General Secretary's report
A dispute with the NEU has been lodged at the TUC, as the NEU has been recruiting school support staff and actively seeking to discuss NJC pay for school and Further Education support staff. Christina was disappointed that 4 Socialist Party members of the NEC had criticised UNISON in a public statement about this. The chairs of Local Government, Schools Committee and Schools NJC made the decision. Schools are over a third of local government branches. School budgets have been cut massively. The NEU is taking this up as they don’t want teacher pay rises to mean cuts to support staff. There was some criticism of UNISON informing employers of the inter-union dispute and our non-cooperation with the NEU, though Christina countered that the NEU were first to write to employers.
The NEU may get a positive ballot for action and our members will have to decide what to do. NEC members stated that circulars telling members what they cannot do at such times are unhelpful, and we need to focus on what members can do. There is a risk that more members will leave and join NEU. We do need to say we should show solidarity, in the morning before work and members should not do work done by striking colleagues.
In the heath ballot, Christina was disappointed that only 8 branches got over the 50% threshold but it was our best result ever with a 34% national turnout. 5 ambulance trusts will strike on 21st December and UNISON will reballot others that came close.
Lots of unions are out on strike over pay, NEC members stated, many with increased intensity of strike days. We need to ensure real solidarity and there was a call for lunchtime rallies for ambulance strikers on 21st December.
Together We Rise campaign – there had been a lobby of Parliament and rally, which received good press coverage. Christina had been on a TUC delegation to Madrid, where it was refreshing to hear Spain has a socialist coalition government unapologetically speaking up for workers’ rights.
An NEC member reported on a legal ruling in Scotland regarding a UNISON member who wanted to stand in a local election and was sacked for this. She won in court with a discrimination claim. Christina would ensure this was reviewed for its implications by our own legal team.
Presidential Team’s report
The President’s charity (the Endeavour Project) removes barriers for victims of domestic abuse and violence to leave e.g. pet care, which can stop people leaving horrendous situations. There was support from the NEC for this. Thanks were given for presidential team attending disabled members conference.
Standing Orders for NEC meetings
Standing orders were agreed for NEC meetings. It is surprising that the NEC has no standing orders or rules for its meetings. These were necessary to help the NEC get through business. For example, points of order are now clarified as to what these are and how to raise them, which should reduce unwarranted interruptions to NEC meetings.
Organising update
There has been a big increase in membership particularly in health branches for October and November during the health ballot. Scotland has also done particularly well. In June 2022 we had lost 21,000 members net, but by November 2022 this had turned into a 6,000 net gain. Mobilisations over pay would continue into 2023 so there was every reason to be optimistic about membership.
The Assistant General Secretary for Regions confirmed the improvements to the paper presented which was much shorter and not consisting only of reams of crude statistics. Papers would in future deliver more analysis rather than bare statistics
Service Group pay campaigns
Pay is the biggest issue for members. There is a 2% public service pay cap for next year. There is a desire to take action earlier than UNISON has done previously on pay claims. UNISON is currently re-balloting 49 branches with HE members who were close to 50% previously. We will be using Movement, the union’s new phone banking system, which is much better than previous systems, as part of this.
We missed out on the environmental health ballot by one vote nationally, which shows that every vote really does count. There was discussion about tactics during ballots, and that publicity that appeals only to those already convinced of the need to vote YES could be complemented by publicity later in the ballot which seeks to persuade all members of the need to have their say, regardless of their views.
At the Environment Agency, members are much angrier now than previous years and got a good ballot result. Their action will start as action short of strike action, alongside some strikes in out of hours work (for which the pay is extremely low). This is being coordinated with other trade unions.
At CQC, there has been an offer of 2%, so we are moving to ballot.
In FE, local action is likely.
In Health, the consultation on an improved offer (worth 7.5% on the pay bill) ends next week in Scotland. If this is accepted by members, it makes clear there is a political choice to increase pay as this offer comes from the Scottish devolved government.
Northern Ireland has no government currently so nothing settled so far on pay. Action short of strike action will take place this week, and strike action starts next week.
England and Wales, where we have 300,000 members who were balloted: thanks went from the NEC to all who helped. Last time there was a national health ballot, the turnout was 14%, this time the average was 34%. 8 employers got over the line in England, including 5 ambulance trusts who had done work previously on getting home address data beforehand and who all had good pledge responses before the ballot.
The closest next 10 employers will be re-balloted quickly. West Midlands ambulance trust got 49.5% turnout, 17 votets short and where 19 members had spoilt their ballots. 81,000 members took part, up from 26,000 in 2014. 830 staff and activists helped phonebank with Movement through a whole-union effort. 140,000 members were emailed or accepted a call, Many said they would vote but we must conclude that many didn’t. Work will done as a matter of urgency to understand what members thought of the campaign and to learn lessons. We have commissioned research already: was it the message (too strong for YES, perhaps putting off NO voters from voting at all) or people being too busy, or something else. In 50 employers, 80% of members were contacted. We need to understand why it was less is many others.
The first strike will be on 21st December and will be mainly ambulance trust members. Rolling action will follow in January and February. We are planning now for: Industrial Action strategy; the re-balloting project; solidarity action to take for those members who cannot strike; learning from the ballot (research commissioned as above). We can regard the ballot as a building exercise. We have proved in some employers it can be done, we now have to use that mandate wisely and build elsewhere.
Coordinates strike action – does not necessarily mean all members coming out at the same time. We may sequence branches taking action after a first day.
Work is being done to improve donation levels to strike funds.
Industrial action report
The chair of the Industrial Action Fund reported that we are winning smaller disputes and reported back on Barnet’s successful dispute in local government, and several others. It was resolved that the NEC would write to all such branches and thank them. There are lots more ballots than ever before.
Finance
The management accounts for the 10 months to 31st October 2022 were approved. There was an operating deficit of £1.2m rather than £2.3m predicted for the first ten months. The Finance Committee will be reviewing the larger variances in budget lines at its next meeting in January where it will also have the draft full year results.
UNISON Direct
UNISON Direct is now directly governed by UNISON after UIA Insurance (which used to run it) was agreed to be wound down due to not being a going concern. The NEC will be asked to elect three nominees to support the work of governing and developing UNISON Direct henceforth.
National Standing Orders Committee
It was agreed unanimously that Becky Brookman would replace Amerit Rait, who could not stay on the committee due to becoming Vice-President.
Motions not reached at conference
The NEC was presented with a paper outlining which paid officers will pick up the motions, however it was agreed that it is easy to lose track as an NEC member the outcomes of the motions. The President acknowledged this and agreed to seek a paper from officers which would help to keep the NEC updated.
Motions not reached will go back to relevant committees for discussion.
