Conference preview

Regional Delegates to National Delegate Conference, Convener Lilian Macer and Stephen Smellie, preview the main debates at National Delegate Conference.

Lilian Macer and Stephen Smellie are Scotland’s delegates to Conference, elected by the Scottish Council of branches earlier this year. They are an essential source of information and fulfil a key organisational role.

They can help you liaise with other branches and regions throughout the week. They will know how debates are being organised, who to speak to and, more importantly, how to get to speak.

They will advise on Scottish policy and will speak for the Region in debates. Here they preview the main debates at National Delegate Conference.

Branches, regions, self organised groups, retired and young members and the National Executive Council have submitted 136 motions, 23 Amendments to Rule and associated amendments to the conference agenda.

The experience of recent years is that conference will manage to discuss between 30/35 or so of these motions, many of which will find themselves in composites agreed by the bodies submitting the original motions. If your favourite motion is on the prioritised list but unlikely to be heard, there is a chance to re-prioritise for the Friday afternoon session.

Priorities

The Scottish Council meeting in April agreed Scotland’s priorities. The Standing Orders Committee (SOC) has balloted regions, the NEC, self organised groups, National Young Members’ Forum and the National Retired Members’ Committee on what motions should be prioritised for debate at the National Delegate Conference. Only these prioritised motions will be on the agenda. 14 motions (eight prioritised) and five amendments are from Scotland this year.

Organisation and Recruitment Motions 1, 2

The NEC (1) and Wales (2) motions reflect the approval agreed previously and, with helpful amendments from the National Young Members Forum and LGBT Committee, is non contentious - getting it implemented across the union remains a challenge. A number of branches are keen to ensure that the success of the November 30th pensions strike in recruiting new members is noted.

Pay and Pensions 12, 13, 22, 14 and 16

The frustration over pay freezes is reflected in motions 12 and 13 and the campaign for a Living Wage is taken up in 22. The pensions debate will have two elements to it. Firstly reflecting the pension campaign (motion 14 and amendment) and secondly the raising of the state retirement age to 68 (Motion16).

Health and Safety 23, 6

Concerns about the attack on health and safety by the UK Government are reflected in a number of motions including 23 from the NEC. Motion 6 from South Lanarkshire addresses the issue of stewards and officers dealing with the impact on members of stress and the subsequent pressure on our activists.

Constitutional Issue 20, 32

Both Scotland (20) and Northern Ireland (32) address the need for UNISON's strategies and structures to reflect the challenges of devolution and the differing legislation and political framework which exists across the four nations of the UK.

The Economy, the Alternative and Public Services 39-45

There are many motions which address the deficiencies and impact of Government economic policy and UNISON's alternative to this. Glasgow Caledonian University (45) contributes in the debate on defending public services with the NEC motion (43) summarising existing policy, taking preference over Aberdeenshire’s 39 and Edinburgh’s 31 which are not prioritised, although Glasgow’s 41 is.

Housing and Welfare Reform 38, 55, 90, 92

Many motions are concerned with the growing housing crisis and the attacks on the Welfare State. The Scottish motion (90) will be part of this debate and is likely to contribute to a consensus on campaigning to resist the ConDem reforms and defend our members on the front line. Aberdeenshire has motion 38 on ending child poverty and 92 on fuel poverty as well as an amendment to 55 on housing benefit.

International issues 107 - 118

The international motions on Palestine (107-109), Iran (110 and 111), Bahrain (112) Cuba (113), Colombia (114), Haiti (115), Burma (116), Swaziland (117) and Tamil Solidarity (118) may not all be heard but demonstrate the wide interest UNISON has in supporting the oppressed across the world.

Employment Rights 93

The threats to trade union organising in the public sector and attacks on employment rights will be a major session although one with little debate since all motions, led by the NEC (93) commit UNISON to oppose the Government's policies.

Privatisation and Health 64 - 71

Conference motions seldom celebrate success so Edinburgh's motion (64) is welcome. It refers to the successful campaign to prevent the council privatising 4,000 jobs. Other motions re-affirm policy to oppose privatisation generally and specifically in Police (65), through strategic partnerships (66) and the continuing PFI scandal (67 and 68). The destruction of the NHS in England through the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill is reflected in motions 69-71. The decision of the TUC to call a mass demonstration in October should satisfy the demand raised in a number of the amendments.

Equalities 76 - 89

Several motions reflect our commitment to pursuing equality across the spectrum (76-79) and the link between Government policy and the impact on the rights of women, Black and older people (80-85) and the activity of the far-right (86, 88 and 89). The amendment from North Ayrshire in motion 87 welcomes the publication of UNISON Scotland's booklet on Gypsy Travellers but is not prioritised. Strathclyde Police and Fire have an amendment to 83 on elder abuse.

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