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.