NEC minutes from May, June and July 2023 were all
agreed.
General Secretary’s Report - The report from
General Secretary Christina McAnea covered several key areas:
- Health
members in Northern Ireland are still in dispute since December 2022 to
secure pay parity.
- Local
Government in Scotland, schools and early years members are leading the
fight for better pay. GMB and Unite want to settle with employers in
Scotland, this is a complicating issue. Strike dates through November
& December in education.
- Local
Government. UNISON accepted the pay offer, with Unite taking action in
pockets, and the GMB ballot results not released yet. This is delaying the
process. Pay negotiations will be as difficult next year, as the Tory
Government is not giving ground.
- Labour
Party Conference. We got a commitment to fund a National Care Service, but
no details to be published. Also, a commitment to school support staff
negotiating rights.
- Conferences
attended: Police & Justice, Retired Members, TUC, Public Service
International and Labour Party.
- 2023
Year of Black Workers. Black History Month, this October, produced some
fantastic events, some based on personal contributions by individual
workers, highlighting their multi-faceted lives.
- Covid
19 Inquiry. Work continues, but UNISON focused on 2 of the 5 modules,
i.e., Health and “Every Story Matters”.
NEC members asked questions and raised the following points:
- Request
for a photo opportunity at the end of the meeting in support of the
Ashfield Academy strikers.
- The
Tory “war on woke” against the Trans community and refugees needs to be
challenged more effectively by our union.
- The
Equal Pay Claim struggle in Birmingham. Some workers are winning £200,000
pay outs, with others accepting the initial £45,000 offer. The second
generation of claims have been settled out of court, typically for
£45,000. The council do not seem to be learning lessons, so a third
generation of claims may develop. The Council declaring itself bankrupt
has caused a lot of worry to members. The Gen Sec confirmed that UNISON
will be lodging claims for members. The Council has really mishandled this
issue for years.
- The
issue of the LGBT+ SOG not having a stall at NDC. All SOGs should have the
right to have a stall at NDC. There is an increase in the oppression of
the Trans community, particularly in schools, and the Labour Party should
be pushed much further on their position.
- Request
for clarity on the legal case in Northern Ireland on members pay dispute.
Thanks given to the NEC for the support shown over the recent industrial
action including via increased strike pay. All out action by education
workers needs to be supported by the NEC in Northern Ireland.
- The
FE strikes in Scotland need more media coverage by UNISON communications
nationally. What further support can the union offer these workers?
- We
need to push the Labour Party on their commitment on the National Care
Service, and we have to avoid any watering down of our policy.
Presidential report - Vice President Steve North
reported that:
- The
Presidential Team had attended several conferences, including Police &
Justice, Retired Members and the TUC Congress.
- The
President and a wider UNISON delegation attended the 5 yearly Public
Services International (PSI) conference in Geneva. The event included a
fringe meeting on Tacking Climate Change in the Workplace which was
chaired by Tony Wright, Chair of the UNISON Policy Committee and was
attended by over 500 delegates from around the world.
- They
also attended a Stand Up to Racism event where the issue of attacks on
refugees by the far right had been debated.
- It
was announced that the Presidential Charity nominated by this year’s
President Libby Nolan this year will be Swansea Asylum Seekers Support,
and everyone was asked to share details wherever possible. You can find
details here and it would be great if all branches would consider
donating. About SASS |
Swansea Asylum Seekers Support.
- The
Presidential team reported that they have visited numerous picket lines
supporting members with their struggles, stating that it was an honour and
a privilege to attend the disputes. This included the now successful
Camden traffic warden strike, and the Ashfield academy strike in East
Midlands region where over 40 days of strike action on pay have now taken
place.
- There
has also been a visit to Cymru/Wales for Black History Month.
Statement on Palestine and Israel - Following a
detailed discussion, it was agreed that a new statement should be
issued on behalf of the union calling unequivocally for an immediate
ceasefire. You can read this statement here.
The union agreed a donation of £10,000 split between Medical
Aid for Palestinians and the Red Cross.
Liz Wheatley, chair of the NEC’s International Committee,
reminded us that before the recent horrific and unjustifiable attacks by Hamas,
the death toll for Palestinians was at its highest level in Gaza and the West
Bank for a number of years. She called for 5 points to be considered. (i) We
need a leading member from the union speaking on the PSC platform on Saturday
28th October in London. It could be our President. (ii) We need the new
statement to include a call for a ceasefire. (iii) The UNISON banner should be
on all marches and protests. (iv) The DBS Campaign should be highlighted to
branches and the links to the campaign sent out, underlining the complicity of
the Government. (v) There should be a large donation made by the union.
NEC members reported variously,
- that
members are very keen to get involved in demonstrations
- UNISON
policy describes Israel as an “apartheid” state, and our public
statements need to be clearer on this
- a
need for the union to put out a national call for all branches to bring
their banners to demos.
- disappointment
in the position of the Labour Party, banning shadow cabinet members, MPs
and Councillors from attending demos.
- That
the actions of Israel equate to genocide and need to be condemned more
strongly by UNISON.
- UNISON
need to learn the lessons of this recent development in the conflict, and
aim to organise and respond more quickly when international events
develop.
- The
recent developments are the result of 70 years of simmering injustice. We
need to call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the occupation.
