Criticise government but don't let resign call divert issue
The major debate today will be this afternoon around Motions 67
and 66 and the amendments. 67 comes first and is a justified criticism
of the government's record an some of UNISON's key policy objectives.
But the simplistic call for a change in leadership is misguided
and risks diverting from the real issues.
67.1 from North West deletes this call while keeping in
the fact that the union has had serious concerns about many government
policies. The issue of change of leadership is seductive but it
is not clear what it means. Does it mean the leader? Does it mean
the whole cabinet?
Even after the disastrous election results, there is still no alternative
leadership emerging. We therefore risk just making a gesture that
could do us more harm than good in trying to influence change.
Support 67.1 Oppose 67 if not amended by 67.1.
Support 67.4 only if 67.1 is carried.
Motion 66 makes a more explicit demand for resignation. Yet whatever
we may think of Blair as a leader or a person, we should not be
led by the heart instead of the mind in taking a decision The demand
for resignation is unlikely to have any effect but could leave UNISON
isolated from the group of Union leaders currently co-operating
to pressurise the government to move in a more progressive direction.
Oppose 66 and all amendments.
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Let's get on with it!
Anyone who saw the Shenanigans at yesterday's Local Government
Meeting won't need convinced that we need to vote through the Standing
Orders Committee Report and get on with it!
Briefings service reminder
The briefings you will get daily from the Scottish Communications
& Campaigns Committee Briefings Team, in conjunction with the Regional
Delegates, give advice from a Scottish Policy perspective.
The briefings cannot mandate branches who may have different policies
but they may assist delegates in taking an overview of Conference
or spotting something you might not have considered. While it is
mainly a briefings service, we will issue some special reports as
a basis for branch magazine reports back home. We will also be updating
the website with most of what goes out in print so you can get easy
access.
The service is also there to be used by branches to promote motions
within Scottish policy. In special circumstances we can also help
with typing and communications with branches, press etc back home.
Your contact is SiU editor John Stevenson who leads the
team with Jane Aitchison as depute and new victim volunteer Bernard
Kamya MBA. Various other members of the committee will be helping
out throughout the week as will several delegates, although they
don't know it yet. You will find the team in the Newssheet area
in the Tregonwell Hall but please do not visit in numbers, it is
very busy.
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Where will we get to today?
It is difficult to predict what motions we might reach after the
set order of business is completed—by we'll try! This may mean some
repetition from one bulletin to the other and it might be a real
test of whether you read the last one or not.
Motion 26—Minimum Wage
The main issue here is around Amendment 26.2 which Scottish policy
suggests we should oppose. The NEC amendment 26.1, along with the
Young Members' motion, lay out a strategy that uses a range of indicators
to develop the target we would like to see achieved for the minimum
wage. Amendment 26.2 is too prescriptive on one of these indicators.
The advantage of the main motion and 26.1 is that the target set
here is easily uprated as the indicators change.
Support 26 and 26.1 Oppose 26.2
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West Network for Lesbian and Gay Members
UNISON Scotland's Lesbian and Gay Committee are launching new publicity
advertising West Network meetings for 2004/2005. The West Network
was established in 1998 as an umbrella organisation for lesbian
and gay members throughout the West of Scotland.
The new flyers and posters are available at the Out in UNISON stall
as well as being advertised in the latest edition of Out in UNISON.
Copies of the leaflets and posters will shortly be sent to all West
of Scotland branches for distribution and a pdf copy can be e-mailed
to branches for inclusion in branch magazines and newsletters. If
you require further information please speak to Neil MacInnes or
Raymond Brown who are both at Conference this week.
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Southern Africa after Colonialism and Apartheid Unfinished Work
Fringe Meeting Purbeck Bar 12.45pm - 1:45pm Thursday 24 June
Refreshments, including South African wine, are kindly being produced
by the Co-operative Group, as part of their Fair Trade Produce promotion.
Invited Speakers: South African High Commission (Speaker
to be confirmed) Louise Richards - Chief Executive, War on Want
Isobel McVicar - Director Community H.E.A.R.T.
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