Scotland key to setting UNISON national policies

by John Stevenson

Scotland was well to the fore at this year’s UNISON National Conference with the Region and Branches instrumental in setting the key policies with speakers in at least 20 debates.

The Conference in June set detailed and practical strategies to defend and invest in public services to lift us out of the recession.

An inspiring call to take the movement forward from American trade unionist Tom Woodruff enthused Conference as we launched a programme for action around ‘a million voices for change’.

Conference also set up new structures to give a greater voice to bargaining groups.

General Secretary Dave Prentis pulled a rabbit out of the hat with his call for the Labour Link to suspend constituency development payments to the Labour Party. An inevitable response to Labour’s latest plans to extend privatisation to a new level in the National Health Service south of the border.

The nuts and bolts of Pensions, mileage rates and the effects of privatisation and equalities were also well to the fore from Scottish branches.

Debate after debate confirmed Conference’s adamant view that there is no place for racism and fascism in our union and that means no place for the BNP. The challenge is to try to rebuild the credibility of the Labour party in particular so that voters do not stay away, do not ‘protest’ and do not vote BNP again.

The Domestic Violence/ Abuse debate reiterated zero tolerance but also started discussion about what we do about perpetrators who are also our members.

A major debate on climate change saw delegates backing a plan to work with employers to achieve a low carbon economy.

And on the international front, Conference backed a boycott of Israeli goods from the illegally occupied territories as well as reviewing links with Histadrut.

We remembered the imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi on her 64th birthday.

Celebrating 50 years of the Cuban revolution brought a passionate and at times moving debate after delegates heard from Cuban trade unionists and the enormous achievements made by the Cuban people in medical care and education. It is time for Obama to deliver on lifting the blockade.

See full reports and photos on the website - just click on Conference 2009.

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