Personal report of UNISON National Executive Council 3rd April 2019

The main business of this meeting was conference business, considering recommendations on motions and proposed rule amendments from the NEC sub committees and agreeing a provisional policy position from the NEC. The vast majority of the 131 motions accepted onto the preliminary agenda - the NEC position was Support (S).

Motions where the position is other than Support (S):

Motion 3 – Protection and membership for Casualised workers – Support and amend (S) and (A). Proposes to recruit casualised workers and to develop strategy on why casualization matters. To check eligibility for membership.

Motion 7 Time for Change – a review of how UNISON is structured and funded. Remit. (R) Similar to ‘Composite A’ which was rejected by Conference last year.

Motion 17 Suicide awareness training for stewards (S) and (A) The amendment is intended to ensure that suicide awareness is incorporated into a broad package of Mental Health awareness training to help stewards signpost members to find help appropriately.

Motion 24 – Menopause. (S) and (A) Recognising also the menopause can affect younger women.

Motion 34 – CCTV screening of staff in Private houses. (S) and (A). Amendment as motion refers to GDPR but MPs could only review ‘UK Data protection legislation’.

Motion 36 – Campaign to change HMRC Mileage rates (S) and (A). include reference to Green travel plans and investigate whether doubts about HMRC methods for calculating mileage rates offer a strong basis to run a campaign to highlight the injustice of this situation to the HMRC.

Motion 51 – Intergenerational commission report. (S) and (A) The parts of the motion on removing zero hours contracts etc. were fine. Motion calls for retired and young UNISON members to work together to highlight the truth behind the problems facing younger workers and provide alternative proposals which do not divide the generations.

Motion 56, 57 Tories out! General election now. Defer (D) to be discussed with political committees.

Motion 59 Democracy Defer (D). Proposes change to political funds. Political committees should have input.

Motion 61 Free our unions – repeal the anti-union laws. Support with qualifications (S) with (Q). Qualification – consider tactical considerations how demands sit in relation to the Institute of Employment Rights labour law manifesto. Need to work with TUC, STUC, WTUC and ICTU.

Motion 63 – Democratic socialism – defer to the political committee.

Motion 66 – Blood donation campaign (S) and (A) Issue with language. BAME changed to Black.

Motion 75 – The Fire service after Grenfell. – (S) and (A). Amendment to incorporate Fire Brigades Union (FBU) policy.

Motion 76 – PFI. (S) And (A). Amendment to reflect commitments made by Labour since last year’s conference.

Motion 79 – Nationalise the Big Drug Companies – Oppose and amend. (O) and (A). Not a priority for Labour to nationalise, expensive. Investigate public intervention in the pharmaceutical industry to bring down costs.

Motion 83 – Venezuela – Defeat attempted Capitalist coup. (O) Oppose. Confused motion with contentious elements. NEC has agreed a statement opposing external intervention in Venezuela and calling for a peaceful, domestic solution to the problems the country faces.

Motion 84 – Cuba 60 (S) and (A) include Welsh TUC.

Motion 86 – (S) and (A) Solidarity with the uprising for democratic change in Sudan. Change El Bashir to Al Bashir.

Motion 89 – (S) and (A) Solidarity with Rojava – Change ISIS to Daesh.  

Motion 90 – Freedom for Ocalan – (S) and (A)

Motion 91 – Palestine – (S) and (A) Notes Israel’s regime of apartheid and colonialism. Supports BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions).

Motion 92 – Palestine – (S) and (A) very similar to above.

Motion 93, 94 – Palestine (S) and (A) Calls for end to arms trade with Israel, encourage support for Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Motion 95 - Palestine (S) and (A).

Motion 100 – (D) and (A) defer for discussion with Disabled members – Make 2021 the year of disabled workers.

Motion 108 – Decriminalisation for Safety – Oppose. Existing UNISON/NDC policy is adopt the ‘Nordic model’. Policy subcommittee of NEC discussed and asks to oppose.

Motion 115 – UNISON to become much more proactive in reducing it’s Carbon Emissions. (S) and (A). e.g. Use Video conferencing more.

Motion 117 – Abolish Trust/Foundation status in the NHS. Seek withdrawal. In line with policy but removing trust status could be counterproductive.

Motion 118 – Abolish NHS car parking charges (S) – An NEC member stated we needed to take a holistic view as in his area 37% had no access to a car. We should have free public transport from the city centre and not have giant car parks at hospitals.

Motion 123 (S) and (A) – Universal Credit in work conditionality. (A) seeks to make the case for ending in work conditionality.

Motion 125 (S) and (A) – Universal Credit/PIP assessments – (A) Takes the policy proposals further.

Motion 127 (S) and (A) – Reduction in Branch Funding. Review processes and systems.

Motion 129 (S) and (A) – On line joiners. (A) - Ensure that the ability to join online and pay by DOCAS, is rolled out to the largest 500 employers where there is a DOCAS agreement.

Motion 131 Working women and access to a refuge. Defer (D).

Rule Amendments – Support except:

5. Rule C - Arrears of subscriptions - Oppose – Change 3 months to 4 weeks. Not an issue before. A lot of members get paid monthly how would this physically work?

6. Rule D - The Right to attend and speak – Oppose – Conflict with Rule D 1.8.1 also 7. And 8. Rule D Standing orders committee. – Oppose.

12., 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 – all Oppose. There was some debate on this at the NEC on the proposed rule change from annual elections for Branch officer positions to biennial. I spoke to say I opposed these Rule changes as the issue was about democratic accountability. If members were unhappy with Branch officers it could mean 18 months or more to remove them through elections if they were biennial. Members should be able to assess their branch leadership every year. Another NEC member said he would be happy to have NEC elections every year if the argument is put shouldn’t the same rule apply to NEC Elections.

A proposal was put to leave it to conference to decide rather than the NEC taking a position. The vote was taken and the result was 41 to oppose these proposed rule changes and 8 to leave it to conference to decide.

22, 23 Rule I Disciplinary action – Proposal to change the longest period a member can be barred from office to change from 3 years to 2 years. NEC position – Oppose.

Draft NEC Annual report – in response to this John Jones from Water, Environment and Transport service (WET) group and the North West said the report should reference the first strike in the Water Industry since 1992. It was stated that any proposed changes to the report would have to be signed off by the Presidential team. 

In addition, the NEC voted to suggest 12 motions and six rule amendments to be prioritised for debate at conference.

The motions are:

•  motion 77 – Progressive taxes to end austerity;
•  motion 22 – Smash the gender pay gap;
•   motion 1 – Developing organising resources in branches and regions;
•   motion 47 – Austerity and public service;
•   motion 126 – Resourcing our branches – a UNISON priority;
•   motion 80 – Curbing corporate power;
•   motion 121 – Stopping social insecurity;
•   motion 70 – Tackling the crisis in social care;
•   motion 9 – Addressing the skills crisis through UNISON learning;
•   motion 102 – The trade union response to fascism – No Pasaran;
•   motion 81 – Brazil;
•   motion 111 – Energy: Climate change – a just transition and jobs for a low carbon economy.

The rule changes the NEC wants to prioritise are:

• rule amendment 1 – Schedule B: benefits of members in education;
• rule amendment 4 – Rule C: obligations of membership;
• rule amendment 19 – Rule G: branch meetings;
• rule amendment 20 – Rule G: branch officers;
• rule amendment 21 ­– Rule G: the branch secretary;
• rule amendment 2 – Rule B: union democracy.

NEC Conference plan – National Delegate Conference was 18^th – 21^st June 2019 in Liverpool. There was an international guest speaker from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. Plus one further speaker under consideration. 

General Secretary’s report - Dave Prentis – Brexit – we were 9 days from leaving with no deal. The richest people would not feel the effect if the UK left on WTO (World Trade Organisation) terms. Public services would suffer. We did not want to fall into recession or to impinge on the Good Friday agreement. A customs union with access to the single market would be the safest way on jobs and services with no hard border in Ireland. We want a General Election if we can get one. There had been a long discussion at the Policy committee (subcommittee) of the NEC. Policy was: 

1. We continue to support the call for a General Election. 

2. We support an extension of Article 50.

3. Preventing a “no deal“ Brexit is an absolute priority for our union to avoid the devastating economic consequences for our members and our public services.

4.  An overriding priority will remain the protection of our members in Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement.

5. We support the Common Market 2.0 /Norway Plus option.

6. If these options fail and to avoid the devastating consequences of no deal, UNISON, in principle supports a confirmatory public vote on any deal that then emerges. 

An NEC member raised the worry of the far right trying to capitalise on the current situation (which they had done with protests on 29^th March). The Government wasn’t governing and austerity was continuing. A repetition of the referendum could see massive divisions again but even worse. People voted leave or remain for both good and bad reasons but a General election could offer a way to unite people out of the impasse.   

The vote was taken to support the above policy which was agreed by 39 votes to 8. I voted in favour. 

Universal Credit – this was having a terrible impact - we needed to step up the fight to have it ended and reviewed. 

Dave Prentis had met with Jeremy Corbyn to talk about Brexit and the issues to be addressed in the next election. 

We were conducting more ballots on industrial action than the rest of the other unions put together. 

A Scottish NEC member referred to a ballot of homecare workers in Dundee – a consultative ballot with a turnout of over 80% with a large majority to take strike action. This had got the Council back round the table. 

Congratulations were given to Hope not Hate for their work in foiling a far-right murder plot against Labour MP Rosie Cooper. 

Recruitment campaign - There was to be a recruitment campaign in May. Aimed at recruitment and growth to build on the ‘Grovember’ campaign.

A working group review of NEC ballots was presented with lessons to be learned aiming to identify good practice with high levels of lay member involvement. North West NEC members reported back on good practice in NW Region with the collective disputes team and Alternative Futures Group and also Lifeways in Salford.  

Personal report of UNISON National Executive Council 6th December 2018

There were 2 vacancies on the Campaign Fund sub committee of the NEC. There would be a meeting at lunchtime to vote to fill these.

There was a reportback on the ‘Grovember’ recruit campaign. 18,101 members had joined in November, 11,380 leavers gave a net growth of greater than 6,000. 75% joined online taking on average 3 minutes. An NEC member said in his Region members could not join online and pay by DOCAS (Deduction of Contributions at Source). Was this a conscious decision? And when would this be reintroduced? A fuller report on recruitment activities during Grovember would be produced.

Organising update – Working month in, month out ensures a consistent recruitment rate. One of the AGS’s (Assistant General Secretary’s) said our visibility in the workplace was key.

Service Group pay campaigns – There was a dispute at iFM in Bolton, staff had won implementation of the 3 year NHS pay deal after Industrial Action.

Brexit – UNISON had created it’s own six tests for any Brexit deal based on National Delegate conference decisions including protecting workers rights, protecting public services form any bad economic deal that would also continue public service austerity, keep UK public services out of global trade deals, maintain EU citizen rights, EU freedom of movement and prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, uphold the Good Friday agreement and respect the devolution legislation of the Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The NEC agreed to support an opposition vote against the draft Withdrawal agreement and Political declaration. To prevent a no deal if the deal does not pass through parliament – call for a General election with a political strategy to support it. Table a vote of no confidence in the Government. Reject or amend the Government’s statement of how it will proceed or give parliament itself new powers to take over the negotiations. Call for an extension to Article 50 so that a better deal can be negotiated. Give the NEC discretion to call for a public vote on the deal if none of the above can enable positive changes in the draft withdrawal agreement. (in line with Labour party and TUC conference motions). Campaign against a future EU-UK deal based on a Free Trade agreement option. Campaign for a future EU-UK deal that includes UNISON’s six tests.

Some NEC members raised a point about having a demonstration to force the Tories from office and not let the far right take to the streets with a ‘Brexit betrayal’ narrative.

NEC election procedures for the 2019 election were agreed – although not unanimously. Para 57 of the procedures:

57. To ensure that UNISON remains an independent and representative trade union where all members have the right to fully and fairly participate, no nominee or candidate shall invite or accept any donation or contribution in money or kind from any outside organisation or company, including from any provider of goods or services to UNISON, any political party, or any employer in which UNISON organises. For the avoidance of doubt, an ‘outside organisation or company’ includes but is not limited to, an organisation, club, association or other entity which consists wholly or partly of UNISON members and which is not provided for in UNISON rules. In determining whether or not something fits into this category, income, resources and formal structures would be considered. This is not an exhaustive list.

Some NEC members said they struggled with of how a grouping of UNISON members could be an ‘outside organisation’ if members wanted to collectively organise to change the direction of the union they should be able to. Another NEC member said this change could lead people to create mischief if they do not like the outcome of an election and was a hammer to crush a nut. Another NEC member said at the last NEC elections individuals were part of an outside organisation under this definition producing leaflet’s etc. and now didn’t want to admit it. It was about protectionism for one group and not another. There was a lengthy debate – a vote was proposed to move to a vote – this was carried 26 For and 19 Against.

An amendment to delete paragraph 57 (after ‘for the avoidance of doubt’) was lost by 29 votes to 16 with 3 abstaining.

An amendment to delete paragraph 58 was lost by 32 votes to 11 with 3 abstaining.

In Appendix G a new bullet point letter H to allow branches in Regional Supervision to nominate was carried by 41 to 2 with 0 abstentions.

An amendment to delete the whole of Paragraph 57 was lost by 33 to 9 with 3 abstentions.

An amendment to delete the whole of paragraph 58 was lost by 33 to 10 with 3 abstentions.

The final vote was for the whole of the paper with the Appendix G amend – 33 for 7 against with 3 abstentions.

General Secretary report – messages of support were sent to all still taking industrial action. The Camden NSL dispute was referred to, Bolton iFM, Barnsley teaching assistants, Kirklees bin workers, Birmingham care workers. Bradford University had dropped plans for redundancies. Glasgow where 8000 women had got coverage across the world.  

The union’s objectives for 2019 were agreed and also the budget for 2019 and agreed policy on motions not reached at the 2018 national delegate conference.