1) 3 NEC
resignations - all low paid seats in London, East Midland and South west.
2) Motions agreed to send to national conference:
A)
Combating the rise in discrimination through activist training. A suggested
amendment that equality courses are not mandatory to be a rep but encouraged
given lack of facility time for many reps could end up excluding those unable
to attend. Motion based on fear that several legal cases have involved unions
being taken to court so equality training has to be mandatory to prevent legal
risks.
It's been
a year since any course on racism in the workplace had
been
completed. It was agreed to produce an "attacking racism workbook" that
people could take away. We needed to look at different modes of provision of
training over equality. Agreed equality could be included in induction
courses.
B)
Growing activism in the union.
C)
Palestine the right to defend human and worker rights.
Defends
boycott, divest and sanctions campaign in face of potential ban by Tory
government.
D)
solidarity with Zimbabwe
E)
campaigning for public services after the 2019 general election.
Suggested
we add "works with lab link to seek that labour politicians are supportive
of the wider policies of unison, do not make decisions to their detriment, but
act to offer solidarity, practical support including lawful no cuts
budget." Lost 18/29. Leadership argued Labour councils are the first level
of protection - and no evidence there is disillusion with labour because Labour
councils make cuts. Policy committee will look at whether anything to learn
from councils like Salford who are doing lawful no cuts budgets.
F) Green
Unison and the Climate Emergency.
Says need
2030 deadline and even this may need to be brought forward.
Motion
only referred to energy sector workers, proposed add water, environment and
transport sectors as key workers in climate emergency who in unison are fully
supportive of action needed.
Amendment
to look at lawful industrial action by workers in response to impact of climate
change - was lost. Scottish delegate said there was lots of discussions across the UK, will be one
big demo as well as other activities, likely to be on Saturday, he suggested we
get ready to book trains to Glasgow. Agreed we need workplace bargaining guides
which may lead to industrial action. Opposition to lawful industrial action but
agreement we should negotiate with employers to be able to join protest over
climate emergency. Young member reps said we should support young people in
school strikes.
Lost
amendments on climate walk outs and on exploring potential for lawful
industrial action.
G)
Organising for health and safety
H)
Insecure work and digitisation in the workplace
I)
Protecting migrant worker rights
Added our
opposition to deportation for convicted migrants. And criticism of lack of
Windrush payments.
J)
mobilising members in defence of the NHS
K) pay up
now - time to reverse a decade of damage.
L) the
risks of post Brexit UK trade deals.
3) Rule
amendments to go to national conference:
A)
Members who are in another union and actively recruit or organise in other
union cannot stand for election in unison.
Example
given of one branch Branch Secretary of UNISON who is the equality officer for UNITE, with
access to branch lists so put branch into regional supervision as could not
discipline Branch Secretary. Despite challenge has gone through to conference.
B) Suspensions can be extended to more than 60 days, not just for financial
irregularities.
Lots of
criticisms of existing practice of disciplinary processes, hence criticisms of
extending it. NEC not even informed of who had been suspended which allows no
lay oversight.
In the
debate after Karen Reisssmann, NW NEC member was subjected to personal comments. The Chair said she had asked at the
beginning for avoiding unpleasant comments and they needed to stop. There was advice from
the chair before lunch to avoid personal insults.
5)
National conference. Planning taking place.
6)
Accounts approved.
All draft
so far.
2019
budget slightly lower than previously, cautious, but income £3m up from
last year. Recruitment drive good.
Allocation
to branch flows from last year. Uplift £1.5m. Similar to last 2 years.
Spending within expectations, £2m less than last year. Savings £1.5m realised.
Surplus
£1.5m.
7) branch
resource review. Regions, NEC and staff had met three times. Fringe meetings at
national conference to explain progress.
8)
General secretary report
A) one of
our lawyers named as one of the top 100 lawyers in uk. Congratulations.
B)
Barnardo night shift workers in supreme court. Result takes four months
C) Dave
attended Holocaust Memorial in Camden, with Kier Starmer,
D) Black members
conference lots attended. Windrush not ended. Look at recent flight to Jamaica
Some offences when boy was 11. 40 years later to be deported. What is happening
is immoral, indefensible, will put out press release.
E) Women's and Health conferences will be huge this week.
F) Housing. Important issue, public sector workers cannot live in areas they
serve.
G) Internationally. Palestine, terrible Trump deal, tearing up two state solution,
settlements no longer illegal, Raab welcomed Trump as genuine proposal. We
stand in solidarity with Palestinian people to reject proposals. Continue to
call for two state solution. right of Palestinian people always important.
Press statement to go out.
H) Industrial action.
"At
the TUC Unite geeral Secreatry said they took more industrial action than all other unions
put together." This was challenged by UNISON.
In more
disputes, overwhelmingly women, we reach targets and can take lawful action.
E.g.
N Ireland
NHS workers took action win parity with England, reinstatement of agenda for
change and Stormomt.
Addaction Drug and alcohol workers, next strike 27/2 to 4/3 ending in a lobby of Wigan
council. Message of support agreed.
Higher education
- SOAS (School of African and Oriental Studies), Trinity, Dundee, Leban, aggregated ballot. Won thresholds. Even
in big ballots where we don't get threshold we do have some branches which do.
Medirest
NHS strikers North west - improvements on pay 17%, more sick and annual leave.
Strikes -
"UNISON has a winning formula a domino effect. Started with works for subcos. Low paid mainly women tell us they won't accept it."
J) COP26
Glasgow, demonstrations, we will play big part in organising, done before e.g.
Copenhagen. Will send out info soon. Will also put on two events - Green
energy, and Greening the city.
K) Labour Link, nominated Kier Starmer and Angela Rayner. Long discussion, lots of
criticism, lots of defence of process. Explained last time that labour link -
elected by region - who had responsibility to consult, conversations emails
etc, meet January and would make nominations. Some chose to vote with
regional view, some not, elected not mandated, but consultation took place.
Different from last time. But only for labour link to decide. This time nomination
decides whether they got on ballot. Decided to do early to give our preferred
candidate an advantage, and advertise unison. To ask members would have cost
money.. Had meeting of labour link 100% London voted Kier and Angie.
Concerns
expressed that rush to nominate and consultations not wide. Even though rules
call for widest possible consultation and electronic consultation was cheap, quick and possible.
Members
had expectation of being consulted. Too quick and not consulting has left a
sour taste in many members mouths. Asked for agreed process for future.
Dave
Prentis said there no mass resignations, complaints small, often by non lab link
payers. And objected to petition criticising the way the decision was made.
Gordon
Chair Lab Link said NEC members never ask members how they should vote, why
should lab link.
Others
spoke about the impact on Lab Link given the difficulty in getting new members
to sign up after the barriers Tories have created. Not consulting adds to
cynicism.
L) UCU
taking 14 days strike starting next Thursday. Gender, race pay equality,
against casualisation, pensions, request to look at any request for donation
favourably and to circulate to branches. UCU not asked for donation or support
yet. But would look at if they did.
M) question
asked re progress of Kirklees council branch currently under regional
supervision.
N)
Internal disciplinary. To double check process in Scottish case.
O) Lots
of other business deferred due to time.
M)
Pensions remedies after FBU PENSION case Flowers, will be dealt with in individual
pension schemes
