAL DELEGATES CONFERENCE

Tuesday 15th June 10

We started the day with composite G with Jane Gebby getting up to speak but being stopped by a delegate putting a point of order which is done to progress the debate.

General secretary Dave Prentis gave a speech with his “fight them on the beaches” attitude (I don’t know what drugs he’s on but I want some please). Another point of order prevented Patrick giving another speech on composite E, public services.

Wednesday 16th June 10

The first debate of the day was motion 91 - review of political fund effectiveness.

With the threats posed to public services by the coalition government, it is more important than ever for UNISON members to engage in political activity, locally and nationally, Bournemouth delegates agreed today.Delegates backed recommendations to improve the way the political fund works, provide more training and support for branches and communicate widely throughout the union.

Both the General Political Fund and Labour Link had a crucial role in UNISON's plans to build alliances with community groups and politicians to defend public services and jobs.
The findings of the two-year review of UNISON’s political fund effectiveness, agreed by conference, showed two contrasting experiences.
On the one hand, both sections of the union’s political fund have facilitated successful lobbying and campaigning, which have brought tangible benefits to UNISON members.
On the other, levels of awareness, engagement and local political campaigning across many branches is still far too low.

Seven out of 10 branches consulted for the review never applied for funding from the General Political Fund, said Mr Sonnet. One out of three had never lobbied their local MP or approached the media.
The review found that levels of transparency, participation, activity and effectiveness could all be improved.
The NEC also has a role to play in improving understanding of the roles and the working of both political fund sections – as well as encouraging UNISON members, branches, service groups and other sections of the union to liaise with the political funds, in advancing UNISON objectives.

Motion was carried with amendments.

The next debate saw many delegates wanting to speak it was motion – 18 defending the LGPS in England, Scotland and Wales.

UNISON took the battle for public sector pensions to the government today, with proposals that would counter the threat of cuts from Whitehall.
Central to UNISON's approach would be a reduction of the funds within the Local Government Pension Scheme, from the current 101 to single funds for England, Wales and Scotland – and to greatly reduce the costs paid to fund managers.Managing the funds in-house would prevent millions of pounds of pension fund income going to bankers and traders.

There is also more economic power if the many funds are merged. Research shows that three funds, instead of the 101 that currently exist, would bring in an extra £1bn a year in income, from their size alone.
"The bigger the investment fund the larger the return," Mr Oram said. "In this case, size really does matter."
The NEC has been charged with devising a programme, in consultation with the union, that would:

• create one fund each for England, Scotland and Wales – there is already one fund in Northern Ireland;
• demand efficiency savings in fund management contracts – estimated at around £150m-250m a year;
• consult internationally with other public sector unions and their fund managers.
• Motion was carried with amendments.

Next was motion 19 - Women and pensions. I give no apologies for including all of her speech as it brings home the message of the motion.

"As women's life expectancy increases, it's as much a curse as a blessing. Twenty years or more in retirement means 20 years or more in poverty for many women," was the chilling message from Eileen Best of the National Women’s Committee.
An alarming 50% of women aged between 35-44 make no pension provision at all, as they are faced with the stark choice between paying the bills now, or saving for the future.
While UNISON has successfully campaigned for the rights of part time and temporary workers to join pension schemes, low earnings and breaks from employment because of caring responsibilities combine to reduce women's pensions.
The current government intends to cut many services which have supported women carers - including breakfast clubs at schools, after school clubs and day care centre’s. This will roll back the gains made in the last ten years, once again making it harder for women to keep full time jobs.
"The gender pay gap is a life-sentence for many women. It doesn’t end with retirement," said Ms Best.
This was demonstrated by Lorraine Avery of the East Midlands who, in three years' time will be expected to live on her pension of £38.03 per week.
"I'm not a fat cat. I'm not even a skinny kitten," she declared. "I don't want to be forced to beg on my zimmer frame."

Motion was carried.

After Lunch we had a guest speaker Paul Moist National president of the Canadian union of public employees. (CUPE) A warm welcome was afforded to him so here is his message.

UNISON delegates heard some hard truths about the 'Canadian model' for public spending cuts that is currently being favoured by the coalition government.
Another name associated with the decimation of Canada's public services in the early '90s is the 'bloodbath budget'.
And a bloodbath was what was described today by Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
When the liberals took over government in 1993, they inherited a massive deficit. But, said Mr Moist, the economy was not their only concern.
"The liberals had an agenda. They felt the welfare state had grown too big."
In the next few years the government slashed its health spending and pushed its medi-care system towards privatisation, attacked unemployment benefits and student grants, and all but eliminated social housing building. Municipal governments had their budgets decimated.
Balancing the federal books, he said, "destroyed the social fabric" of the country.
And Canada still reports the lowest per capita spending on public services of all the G7 members.
Mr Moist, whose union is Canada's largest – with 600,000 members across health care, education, utilities, transport and emergency services – had a stark warning for the Bournemouth delegates.

"Looking at the UK's new coalition government," he said, "I feel as though I’ve been to that movie before.
"Cameron and Clegg seem infatuated with my country and the so-called Canadian model, the slaying of the deficit and taming of the debt.
"But Canada is no model, no model at all for your country to follow when it comes to managing the finances of the nation, if the price you pay is a terrible imbalance in society."
But he added an encouragingly steely note of solidarity. "David Cameron: keep your hands off public sector pensions. Because you won't just fight UNISON, but trade unions the world over."

Motion 96 – Palastine, and emergency motion 1 – Israels attack on the Flotilla.

Delegates reaffirmed UNISON's policy on the Middle East this afternoon, including debating an emergency motion condemning the boarding of the aid flotilla, when Israeli commandos killed nine peace activists.
Speaking for the national executive council, Alison Shepherd said that the union was "working with the TUC to build the settlement goods campaign."
And she promised delegates that "we will continue to offer practical solidarity" to Palestinian trade unions.
Several speakers talked of the "sheer brazenness of Israel’s act of piracy" in boarding the aid ships in international waters.
“"What would be the response if Iran or North Korea had done this?" asked Tony Philips from London fire and emergency planning authority, commenting on the global response to Israeli's actions.
There was condemnation too for the lack of serious response to the use by Israel’s secret service Mossad of British passports during the assassination of a Hamas leader.
In an impassioned debate, it was also reiterated that the union condemns rocket attacks on Israel as well.

Amongst a raft of measures, conference caled on the national executive council to:

• continue to support the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and to support and work with the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions;
• continue to work with and support civil society organisations in Israel, especially those oriented to defend workers who oppose the continuing occupation and support the rights of Palestinians;
• continue to build the support for Palestine within the wider trade union movement and in the European and global union federations to which UNISON is affiliated in particular;
• request both sections of the political fund to work to change the policies of both the British government and the European Union.

Motion 101 – Impunity in the Philippines.

In the first ever debate on the Philippines, UNISON delegates heard that it is now the second most unsafe place in the world, after Colombia, to be a trade unionist.
Josie Bird for the national executive council (NEC) told conference that: "Just a few days ago, as attacks have increased, one was murdered in a special economic zone with zero tolerance for trade unions."
Among the actions that delegates instructed the NEC to carry out, they called on the committee to:

• explore ways of supporting trade unions and labour groups;
• work with the Filipino diaspora community to encourage them to join the union and to support them in their efforts to combat human rights violations in the Philippines;
• urge the British government to take a stronger line with the Phlippine government.

We then had a moving presentation, the Award of Honorary life membership to Unison for Denis Goldberg.

He started his speech with 'I've been a bit of a Bolshie all my life'which recieved a round of applause.

He went onto say "You have A Million Voices project: I have a million brothers and sisters now. I hope it’s also a million comrades – because there’s not much difference."
Legendary anti-apartheid campaigner Denis Goldberg was greeted with three standing ovations as he was awarded honorary UNISON membership at national delegate conference today.
Introducing him, president Gerry Gallagher – who noted that such an honour "is not handed out lightly" – sketched over the details of Mr Goldberg’s life, from raising money for South African trade unions to using his engineering skills to train members of the African National Congress's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, to his trial alongside Nelson Mandela at Rivonia to his subsequent imprisonment for 22 years.
Released from prison and deported, Mr Goldberg came to Britain, where he helped build international support against the apartheid regime, before founding Community Heart to help build the new, democratic South Africa.
It was 16 June – as Mr Goldberg reminded conference, the anniversary of the “uprising of Soweto. Six hundred were shot that day, and that led to the endgame.
"The 11th of June, when the World Cup started, was the anniversary of the day we were found guilty.”
At 77, he remains busy in South Africa, working with children in the Cape Town area.
Mr Goldman praised UNISON for its "support for struggles for freedom everywhere – I wish more unions would do that," saying that he was "proud to be a member" of such an organisation.
"We have to fight racism. There can be no freedom with racism.
"I've been a bit of a Bolshie all my life," he added, continuing: "You have to find a way to tell the oppressor that they have to be liberated too … they have to have the chance to break away from their past and find a future."
And he said he was still working for "something that is very close to my heart – that we build a world for human beings." It ended with a standing ovation well deserved.

Friday 18th June 10

Was largely taken up by public services on the impact of Tory cuts, Pat spent quite a time out of the hall writing his 3rd speech attacking our councils outsourcing agenda and its willingness to cut jobs, his speech went down with great applause and laughter he ended by singing the last part (well he will never win x-factor). Pat was quite flattered he was asked for copies of his speech to use as a training aid. The previous Sunday night’s Karaoke paid off!

Dave Prentis got up to speak on a point of interest about the 22nd June 2010 on the impending budget.

Mel spoke on defending the human rights act, she considerately curtaited her speech to allow extra speakers as time was running short, Spoke very well. Mel was a first time speaker at conference, now mel got that out of the way, It is a very nerve wracking experience.

Audrey Parkinson a school meals on wheels worker from Sheffield spoke on Composite A organising for which she had a standing ovation which was followed by a film on the North Devon Campaign.

Dave Prentis seems to have the same sight problem as Pat, he seems to think he has the support of all the 1.3 million members behind him in support for industrial action (we are not so sure).

Apprenticeships are key. UNISON reiterated the importance of proper apprenticeships today, and pledged to publicise the special £10 union rate for apprentices and use it as a recruitment tool.
Helen Britten of North Yorkshire said that, given the economic situation, "it was more important than ever that we expand the fight for expanded apprenticeships."
And she pointed out that public service apprenticeships in Yorkshire have enjoyed an “almost 100% completion rate,” as opposed to the "68% national rate."
Kieran Grogan, who is a joint young members officer in Bolton branch, said: "Some apprentices are on £10 per week – they call it work experience, even when they’re going to college for a full day each week. It’s a disgrace."

New president named

President Gerry Gallagher unveiled the new presidential team at conference this morning, as his year in the office drew to a close.
Angela Lynes will be UNISON’s president for 2010-2011, starting from Monday.
Ms Lynes is an admin officer working for Glasgow City Council.
Birmingham theatre nurse Eleanor Smith will serve her second year as a vice-president. She was the first Black woman to be elected to this position in the union.
And at an early morning meeting, the national executive council elected Chris Tansley to join them on the team as the second vice-president.
Mr Tansley is a social worker in the east Midlands.

Overall a good Conference, it was marred by one persons decision to secretly undertake a time and motion study on some delegates much to the annoyance to us and other Branches.

We would like to add not all our time outside the hall was spent in the watering hole, but was an opportunity to network with other branches and learn from their experiences which form part of the overall experience at Conference.

Dawn Abbott

Pat Morgan

Michelle Thomas

Peter Williams