1. General Secretary report
· The Spring statement had occurred – should
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor reconsider the tight fiscal rules given the Trump tariff
chaos?
· Christina McAnea had been to New York for an event
organised by PSI (Public Services International).
· Benefit cuts of UK government – UNISON strongly
opposed these. Many disabled people could be pushed more into poverty.
· Ongoing Industrial Action was referred to
including the Livv Housing and Lancashire County Council disputes. Livv Housing
dispute had been raised at Government level.
· At Health Conference, Wes Streeting was received
‘not without controversy’.
· The murder of 15 Palestinian paramedics by the Israeli
Defence Force – ‘If that is not a war crime, I don’t know what is.’
· On welfare reform, the proposals were described
as ‘a major attack on disabled people’.
· National Black Members Conference is rescheduled
for May in Brighton.
· Employment Rights Bill had promised sick pay
from day one and Maternity and Paternity leave.
2. Presidential Team report
· Steve North, President referred to a draft
statement on Palestine that had been circulated for the NEC to consider. This
was circulated and amendments taken after the lunch break and the statement was
agreed.
· An NEC member referred to the Trump deportation
of a Trade Unionist to El Salvador. Trump says he is a ‘terrorist’.
· Unite workers’ bin strike – agreed to send a
message of solidarity. Strikers had voted 97% to Reject. The wider attacks on
our members in Birmingham were also discussed. For example, Adult’s Services is
making £43 million cuts. Angela Rayner’s role in the strike was discussed.
· The Presidential team had attended Women’s
conference, Community conference and Health conference.
National Delegate Conference (NDC) 2025
The remainder of the meeting was taken up almost entirely
with business relating to NDC 2025, to establish the NEC’s policy positions on
the record number of motions submitted.
· The NEC agreed it should appeal the Motion and
Rule Change it had submitted but were ruled out of order by the Standing Orders
Committee.
· The NEC agreed its policy positions on Motions
and Rule Amendments as discussed within the relevant Committees and with their
Recommendations provided as guidance.
· The NEC also agreed a number of amendments to
Motions, some of which had been discussed within Committees and others which
were taken on the day.
· The NEC agreed its priority motions and rule
amendment priorities. Motions were proposed as priorities: 1, 69, 30, 34, 54,
9, 64, 78, 23, 11, 59, 22.
· The Conference plan was explained by a
Vice-President. Zane’s family would receive Honorary Life membership. On Monday
12th May the final agenda will be published. NDC would showcase
organising and industrial action, as had happened successfully in 2024. There
will be 20 campaign groups present with solidarity stalls. The fringes as usual
will have a wide variety of themes.
Welfare reform
The great majority of the Bill’s proposals would be devastating
for disabled members. The vast majority of members would lose their PIP
(Personal independence Payment). If members lose PIP, they could lose their job.
This affects directly a large number of UNISON members who are disabled.
The proposals were considered by the NEC to be outrageous. To
say this legislation from a Labour government is ‘a disappointment’ is a severe
understatement.
There are 127 MPs in the ‘UNISON group’ in Parliament,
including one who was previously a representative of disabled members on the
NEC. We hope they will choose to oppose the legislation.
An NEC member referred to the People’s Assembly demonstration
titled ‘Welfare not Warfare’ on 7th June 2025 – could UNISON seek to
co organise or sponsor it? This would be looked into.
The meeting overran so at the close of the meeting at the
scheduled time of 4.00pm it was agreed that all remaining reports for
discussion were carried over to the next meeting.
