UNISONScotland
positions on all the main issues
Delegates' Briefing
This briefing, compiled by Scottish Region delegates
Mike Kirby and Pat Rowland, is based on policies set or guided
by Scottish Council.
It is intended as a guide to branch delegates.
It will reflect Scottish Council policy and will assist the two
Scottish delegates in their discussions and negotiations with
other regions, the NEC and the Standing Orders Committee.
The guide cannot mandate Branches who may have
different policies. However, it may assist delegates in taking
an overview of Conference.
The general line is to support motions unless
listed to oppose. Comments have also been made against important
issues for support. If you need any help, advice or assistance
during Conference, do not hesitate to contact the Scottish Regional
delegates.
Of the 147 motions and associated amendments
submitted, experience suggests that around forty motions and composites
will be chosen for debate, after prioritisation by NEC, regions
and equality groups.
That process has highlighted the following themes.
With a few exceptions the agenda should provide a broad consensus.
top
1-3 RECRUITING & ORGANISING
The importance of growing the union is debated in motions 1-
3. With half an eye to what's happening elsewhere in the trade
union (merger) movement. UNISON should seek to strengthen relations
with unions with whom we work already.
Engagement rather than merger or enlargement may be the message
of a composite of motions 2 and 3, while motion 1 seeks to maximise
the potential for growth in our traditional areas particularly
among younger recruits to public service.
4 EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Learning and organising are essential to growth. The opportunities
for learning, presented by union membership, provide benefits
to the individual, the union and the employer. We must also develop
and refresh the experience of long-standing representatives.
6 SELF-ORGANISATION & TUC
The precise makeup of the TUC General Council may be a minority
sport. Motion 6 addresses issues of a General Council consisting
of a federated conference or accountable to the whole TUC. UNISON,
so far, has taken a longer term view to the appointment of equality
representatives from equality conferences. This may be more than
an issue of the "big bears" cutting a deal, and something of the
different stages of development and participation in equality
trade unionism across the various affiliates.
8 BARGAINING
Is any kind of monitoring of the workforce a means towards a
positive end taking up constructive enablement or forcing identification
and victimisation? It depends upon the conditions and these are
addressed in Motion 8.
15-17 HEALTH & SAFETY
The Health & Safety debate now has a regular space on the UNISON
conference agenda of 150 submissions, but motion 17 thinks it
merits a special conference. Mainstream or sideline? Conference
decides. While we in the trade unions increase our attention to
health and safety matters, motion 16 states that there is a trend
in government to downplay.
It mentions the UK government's weakest proposals on corporate
manslaughter. The proposals under consideration at Scottish Parliament
are better. As we strive for the future protections, motion 15
seeks the remembrance of past victims of workplace tragedies and
failings.
18-24 PUBLIC SERVICES
Public Service Reform? Efficiency Reviews? Shared Services? Privatisation?
We, and the government, at Westminster, Holyrood and the other
devolved administrations, say we want quality public services.
However, we obviously disagree on the direction under Blair. Incidentally
wasn't Brown the architect?
PFI is costly but we can provide protection for workers (18).
Efficiency Reviews do not guarantee that money goes to "the front
line" (20). Shared services seemed a good idea as a means of resisting
externalisation of services.
But with questions over employment models, permanency of funding,
terms, conditions and pensions, is this just an attack on "the
back office"? (21) (29) Broader Vision of the Future of quality
Public Services, well-resourced, democratically controlled, with
public engagement and well-trained, motivated and paid staff are
discussed in motions 22-24.
Whatever direction we decide, we should follow a trade union
path and not wander off to follow the campaigns of others which
may be proposed - debate.
25, 26 SOCIAL CARE
The under funding of social care, particularly of the elderly,
reduces the quality of care and leads to the exploitation of care
workers, particularly migrant workers. Free personal care should
be available and provided by competent, confident, trained and
valued staff. Recent legislation (DDA 05) fails to understand
and address the position in society of people with disabilities.
UNISON's "Beyond the Barriers" campaign must be developed. With
tenants expressing opposition and at best minimal support for
the all or nothing investment and council housing presented by
the government's externalisation proposals, motions 21 and 22
tell us that there is another way.
Voter engagement: Whatever our criticisms of government
on these issues we all fail if voters stay away or use interim
elections to kick the government. UNISON must adopt a positively
public agenda to engage the electorate (27)
35-44 PENSIONS
As we write we're still in dispute over plans to reduce our works
pension entitlements, which we pay for, and the government has
just announced that in order to secure a state pension linked
to earnings, the safest way of preserving value, we'll have to
wait and work longer for our state pensions. Not surprisingly,
the issue again attracts the biggest number of motions (35, 36,
39, 41, 43)
However, as the statement/agreement, which suspended the industrial
action, gave until June to conclude talks on the LGSS, it's likely
that a further statement to conference will overtake these motions.
45, 49 RACISM AND ASYLUM
The continuing scourge of racism was evident in the May local
government elections in England. In Scotland we cannot be complacent.
We've witnessed racist attacks on our members at work and in the
community. It's a trade union issue. Motion 45 calls for vigilance
and action in union activity at work and in the communities.
Motion 49 from Scottish branches will seek to build upon excellent
work done with the communities and Scottish Executive in protecting
the rights of asylum seekers, particularly children, and ensuring
a proper caring role for social care/work employees in their professional
engagement.
51-59 CIVIL RIGHTS
While government has a duty to protect all residents, the (proposed)
introduction of certain measures, ill-considered at best, are
at worst abuse of power and human rights (51-53) Attention should
be focussed on developing positive rights for young people (54)
and protection of women (55 and 56) rather than divisive and discriminatory
legislation and racist practice which feeds off ignorance and
prejudice.
66 SPORT
Support the London Olympics (66) ……. And the Glasgow Commonwealth
Games?…. Let's support, but also support the campaign which seeks
to prevent exploitation of cheaply produced foreign equipment
and style goods.
70 CHILDCARE
Recent research commissioned by UNISON Scotland, and similar
work for the Audit Commission in England, shows that child care
and child care/education workers are undervalued. Affordable childcare,
by confident, competent and rewarded workers should be universal.
75 ECONOMY
The March budget and its November pre-report showed a growth
in public expenditure and aspects of social care. But at a price
of private sector rates of investment, which mean future cost.
78-82 EDUCATION
While focussing on the worst excesses of Blair's New Labourism
and its impact upon education in England, we know that Treasury
models can impact upon more progressive social policy in devolved
areas.
86-90, 91 HEALTH SERVICE
While the Government talks of commissioning a patient led NHS,
its policies favour market based reform. Again, Scotland has resisted
the worst excesses, and reclaimed staff and conditions but must
be wary of Treasury impact upon Scotland's economy and budget.
We have powerful trade union campaigns to run without being sucked
into the activities of other political groups. In doing so we
must protect civil rights (92).
95, 98, 99 EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
Individual rights at work have been advanced to some extent since
the change of government. However, these can only be advanced
through greater collective rights (95). Scotland and the Women's
Committee assert a particular trade union responsibility to protect
migrant workers, particularly women, particularly in health and
social care (98/99)
101-104, 111 ENVIRONMENT NUCLEAR
Having safe, secure, enduring and affordable power supplies are
addressed in 101-104. But while the government has set up a debate
on the future of energy supply, a Tony Blair speech in mid-May
sought to predetermine many of the issues offered for debate in
those motions. Protecting business before he goes? Don't be cynical.
Might even lead one to support the view of disengagement with
politics. But of course nuclear power production/fuel should not
be linked to arms production and proliferation (111) ….unless
of course you're Iranian and looking for similar economic opportunities
to the West.
116-117 EQUALITY
YES …. Leads us to the subject of promoting equal opportunities
at home, and whether public bodies have a duty to set and lead
(116/117) 119-120 EUROPE Europe for business … exploiting the
need for public services, or a Social Europe? A "no-brainer" for
the biggest public service trade union in Europe, but we need
to work at it, particularly with our own members.
121, 123, 125, 166 INTERNATIONAL
International solidarity by trade unions can best be expressed
by international solidarity with our sister trade unions. Listening
to them…assisting them equals UNISON International Development
Fund (121) This fund is assisting many projects especially in
Palestine. As we welcomed guests from Palestine General Federation
of Trade Unions and the Israeli Federation Histradut to the STUC
in April, we should similarly welcome their representatives to
UNISON conference.
We work for a free, independent, viable Palestine, alongside
a secure Israel. (126) We remember the words of Nawaaf Masalla
the Chairperson of the International Committee of Histradut at
the STUC, "I am against the humiliation of Palestinians, I support
a Palestinian state”. He also called for, "Israel and Palestine
to be together as workers... We are more than neighbours”
(123) Campaign for aid and assistance, not linked to conditions
set by "developed countries". While recognising the rights of
migrant workers and the benefits they bring, we must be wary of
the adverse effect of their migration upon their indigenous countries
(125).
129/130/131 VENEZUELA
The new government of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and its importance
for emergent politics of other states in the Andean Continent
are addressed in motions from Wales and others including Edinburgh.
However, our solidarity should be raised through broad-based organisations
campaigning within UNISON's criteria for affiliations.
145 BRANCH FUNDING and finally …
It wouldn't be conference …… it wouldn't be a Scottish briefing
without mentioning money. If you manage your branch membership
records at the branch, you'll see the merit in Glasgow's amendment.
It's not profligate (… ask John Stevenson…) but it will give you
the resources to pay for the organisational duties which have
passed to your Branch, so says Mike Kirby, Chair Glasgow City
Branch AKA Scottish Convenor.
top |
