UNISONScotland
positions on all the main issues
Delegates' Briefing
This briefing, compiled by Scottish Region delegates
Mike Kirby and Pat Rowland, is based on policies set or guided by
Scottish Council.
It is intended as a guide to branch delegates.
It will reflect Scottish Council policy and will assist the two
Scottish delegates in their discussions and negotiations with other
regions, the NEC and the Standing Orders Committee.
The guide cannot mandate Branches who may have
different policies. However, it may assist delegates in taking an
overview of Conference.
The general line is to support motions unless listed
to oppose. Comments have also been made against important issues
for support. If you need any help, advice or assistance during Conference,
do not hesitate to contact the Scottish Regional delegates.
Of the 147 motions and associated amendments submitted,
experience suggests that around forty motions and composites will
be chosen for debate, after prioritisation by NEC, regions and equality
groups.
That process has highlighted the following themes.
With a few exceptions the agenda should provide a broad consensus.
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1-3 RECRUITING & ORGANISING
The importance of growing the union is debated in motions 1- 3.
With half an eye to what's happening elsewhere in the trade union
(merger) movement. UNISON should seek to strengthen relations with
unions with whom we work already.
Engagement rather than merger or enlargement may be the message
of a composite of motions 2 and 3, while motion 1 seeks to maximise
the potential for growth in our traditional areas particularly among
younger recruits to public service.
4 EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Learning and organising are essential to growth. The opportunities
for learning, presented by union membership, provide benefits to
the individual, the union and the employer. We must also develop
and refresh the experience of long-standing representatives.
6 SELF-ORGANISATION & TUC
The precise makeup of the TUC General Council may be a minority
sport. Motion 6 addresses issues of a General Council consisting
of a federated conference or accountable to the whole TUC. UNISON,
so far, has taken a longer term view to the appointment of equality
representatives from equality conferences. This may be more than
an issue of the "big bears" cutting a deal, and something of the
different stages of development and participation in equality trade
unionism across the various affiliates.
8 BARGAINING
Is any kind of monitoring of the workforce a means towards a positive
end taking up constructive enablement or forcing identification
and victimisation? It depends upon the conditions and these are
addressed in Motion 8.
15-17 HEALTH & SAFETY
The Health & Safety debate now has a regular space on the UNISON
conference agenda of 150 submissions, but motion 17 thinks it merits
a special conference. Mainstream or sideline? Conference decides.
While we in the trade unions increase our attention to health and
safety matters, motion 16 states that there is a trend in government
to downplay.
It mentions the UK government's weakest proposals on corporate
manslaughter. The proposals under consideration at Scottish Parliament
are better. As we strive for the future protections, motion 15 seeks
the remembrance of past victims of workplace tragedies and failings.
18-24 PUBLIC SERVICES
Public Service Reform? Efficiency Reviews? Shared Services? Privatisation?
We, and the government, at Westminster, Holyrood and the other devolved
administrations, say we want quality public services. However, we
obviously disagree on the direction under Blair. Incidentally wasn't
Brown the architect?
PFI is costly but we can provide protection for workers (18). Efficiency
Reviews do not guarantee that money goes to "the front line" (20).
Shared services seemed a good idea as a means of resisting externalisation
of services.
But with questions over employment models, permanency of funding,
terms, conditions and pensions, is this just an attack on "the back
office"? (21) (29) Broader Vision of the Future of quality Public
Services, well-resourced, democratically controlled, with public
engagement and well-trained, motivated and paid staff are discussed
in motions 22-24.
Whatever direction we decide, we should follow a trade union path
and not wander off to follow the campaigns of others which may be
proposed - debate.
25, 26 SOCIAL CARE
The under funding of social care, particularly of the elderly,
reduces the quality of care and leads to the exploitation of care
workers, particularly migrant workers. Free personal care should
be available and provided by competent, confident, trained and valued
staff. Recent legislation (DDA 05) fails to understand and address
the position in society of people with disabilities. UNISON's "Beyond
the Barriers" campaign must be developed. With tenants expressing
opposition and at best minimal support for the all or nothing investment
and council housing presented by the government's externalisation
proposals, motions 21 and 22 tell us that there is another way.
Voter engagement: Whatever our criticisms of government
on these issues we all fail if voters stay away or use interim elections
to kick the government. UNISON must adopt a positively public agenda
to engage the electorate (27)
35-44 PENSIONS
As we write we're still in dispute over plans to reduce our works
pension entitlements, which we pay for, and the government has just
announced that in order to secure a state pension linked to earnings,
the safest way of preserving value, we'll have to wait and work
longer for our state pensions. Not surprisingly, the issue again
attracts the biggest number of motions (35, 36, 39, 41, 43)
However, as the statement/agreement, which suspended the industrial
action, gave until June to conclude talks on the LGSS, it's likely
that a further statement to conference will overtake these motions.
45, 49 RACISM AND ASYLUM
The continuing scourge of racism was evident in the May local government
elections in England. In Scotland we cannot be complacent. We've
witnessed racist attacks on our members at work and in the community.
It's a trade union issue. Motion 45 calls for vigilance and action
in union activity at work and in the communities.
Motion 49 from Scottish branches will seek to build upon excellent
work done with the communities and Scottish Executive in protecting
the rights of asylum seekers, particularly children, and ensuring
a proper caring role for social care/work employees in their professional
engagement.
51-59 CIVIL RIGHTS
While government has a duty to protect all residents, the (proposed)
introduction of certain measures, ill-considered at best, are at
worst abuse of power and human rights (51-53) Attention should be
focussed on developing positive rights for young people (54) and
protection of women (55 and 56) rather than divisive and discriminatory
legislation and racist practice which feeds off ignorance and prejudice.
66 SPORT
Support the London Olympics (66) ……. And the Glasgow Commonwealth
Games?…. Let's support, but also support the campaign which seeks
to prevent exploitation of cheaply produced foreign equipment and
style goods.
70 CHILDCARE
Recent research commissioned by UNISON Scotland, and similar work
for the Audit Commission in England, shows that child care and child
care/education workers are undervalued. Affordable childcare, by
confident, competent and rewarded workers should be universal.
75 ECONOMY
The March budget and its November pre-report showed a growth in
public expenditure and aspects of social care. But at a price of
private sector rates of investment, which mean future cost.
78-82 EDUCATION
While focussing on the worst excesses of Blair's New Labourism
and its impact upon education in England, we know that Treasury
models can impact upon more progressive social policy in devolved
areas.
86-90, 91 HEALTH SERVICE
While the Government talks of commissioning a patient led NHS,
its policies favour market based reform. Again, Scotland has resisted
the worst excesses, and reclaimed staff and conditions but must
be wary of Treasury impact upon Scotland's economy and budget. We
have powerful trade union campaigns to run without being sucked
into the activities of other political groups. In doing so we must
protect civil rights (92).
95, 98, 99 EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
Individual rights at work have been advanced to some extent since
the change of government. However, these can only be advanced through
greater collective rights (95). Scotland and the Women's Committee
assert a particular trade union responsibility to protect migrant
workers, particularly women, particularly in health and social care
(98/99)
101-104, 111 ENVIRONMENT NUCLEAR
Having safe, secure, enduring and affordable power supplies are
addressed in 101-104. But while the government has set up a debate
on the future of energy supply, a Tony Blair speech in mid-May sought
to predetermine many of the issues offered for debate in those motions.
Protecting business before he goes? Don't be cynical. Might even
lead one to support the view of disengagement with politics. But
of course nuclear power production/fuel should not be linked to
arms production and proliferation (111) ….unless of course you're
Iranian and looking for similar economic opportunities to the West.
116-117 EQUALITY
YES …. Leads us to the subject of promoting equal opportunities
at home, and whether public bodies have a duty to set and lead (116/117)
119-120 EUROPE Europe for business … exploiting the need for public
services, or a Social Europe? A "no-brainer" for the biggest public
service trade union in Europe, but we need to work at it, particularly
with our own members.
121, 123, 125, 166 INTERNATIONAL
International solidarity by trade unions can best be expressed
by international solidarity with our sister trade unions. Listening
to them…assisting them equals UNISON International Development Fund
(121) This fund is assisting many projects especially in Palestine.
As we welcomed guests from Palestine General Federation of Trade
Unions and the Israeli Federation Histradut to the STUC in April,
we should similarly welcome their representatives to UNISON conference.
We work for a free, independent, viable Palestine, alongside a
secure Israel. (126) We remember the words of Nawaaf Masalla the
Chairperson of the International Committee of Histradut at the STUC,
"I am against the humiliation of Palestinians, I support a Palestinian
state”. He also called for, "Israel and Palestine to be together
as workers... We are more than neighbours”
(123) Campaign for aid and assistance, not linked to conditions
set by "developed countries". While recognising the rights of migrant
workers and the benefits they bring, we must be wary of the adverse
effect of their migration upon their indigenous countries (125).
129/130/131 VENEZUELA
The new government of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and its importance
for emergent politics of other states in the Andean Continent are
addressed in motions from Wales and others including Edinburgh.
However, our solidarity should be raised through broad-based organisations
campaigning within UNISON's criteria for affiliations.
145 BRANCH FUNDING and finally …
It wouldn't be conference …… it wouldn't be a Scottish briefing
without mentioning money. If you manage your branch membership records
at the branch, you'll see the merit in Glasgow's amendment. It's
not profligate (… ask John Stevenson…) but it will give you the
resources to pay for the organisational duties which have passed
to your Branch, so says Mike Kirby, Chair Glasgow City Branch AKA
Scottish Convenor.
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