Personal report of the UNISON National Executive Council 12th February 2020

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