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Conference rose to its best on the big issues
Conference rose to its best at key points throughout the week amongst
an otherwise dry agenda, writes John Stevenson
Major debates on public services, on pensions, on equalities, fighting
homophobia and racism and setting out proposals to adapt our union's
approach and structures to the needs of devolution, brought out
the best in speeches and debates.
The crucial issue of time-off for trade union duties captured its
first major debate. Yes, we spent time deciding whether or not to
demand Tony Blair's resignation and although this was a lively debate,
Conference was in no mood for gestures and clearly had its eye on
setting out our policies to ensure our influence, in our members
interests, matters in the run up to the next election.
At the forefront of many speeches was the key phrase 'we need
to do this for our members'. A phrase that needs to be kept foremost
because that is what we are here for.
Who will forget the dignified and measured, yet passionate and
emotional contribution from Jocelyn Hurndall in her fight for and
end to meaningless killings and truth and justice for her 22 year
old son, Tom, who was shot in cold blood by an Israeli soldier in
Palestine.
The welcome given to Subhi Almashadny, General Secretary of the
Iraq Federation of Trade Unions demonstrated crucial role of international
trade union links that are so important to bringing people together
and fighting for peace.
General Secretary Dave Prentis captured the mood of conference
with a fine balance between humour and hard-hitting demands for
a new future for public services and a fair deal for those who provide
them.
Dave Anderson's pride in his presidential role shone out through
the week as did his passionate grounding in the trade union movement.
All the best for the future Dave and let's hope you can deliver
that as an MP.
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UNISON sets out agenda for the future of public services
 Conference
set out UNISON's stall for the future of public services in a detailed
and positive motion to contribute to the 'radical manifesto' unions
are pushing the government to adopt.
Public services are the glue that holds society together and privatisation
threatens to tear it apart, NEC member and UNISON Scotland's Jane
Carolan told conference.
"We should be proud of the work we do on a daily basis where we
work", said Jane. We have also to remember that we were the people
who also used the services.
"This union can speak with authority on public services and for
a long time we have argued that that our public services need real
investment", said Jane.
"The government talks a lot about choice. We've got no problem
with choice. If you'd rather go to the Western than the General
- that's no problem. If you want to choose when your appointment
is - that's no problem. What we don't want is this government choosing
to put public money into the pockets of private contractors."
The motion welcomed the increase in spending on public services
but condemns the 'increasing marketisation' of public services.
It declared that the much-vaunted reform agenda has not yet delivered
the improvements that increased investment should bring.
The motion committed the union to campaigning against the Tories'
plans for public spending cuts and to exclude private contractors
from key public services. It called for the workforce code protecting
local government workers from a two-tier workforce to be extended
to cover the whole of our public services.
It also pledged to promote the union's vision of high quality
services, tax-funded, collectively-provided, free on the basis of
need, by well-rewarded and trained staff.
 City
of Edinburgh's John Stevenson rounded on an amendment that would
have changed the focus of the motion "We wanted a positive motion
that carefully laid out the arguments, the detail and the over-riding
principle that we are not opposed to change. We are not dinosaurs.
"We are in fact the people crying out for change because we are
the people who know what needs to be done to make things better.
"Fund us properly, listen to us, give us a level playing field
and we will deliver the innovation, the flexibility, the commitment,
the training and as a result of all that - world-class public services."
The amendment would have changed that focus and Conference agreed
by throwing it out. Tony Caffrey, Manchester branch, also slammed
the amendment and pointed out that the government has pledged £60
billion, of which £40 billion will go straight to the NHS.
"Let's welcome that - it's the biggest increase in public services
spending in history." But he warned that privatisation was not the
way to deliver efficient services. "The only way the private sector
comes close to matching the public sector on delivery is by slashing
the terms and conditions of our members."
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Scotland picks up half of all communications awards
Scottish branches picked up three out of the six Communications
Awards presented at Conference today. That is an amazing record
given we make up only about a tenth of the membership.
 First
prize for the Best Use of Printed Material went to South Lanarkshire's
Jane Aitchison for their branch mag Branchline. "A good looking
and well-targeted newsletter", said the judges.
First prize for the Best Use of Electronic Communication went to
Anne McRitchie of Aberdeen Universities Branch from 'a simple clean
and easily navigable website' which you can find at www.aub-unison.org.uk.
And Runner Up for Best Commuications Campaign went to Moray Branch
for their development campaign. The award was picked up by Douglas
McPhee.
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Efficiency savings should be used to tackle low pay
Stopping PFI would be one way to get 'efficiency' savings in public
services-and the savings could be used to tackle low pay, says UNISON
Scotland in response to a Scottish Executive announcement yesterday
(24 June).
Public Services Minister, Andy Kerr MSP announced a major 'Efficient
Government Initiative' that aims to identify significant efficiency
savings across the Scottish public sector.
UNISON Scottish Secretary Matt Smith said: "It is of course right
that all parts of the public sector seek to secure the efficient
and effective delivery of public services.
"This happens at present through Best Value and we are willing
to engage with the government on this agenda.
"We will also be calling on Ministers to look closely at some of
their own recent decisions including the huge additional cost of
PFI schemes."
UNISON will also respond to the Minister's invitation to identify
proposals for efficiency savings. For example the £5.8bn the Scottish
Executive is wasting on the additional cost of PFI schemes as compared
to conventional procurement.
UNISON has responded by recognising that all public sector organisations
should be aware of opportunities to work more efficiently and effectively.
We welcome the Minister's recognition that the public sector in
Scotland has been taking this agenda forward for some time.
Any savings can be used to address the low pay that is impeding
the recruitment and retention of public service workers. UNISON
has also promoted, through our Revitalise Scotland's Public Services
principles, opportunities for public bodies to co-operate across
organisational boundaries as an alternative to costly reorganisation
and privatisation.
UNISON is however concerned that in the past 'efficiency savings'
have simply been a mask for real cuts in services or privatisation.
A smokescreen to address financial shortfalls elsewhere in the
budget. Proposals for artificial targets that have no evidence base,
gives the impression that this exercise is more about cuts than
efficiency. Constant reorganisation and change can also undermine
effective public service delivery.
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Fringe Meeting: Pensions - Tackling Inequalities
Scotland's Lynn Sheridan (Co-chair NLGC) chaired the meeting and
there were 3 guest speakers. Michelle Lewis, Pensions Officer, TUC,
Glynn Jenkins, Pensions Unit, UNISON, Peter Askins, DWP Michelle
concentrated on the plight of women in pensions.
There is one main issue and that is women are still paid less than
men. In addition to this women often have to take breaks in service
related to childcare or caring for adult dependents. This results
in having less time to build up their pension and therefore a resultant
poorer pension on retirement.
Glynn looked at pension security, which is not very good actually,
unless of course you are a MP or company director! The security
reduces as you go down through public sector schemes, private sector
schemes, stakeholder personal pensions (little or no employer contribution),
and right down to those people who are either too poor to contribute
or choose not too (20 - 30% of local government workers).
Peter Askins from the DWP started by saying the Government and
the unions had common ground but also seemed to be expecting a hard
time form this audience. Whether that influenced his style and presentation
is not clear, but he did come over as somewhat confrontational,
with some controversial statements within his contribution.
For example, he asked people to remember the historical and generational
context of women and pensions and said that most women only became
poor after their husbands died! Poverty and Grief. During the question
and answer session he implied that many people try to access medical
retirement fraudulently and this was not well accepted by the audience.
He also denied the government was intending to increase the working
age to 70 but this was also taken with a large degree of scepticism.
It would appear that if the representative from the DWP is any barometer
of government policy then we have a fight on our hands in relation
to pensions!
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