|
Thursday 23 June No 1 - Briefings
A day for Europe and international solidarity
European Constitution, Emergency Motion 1
This takes account of the recent French and Dutch
referenda and calls on the union to develop an new perspective on
Europe in conjunction with the French CGT and other sister European
unions. This will be particualrly around the framework dircetive
which would exclude public services from the liberalisation agenda.
This reflects the approach which UNISON Scotland argued
at the recent STUC Congress. There will be a special Congress convened
later this year to consider a Scottish perspective where public
services have a more prominent role in the general economy. Support
Emergency 1
top
IRAQ - Taking advice from our union contacts
In pursuing an agenda of reconstruction and solidarity,
we need to take the advice of our contacts in the Iraqi trade union
movement. There is a need to build capacity in the civic and government
institutions before troops are withdrawn.
Amendement 112.3 which would seek immediate withdrawal,
should be opposed as it would fail to take account of the perspective
of the Iraqi trade unions, some of whom should be with Conference
during the debate. Oppose 112.3, Support 112 NOTE:
UNISON has established a fund to assist in rebuilding
the trade union movement in Iraq and UNISON Scotland contributed
a significant prize in a fund raising draw being run at Conference.
Make Poverty History - Comp F
It has been said many times this week - get to Edinburgh
on 2 July and support this motion. UNISON is a founding member of
the Make Poverty History coalition. members will be coming to Edinburgh
from all over the UK to join the march and to run a stall on the
Meadows.
Mordachai Vanunu
Conference is expected to hear from Mordachai Vanunu
on a telephone link from Jerusalem. Mordachai served 18 years in
jail for whistle-blowing on Israel's nuclear capability. Since his
release he has been kept under house arrest. UNISON Scotland has
been part of the widespread campaign in support of Mordachai, the
recently elected Rector of Glasgow University.
Aung San Suu Kyi
Conference will present honourary membership to Burma's
pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as who is now serving
her third term of house arrest. National League for Democracy was
elected with 80% of the vote in 1990 and Aung San Suu Kyi would
have been President.
The military Junta never allowed the democratic government
to take power. The Junta has received worldwide condemnation as
one of the worst violators of human rights. The City of Edinburgh
Branch has been very involved in the Burma campaign and Aung San
Suu Kyi was granted the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh last weekend.
More information at http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/burmaseminar.html
top
RULES - Hooray!
Rules, rules, rules are the essential ingredient of
an anorak's agenda. Most are "tidying up" with the exception of
(8) - which was adopted by Scottish Council in February last year.
But oppose (3). Why should self-organised groups have
greater access to conference agenda than a region? It is important
not to disrupt the balance of what is a branch based and motion
based Conference. The NEC is leaving to Conference (cop out), Scotland
advice is oppose
Biannual branch elections (15) may reduce an accountability,
which is a principle not necessarily translated into practice in
a universal review at branch, regional or NEC level - oppose.
Fixed penalties in disciplinary cases (19 & 20) may
seem superficially attractive and at one with judicial procedures,
but we deal with different standards of proof and circumstance.
This would remove flexibility to address the specifics of an offence,
for example, allowing serious offenders (eg theft of funds) to just
come back in after only two years. Oppose.
top
|
Scotland's
public service union 
|
