Conference preview
![Lilian Macer](graphics/lilianfront.jpg) |
|
Lilian Macer |
Stephen Smellie |
UNISON Scotland Delegates to National
Delegate Conference, Convener Lilian Macer and Depute
Convener Stephen Smellie, preview the main debates at
National Delegate Conference.
Lilian Macer and Stephen Smellie were elected
at the Scottish Council of branches as Scotland's delegates
to Conference.
Delegates should use them as a source of
information and they 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 Scotland 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 128 motions, 32 Amendments to Rule and
associated amendments to the conference agenda.
Re-prioritising
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.
Therefore if your favourite is not discussed
below, it is unlikely to be debated first time around
and the only alternative will be in the re-prioritisation
exercise. This will take place on Wednesday evening/ Thursday
morning, for Friday afternoon business.
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.
The following Scottish motions are likely
to be prioritised on the agenda for conference:
The Scottish Council meeting in April agreed
Scotland's priorities. In this briefing we look at the
motions likely to be prioritised with some comments on
the issues.
Recruiting and Organising - Motions 1 to
13
Motions in this section of the agenda will
focus on the union's organising strategy ensuring it is
fit to cope with the onslaught of savage cuts on our current
and future members. These include motions and amendments
from 1 through to 13 and are supportable from a UNISON
Scotland perspective.
Motion 1 highlights the shocking statistic
that the Tory-led coalition policies left unchecked will
see well in excess of 1 million job losses by 2018.
Motion 4 raises the importance of workplace
learning and the need to use learning as an organising
tool. Additionally it looks to address the links between
education and learning for members to fight the government's
cuts agenda.
The amendment 4.1 Lanarkshire Health, stresses
the importance of establishing with employers learning
agreements to advance UNISON's aims and objectives.
Motions 5 and 6 around organising in a fragmented
workforce is likely to be a composite. Now confirmed
as Composite A, Wednesday afternoon.
Motion 8, South Lanarkshire calls for research
into the impact on the well-being of stewards given the
demands placed on them, with a view to putting in place
support mechanisms for stewards and members.
Motion 10, West Dunbartonshire reaffirms
the decision making process within the membership within
the democratic structures of the union.
Motion 11 has a very helpful amendment 11.2
from Scotland highlighting the excellent work in Scotland
of our educational programme being delivered by lay activists
The NEC are likely to ask for remit of Motion
13, ‘Motion 9 Self Organisation Group Review-Next
Steps’, as a consequence of ongoing work.
Negotiating and Bargaining Motions 14 to
28
Motions in this section will cover the conditions
of service including pay and health and safety within
the workplace. These include motions and amendments from
14 through to 28 and are supportable from a UNISON Scotland
perspective.
Motion 16 and 67 on Collective Bargaining
are likely to be composited (confirmed as Comp
B), as are motions 25, 27 and 28 on Pay
(confirmed as Comp C Tuesday afternoon). Amendment
25.4 from Lanarkshire Health highlights UNISON's achievements
within NHS Scotland on the living wage.
Motion 17 from South Lanarkshire calls for support for
branches facing compulsory redundancies.
Motion 19 from Aberdeenshire raises concerns
around the expectations for school support staff in the
administration of medication and the undue pressure placed
on staff who don't have the necessary skill set to deliver
this task.
Public Services - Motions 30 to 45
Motion 30 Stop Probation Privatisation can
be linked to the current Scottish Parliament consultation
on adult offenders.
Motion 31 is the National Executive Council's
flagship motion on Public Services which highlights the
inequalities that have materialised as a consequence of
the government's cuts agenda.
This has a direct impact on Scotland through
the budgetary allocation from Westminster.
Motions 35 and 36 (now Comp D)
highlight the excellent campaigning activity on the Ethical
Care Charter through UNISON Scotland's Time to Care survey
which has focused communities on the need for quality
in provision and time to deliver meaningful outcomes.
These motions are likely to form a composite.
Motion 38 from Aberdeenshire highlights the need to campaign
for affordable council housing with a focus on a detailed
programme of building responsive to the local unmet need.
This is excellent opportunity to promote
the UNISON Scotland's Young Members campaign and the publication
of the Young Members Housing Guide 2014/15.
Health - Motions 46 to 48
Motion 46, An NHS for the Future and the
amendment 46.6 from Lanarkshire Health highlights the
potential for privatisation with the introduction of Health
and Social Care Integration.
Campaigns - Motions 49 to 58
Motions 50 and 51 from Northern and South
West regions on immigration, UKIP and the fight against
policies of hate are likely to form a composite (confirmed
as Comp E)
Economy, Employment Rights, Pensions -
Motions 59 to 74
Motions 68, 69, 70, 71 on Zero Hours Contracts
support the campaigns in Scotland from UNISON and the
STUC on the policies that allow these contracts to attack
the terms and conditions of working people. This is likely
to form a composite (confirmed as Comp F Tuesday
morning).
Motion 66 from Renfrewshire focuses on Poverty
and Government Attacks.
Motion 74 from City of Edinburgh on the Retirement Age,
sets out a number of activities to ensure equality and
well-being.
International - Motions 75 to 86
Motion 76, Bhopal - Supporting the Campaign
for Justice is supported by amendment 76.1 from Lanarkshire
Health. The Scottish FDO has supported a bid from the
Health and Safety Committee and International Committees
to send delegates to seek justice for the people blighted
by this disaster.
There will also be an International Seminar
on 19 and 20 September in Manchester bringing together
activists from Scotland, Northern and the North West and
Bhopal will be part of the discussion.
Motion 77, 78, 79 on Palestine. This is
International Year of Solidarity for the Palestinian people.
Motion 81 on Turkey is from South Lanarkshire.
Motions 85 and 86, Transatlantic Trade &
Investment Partnership will likely form a composite (confirmed
as Comp G). TTIP could have hidden implications
for contracting of public services and potential adverse
effects on employment rights.
Constitutional Reform - Motions 93 to 97
Scotland’s Motion 93 on Scotland’s
Future highlights the right for Scotland to set policy
in relation to devolved matters.
The right of self-determination is recognised
throughout UNISON and our Fairer Scotland document sets
out the challenging position adopted by UNISON Scotland
members. We want to live in a society where a public sector
workforce that cares, cures and educates is acknowledged
to be not a drain on society, but an achievement of society.
Motion 94 from South Lanarkshire on 'Scottish
Independence Referendum’ is not prioritised.
Motion 95 (Lewisham Healthcare) on 'Scottish
Referendum': well what can I say about this motion? Perhaps
Lewisham would benefit from attending the UNISON Scotland
fringe organised for the Tuesday lunchtime!
Northern Ireland - Motion 98
Scotland’s Amendment 98.1 criticises
the roll-back on human rights and highlights the lack
of political will to use equality impact assessments to
tackle discrimination, making links with the same problem
in Great Britain.
Efficient and Effective Union - Motions
112 to 128
The Branch Resources motions are likely
to form a composite (Motions 112, 114, 115, 116, 117)
(Glasgow City amendments & Scottish motion included
in this composite). This should be supported.
Lambeth/Bromley amendments 112.2,112.3,
113.2, 114.1, 115.2, 116.1 117.2 are not in line with
the first principle of the review and therefore should
be opposed.
UPDATE: Comp H actually
takes in Motions 112, 114, 115 and 117. Amendments 112.1,
112.2, 112.3, 114.1, 115.1, 115.2, 117.1 and 117.2, leaving
Scotland's 116 following it in the debate
on Thursday morning. Further advice will be issued at
Conference.
Motion 122 from City of Edinburgh highlights
the issue of people facing legal action as part of their
jobs and the need to use the support they received from
UNISON as a recruitment tool.
Amendments to Rule
There will be a separate Scottish briefing
on Rule Amendments given to branches on the Wednesday
of conference.
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