Ten years in UNISON

Moving on to greater things in our teenage years

Dave Prentis sets out UNISON's role now and in the future

In another virtuoso performance, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis looked back over UNISON's 10 years and laid out a clear vision of "pride in our past and new found confidence in our future”

10 years ago, UNISON had its first conference and John Major was prime minister. "And ten years ago, a young Tory…. sorry, a young Tony trying to convince the country to believe him, to trust him. Some things never change”, quipped Dave.

1993 also saw the ominous signs of the first BNP councillor elected, three million people on the dole and 60,000 repossessions. "Our family suffering at the hands of a ruthless Tory government. And that is why we came into being”.

"The activists who had fought for the members of NUPE, COHSE and NALGO for almost a century passed on their flame, their dreams and their hopes to us. It's our job to take that union forward for future generations that follow”, said Dave.

And his message was loud and clear. "Whatever we do this week, we can't let them down”.

On a lighter note, Dave recalled the first conference after merger. Confusion reigned with a weighted voting system on the NEC that no-one could work out and disarray at the first Local Government Conference because they didn't ring a bell before the card vote. Not one to fail to learn a lesson, Dave went out a bought a bell, showing us with a flourish that he still had it!

Conference was right into the spirit now and when he said, "how far have we come in those ten years? Just look at us now. One big happy family”, there was more than a light ripple of giggles.

But Conference was also ready to hear the serious side. Dave won warm applause for his view of how far UNISON had come. "A union that speaks up for those who provide our public services. A union that gives our member a voice in the workplace, in the community and with government. That campaigns to end racism, discrimination and poverty. A union that has a vision of a more just, a more inclusive society”.

A union whose website gets three million hits a month. A call centre that gets 250,000 calls a year. The first union to do radio, TV and political advertising. A union that has "a learning agenda giving hope to low paid workers our education system has failed” with 10,000 new learners this year.

A union that has won over £33million in compensation for members last year.

"Without UNISON there would have been no minimum wage. It was UNISON who first fought PFI”, Dave told delegates.

Dave also took time to pay tribute to Scotland's Nancy Coull, this year's national president. "She has championed the cause of ordinary members in our union. Living proof that low paid part-time workers can't only be part of our union but can rise to the highest office in the UK's biggest union”.

Fat cats

Turning to pensions, Dave found the strength to quote the GMB's John Edmonds. "He was right when he said the fat cats creaming off the millions from companies were 'greedy bastards'. It is a disgrace that our pension funds - using our members' money - have sat back and let it happen”.

"And UNISON will lead the charge to end this abuse of power and privilege. It's an absolute disgrace”, added Dave- and Conference clearly agreed.

Dave was angry that after all the struggles of the Tory years, it was now the private sector that was reaping the benefits. He vowed that the union would act to defend members. "We'll keep on standing up for those who deliver our public services, day in, day out”.

Dave pledged to work closely with the new union leaders to build a common agenda and, significantly, to see "how we can reclaim our party”.

Dave also revealed a working agreement with civil service union, PCS, for a joint front to defend public services.

Racism

He saved his strongest words for a powerful attack on racism. "I say this to the BNP. I can live with the personal and political threats, you don't scare me. What I can't live with is the hatred and venom that seep from your party and your supporters on a daily basis - polluting society, poisoning communities”.

"With the full backing of this union, I'll keep on challenging you time and time again, wherever you raise your ugly head”.

Which brought Dave to "our extended family” in the international community and to "renew our commitment to a fairer and peaceful world.” "I am proud of the lead our union took on Iraq. We were right to oppose the war before it started. We were right to oppose the invasion during the war. We are right now in demanding that Iraq be returned to the Iraqi people”.

And back to Conference. Our principle goal this year must be "to emerge from our conference stronger, more influential, better equipped than ever before to win victories next year and beyond.”

In a clear reference to the following day's debate on the political fund, Dave warned if we made the wrong decisions we would be less able to win those victories. "Sometimes it's easier to walk away, to be in opposition, glorious isolation. Dusting down the banners, expecting nothing, getting nothing - not having to compromise. Protesting from the outside. Saying that if we can't have it all, we want nothing.

"But for our members, the ones we are here to represent, what do they gain?”

"It is our party. We will work with our friends to reclaim it… because that is what our members expect us to do”. We needed to "take our aims and our values into the Labour Party and not the reverse”.

Looking to the future, Dave concluded to a warm reception from conference with, "We have pride in our past and new found confidence in our future to go on to greater things in our teenage years”.

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