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Scotland wins social inclusion agenda

Scotland's motion 31 was carried overwhelmingly, calling for a genuine social inclusion agenda.
Mary Crichton spoke emotively about the vulnerability of our young, old, sick and other disadvantaged groups, highlighting the high level of child poverty in the UK - over two million children living in poverty.
The eight point plan outlined in the motion not only addresses the problem of poverty through support for welfare reform, uprated pensions and anti-poverty campaigns, but also looks at social exclusion faced by disabled people and the discrimination experienced by lesbians and gay men and black and ethnic minorities.

Local resources for local bargaining

UNISON Scotland convenor Mike Kirby moved Scotland's motion 104 on the need for UNISON's resources to be diverted to where they are most needed.
Resources needed to be devolved to utilities for example, as well as to local government, health and colleges with all the changes and resulting bargaining difficulties which branches in these areas are facing.
Mike welcomed an amendment from St Helens Metropolitan branch which added "systematic reporting by branch secretaries and regional officers of agreements or settlements".
As well as a database and other systems being set up so that branches could more easily share bargaining information, the result of this motion would be that greater links between regions and the GPF will supported in terms of the "strategic use of resources in pursuit of our negotiating objectives."
The NEC supported Scotland, as did Conference. The amended motion was carried

Conference rejects internal squabbling and backs strategy to involve members

Yet again Conference trawled through arguments about the right to campaign - most delegates agreeing with Anne McCormack (St Helens) as she likened it to Groundhog Day.

But this time it decisively called a halt and focussed on a positive campaign to involve members and branches more in the union's democracy.

Moving amendment I1 in the debate, a revamp of the issues moved by Scotland and passed by Conference in 1998, Ann insisted that we don't want perpetual internal squabbling, based on the ‘sectarian' agenda of a few branches.

The 1998 debate had focussed on the right to campaign but also on the need to respect the union's rules and Conference policies.

The motion this year sought to change that, mainly based on some branches complaints about disciplinary action and about an ‘unofficial' lobby of the Labour Party Conference.

The Glasgow/ St Helens's amendment, supported by Scotland, took out opposition to the "Democracy Code” and added an important call for a report into how to build more grass roots involvement.

Conference is the democratic voice of the members, said Ann. "If one London hospital branch can decide to lobby the Labour Party Conference, why are we here?" she asked.

"Our members want the union to be a vibrant democracy, truly representative of them," she continued, "Amendment I1 ensures this".

Frank debate

Gerry Crawley (Glasgow City) backing the amendment, argued that all the Regional Conveners had endorsed the guidelines in the "Democracy in UNISON" document and only 2% of branches had raised any issues.

The debate turned into one of the frankest yet about the role of some political groupings in the union. Responding to Dave Eggmore (Camden), the mover of the main motion (Composite I), Gerry accepted that some Socialist Workers Party members carry out a job of work but others are not interested in representing members. "In our branch we know this as fact".

Witch hunts

Support for Composite I seemed to be based on fears of witch hunts and suspensions. This was certainly the case with the speakers from Manchester Health and Newcastle City Health.

Spurious democracy

In a barnstorming performance, UNISON General Secretary, Rodney Bickerstaffe, speaking for the National Executive, warned Conference against those who only talk loudly about democracy and only want a "spurious democracy".

He warned of the actions of those such as the Campaign for a Free and Democratic UNISON who had ‘manipulated' a small number of branches into funding a splinter conference. He pleaded with Conference to protect the union that had been built over the last eight years.

Summing up, Jon Rogers (Lambeth) claimed that he respected his political opponents, but regretted that this respect was not reciprocated. He then gave a deliberately quiet and measured review of his position.

He accused the NEC of going back on the motion passed at Conference in 1998 which had begun this process. He finished by asking Conference to decide where democracy in UNISON should rest.

Conference did, passing Composite I as amended by I1 overwhelmingly.

Funding Crisis in the NHS

The first debate on the National Health Service also gave us the first (but definitely not the last) call for a national demonstration in London!

Motion 67 on the Funding Crisis in the NHS as amended by 67.1 called on UNISON to continue to campaign through its existing structures to improve funding for the NHS and to continue in its opposition to PFI.

Margaret Innes (Stirling Council) opposing amendment 67.2 pointed out that "price fixing by the government" was the only way to sort out the pharmaceutical companies. She was backed by Val Little from the NEC who stated that what the motion said was simple - "It is simple out of the mouths of simpletons".

Motion 67 as amended by 67.1 was carried.

Motion 66 on NHS Crisis was easily defeated due to the repeated call for the national demonstration. Mike Folliard from the NEC and Lesley Fisher from the Health Group Executive reiterated to Conference that health workers at their conference had voted against a national demonstration.

Motion 66 was subsequently defeated.

Bob pours water on taxation

Conference drew breath in the taxation debate as Aberdeenshires's Bob Revie made an unaccustomed foray into allegorical imagery.

Yes, we had all heard the ‘pissing in or pissing out of the tent' story but who could have expected Bob's embellishment on the theme.

"Some people want to piss both ways. I've tried it and I wouldn't advise it. You only get wet”, said Bob with a flourish.

Nigel slams employers record on disability

Scotland's Nigel Pimm (Disabled members Committee) slammed employers for "Throwing disabled members onto the scrapheap).

Nigel told Conference that many disabled workers were being forced to retire in their early forties. He called on employers to stick to anti discrimination legislation.

Sophie Taylor outlined how disabled members were discriminated against on a daily basis

Conference backed a call for the rights of disabled members (including disability leave) to be included in any workplace or employer wide negotiations