TUESDAY 17 June No. 1

Welcome to sunny Brighton

Welcome to UNISON's 10th anniversary national conference. It looks like a reasonably quiet week ahead, so let's hope the sun keeps shining - mind you, now we've said that, anything can happen in the next few days!

Tuesday morning has the reputation for interminable debates about what should or should not have gone on the agenda - and if it did, where it is on the agenda. The advice is as usual. The Regions, SOGs and all have set out priorities for Conference after consultation. The best thing is to get on with it and try to get through as much business as possible.

It is still difficult to judge how much we will get through each day until we see how fast things will go. We've taken a few guesses, so please forgive us if we end up repeating some of it tomorrow.

Pensions - Composite J

First up, and the issue attracting the largest number of motions is not surprisingly pensions - the real threat to occupational pensions, final salary schemes and retirement age; a restoration of the earnings link for state pensions funded through general taxation/ national insurance. The composite covers these calling for a high profile campaign and better safeguards through TUPE.

Public Service Reform Composite C
Scottish priority 1

Again Scotland (16) joins with the NEC (14) in setting a trade union agenda for the reform/revitalisation of public services. The debate is distracted by different language. With growing support for different varieties of localism the debate has generated more rhetoric than substance where words like reform and choice mean, continued competition, efficiency savings, private sector. There may be differences in the political shade if not direction of the devolved governments, varying priorities, but trade unions have a responsibility to spell out our options, e.g. developing public service networks.

Bargaining Motion 42,
Scottish Priority 8

Our members in Early Years and Social Work are becoming more active on conditions of service issues and general working conditions and regulation of this work. Motion 42 recognises growing legislation affecting their work with children and young people and calls for an assessment and branch advice.

Equalities Motion 84, 86

Motion 84 notes the government's failure to deliver its commitment to full comprehensive civil rights for disabled people, and calls for a vigorous campaign for the enhancement of enforcement powers. While motion 86 (not prioritised) seeks to broaden the trade union movement's understanding of equality, often linked only to issues of gender and race.

We think we might get to....

Strike Fund Motion 122, Scottish Priority 5

The Scottish Council has a policy from 1994 to seek an annual transfer to the Industrial Action Fund of 3% of subs income. This was referred pending a settling of the new union's finances. Recent draws on the fund make it time to consider and while 3% or £3M to a current fund of approximately £10M may now be overkill. The 1% of 122 is about right.
Support 122, Opp. 120, 121, 123

Fair Representation in Conference Motion 148, Scottish Priority 4

Motion 148 from Lambeth does reflect difficulties branches in Scotland have faced in coming to terms with the NEC regulations governing representation at conference. While fair representation and proportionality are mentioned in rules, fair representation can have a number of applications dependent upon the occupational groups covered by branches. A review of the scheme affording greater flexibility is timely, but may benefit from an amendment to safeguard the position of the low paid, who may be under-recruited and under-represented in the union. Support 148 as amended

Late breaking news is that the whole thing may be remitted to the NEC to re-draft guidelines in light of the concerns raised.

Weather for the week in Brighton (honest).

Tuesday: Cloudy (ah!) High 21, Low 11

Wednesday: Partly cloudy, High 19 Low 11

Thursday: Cloudy in the morning but bright and sunny during the Rules in the afternoon. High 20 Low 11

Friday: Mostly cloudy High 20 Low 11

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