|
Wenesday 22 June No 2 - Reports
Prentis warns of backlash against government policies
 General
Secretary Dave Prentis was met with what is now a traditional warm
reception as he addressed conference, welcoming delegates to Glasgow
and welcoming the Labour Government back to power for a third term.
"Let's hope it's better than the second." he added.
And he wasted no time rounding on the Tory election campaign, "…which
showed the worst in the Tories, an ugly party with uglier policies.
"Scraping the barrel, the hypocrisy of Howard lecturing
us about dirty hospitals. When it was the self-same Tories who washed
their hands of our cleaners, who sold them off to the lowest bidder.
- bargain basement. The self-same Tories now bleating on about clean
hospitals."
Dave congratulated Conference on UNISON's successful
anti racist campaigning. "We will be there in the elections next
May, the May after that and the May after that. We will be there
until we put the BNP politics back in the gutter where they belong."
Slamming Labour's lack of vision, and continuation
with the politics of fear and privatisation. "Forward not back.
What a missed opportunity. The things we believe in - absent. Brushed
under the carpet. The same old stuff - competition, targets, the
dark politics of fear - ID Cards for fear of terrorism; Work gang
jackets for fear of young offenders; Hoodies, young people all tarnished,
all a threat."
"I'll tell you who the real hoodies are - the faceless
political advisors brought in from big business, private companies,
the CBI to reform public services. An unelected political advisor
put in the Lords to privatise our schools."
"Our members do want to move forward not back. Forward
on a reform programme they can believe in. A government they can
trust. A Government not just listening, but learning and changing.
A Labour leadership rekindling the idealism and commitment which
brought us all into the labour movement. Contrary to the Government's
offerings of choice and diversity, Dave said,
"What I heard was people wanting quality, local services,
local schools, local hospitals, school meals, home care, clean and
safe streets, delivered by staff who live in the same communities
they serve"
"They're not listening to anyone who opposes privatisation.
And today scrapping the biggest PFI in the country - £14 million
wasted. A total failure. An indictment of PFI, a criminal abuse
of taxpayers' money. It's got to stop.
"So to those listening in from London - listening
for a softening in our opposition to privatisation. I say this.
Don't hold your breath. As long as I am General Secretary of this
great union we will continue and intensify our fight against privatisation."
"It's time we took on the constant attacks on Local
Government, on Further Education, on Higher Education. It's about
time our politicians stood up for the people who keep our essential
local services and education going."
On the public sector pension attacks, Dave said, "We
will not sit back and allow our pensions schemes to be dismantled.
I'm proud of the part UNISON played in forcing the government climbdown
on pensions, of the relentless pressure we put in ministers and
MPs proud of the determination shown by our members of their courageous
decision to take strike action.
"Fantastic support form Scotland, who faced changes
a year later. "And let me say this to Government, loud and clear,
if you think the anger has subsided, think again."
"Never has the need for a strong united union been
greater." Dave reported on stunning recruitment figures, and improved
training and organisation.
"And in all our campaigning on public services we
must remember our members employed in the voluntary sector and private
companies, electricity, gas, water transport, contractors, tens
of thousands of our members now in the private sector through no
fault of their own. Like all our members they need representation,
they need to feel part of our union."
On UNISON's international work, "I'm proud of the
international solidarity work, UNISON organising the conference
in Cape Town on HIV/AIDs. Bringing together trade unionists across
Southern Africa. Funding an AIDS co-ordinator for those unions,
UNISON bringing over Iraqi shop stewards, South African Councillors
and training them."
Dave called for "You to be in Edinburgh on 2 July
for the Make Poverty History rally. Our union has been there from
the start and we'll be there till the end. It's about trade justice,
dropping the debt, more and better aid. 35,000 people every day
die from poverty, today, tomorrow and every day."
Dave concluded, "Standing together, acting together,
caring together, sharing together. All those human activities can
be summed up in one word. That word is UNISON. That's how we live.
That's who we are. The greatest trade union on earth - strong, united,
confident, no-one will stand in our way.
UNISON sets out vision on peace, equality and justice
UNISON has set out its agenda for engaging with the
third-term Labour government to promote our policies on fairness
at work, equality, social justice and peace.
"The clear message is that Labour needs to listen
and learn in the third team,” said deputy general secretary Keith
Sonnet. "We want to strengthen local democracy and provide services
people actually want.
"If Labour doesn't listen, the third term will fail.
With this motion, we can fight to make the third term genuinely
historic and not a lost opportunity.”
The eleven point agenda sets out a comprehensive programme
for opportunity for all, reinvigorating democracy, full employment,
economic growth, training, and a fair welfare state.
Choice in public sector provision must focus on need
not on opening the door for private profit. And where labour delivers
on our agenda we will support them. Where they do not, the union
will continue to challenge anything that is not in the interests
of our members and their families.
Devolution
A Scotland amendment underlined the need to strengthen
devolution and tackle poverty. "Devolution has allowed different
positions to be taken across the UK on a variety of issues ranging
from a pro-immigration Fresh talent Initiative in Scotland to the
abolition of prescription charges in Wales”, said Scotland's Mike
Kirby.
Slamming the fact that there are 529 unelected quangos
controlling billions of public spending, Mike said, "UNISON has
a role and a duty to promote accountability within public services.
This means tackling such democratic deficits and tackling these
unelected institutions.
A Scottish Bill, supported by UNISON, to allow direct
elections to Health Boards was a start - and Mike stressed UNISON's
role in supporting communities damaged by social, educational and
economic barriers.
UNISON should continue to fight for real options for
those most in need "continuing with campaigns to allow councils
to invest in their own housing stock without the blackmail of stock
transfer.”
The Warwick Agreement between the unions and government
was "a product of the negotiations not a basis for negotiation”,
said Mike. Much of this could be implemented without legislation
and would bring real benefits to our members. But there had to be
targets and timescales.
Debate
Conference came alive on this issue and at last there
was real debate argued strongly by delegate after delegate. The
central theme was underlined by Jane Carolan (Scotland NEC member
and chair of the union's Policy committee), "We've just seen the
election of a Labour Government. We need to engage with that government
to protect and enhance the working lives of our members. Those issues
were protecting public services, defeating the two-tier workforce
and protecting pensions.
"We can either be seen as serious political players
taking forward the interests of our members, or we can adopt a list
of impossible demands”, said Jane.
Head or heart
This point was taken up by Sefton's Paul Summers.
"Rhetoric or reality, head or heart. That's what this debate is
about”, said Paul.
"Our members need us to use our heads as well as our
hearts. gestures are easy. representing the real interests of our
members is harder”, he added.
Conference agreed and backed the motion overwhelmingly,
throwing out amendments that would have restricted the process.
top
|
