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Friday 24 June No 2 - Reports
Want to take us on, on pensions? Come ahead big man!
Motion 21 reaffirming UNISON's commitment to continue
and develop its campaign against the attacks on public sector pensions
was overwhelmingly carried.
Scotland's
Jane Carolan said, "Our members have signed up to a pension
scheme under one set of terms and conditions, they had planned their
life around these and then changes were being brought in by the
back door.
"This union won a major victory but our demand
was that changes were revoked and negotiations should begin. The
threat from the Government is still there."
Jane emphasised the need to take the campaign to every
member in every branch and every potential member.
"Negotiations may succeed or they may fail. If
they fail we will move towards industrial action.
"Our members will not pay for employers who took
contribution holidays to subsidise the poll tax".
Highlighting the need for changes but changes by consent,
Jane said,
"We have pension schemes that were designed for
the adult male breadwinner - it's an absolute scandal that there
are a lot of our members who get nothing out of them because, for
example, they are women or part-time workers".
Jane concluded, "The key to pensions victory
is unity - we have to work together to win".
Speaking on an amendement, with a message to John
Prescott, Glasgow City's Jim Snell said "If he wants to take
us on, come ahead big man!".
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