National Delegate Conference 16-19 June
2009
Stories by Kate Ramsden, Jane Aitchison and John Stevenson
These reports focus mainly on debates moved by Scotland or where
Scotland speakers took part. For more stories see the UNISON
UK site
NEW: Click
here for Photo Gallery
Practical strategies to defend and invest
in public services to bring us out of recession Conference
overview by John Stevenson
Tired of feeding the hand that bites
them As a response to Labour's latest
plans to extend privatisation to a new level within the National
Health Service, Dave Prentis, has called on Labour Link, formerly
UNISON's Affiliated Political Fund, to suspend constituency development
payments to the party.
Defending our public service pensions
Conference condemned attacks on public sector
pensions by press and politicians and recognized that this threat
will only grow if a Tory government get into power at the next
general election. Kate Ramsden takes key role in debate backed
by Agnes Petkevicius.
Standing up for Social Work - Scotland
presents manifesto UNISON Scotland's
John Stevenson previewed our Social Work Manifesto at a Local
Government fringe meeting on Sunday.
Putting people before profit
Delegates united around a detailed and comprehensive
strategy moved by Jane Carolan to put people before profit and
defend public services through the economic crisis.
Young members: Get them in - get them
active Veteran UNISON member Scottish
Retired Members' Delegate and Honorary Young Member, Lily McNaughton,
gave a rousing speech in support of the work of young members,
backed by Graham Smith.
Protection for workers too as new safeguarding
schemes are set up "Whilst we support
the commitment by the Scottish Government to ensure local communities
flourish and become stronger, safer places to live we believe
that the cost of this registration should not be borne by our
members", said Lilian Macer.
Procurement: Get in early to protect
members While fighting to keep services
in house, Mike Kirby says UNISON Regions and Branches must also
get involved in commissioning and procured processes at an early
stage to try to protect jobs and services.
Domestic violence/abuse underlined as
a workplace issue Conference backed a
strategy to negotiate workplace agreements on domestic abuse,
giving better support to victims, but failed to grasp the nettle
of what to do about perpetrators. Aberdeenshire's
amendement remitted and Edinburgh's lost.
Trades Union Councils have key role
in public services campaign UNISON pledged
to step up its Positively Public Campaign, highlighting the importance
of public services and the role played by the people delivering
these services in laying the foundations of a fairer society and
a more sustainable economy for the future. Tom Morrison stresses
role of Trades Union Councils.
Reach out and strengthen the labour
movement In an inspiring speech,Tom Woodruff,
Executive Vice President, of the Service Employees International
Union (SEIU) warned UNISON to notice the signs and make sure that
our country does not follow the same path as the US.
Standing up for public service workers
and users Public service employment has
a critical role in stabilizing the economy and counteracting the
effects of the recession.
New structures give greater bargaining
voice Conference adopted new structures
for bargaining and negotiation, designed to give a greater voice
to the diverse range of bargaining groups across the union, like
the Community and Voluntary Sector. Mike Kirby, Lilian Macer and
Stephen Brown all join in debate.
Time to address mileage rates 'disgrace'
UNISON will seek urgent negotiations with
the Inland Revenue for an increase in the seven year old 40p 'approved'
mileage rate.
Disabled people disproportionately affected
by recession Conference committed UNISON
to continuing its work to protect disabled people from further
poverty caused by the recession and discrimination - Mary
Platt makes first speech to Conference.
Palestine: Boycott and review of relationship
with Histadrut UNISON took a step further
in its support for a sovereign independent and democratic Palestinian
State when it threw its weight behind a boycott of goods from
the illegal Israeli settlements, urging the government to support
a ban. Mike Kirby urges measured approach.
Celebrating 50 years of Cuban revolution
Conference gave a warm welcome to Maria del Carmen
Rodrigues Reys, the General Secretary of the SNTS, Cuban health
service union.
We must push on with green policies
UNISON is to raise its game to ensure climate
change policy is put into action and will work with employers
to achieve a low carbon economy, backing a joint motion from the
NEC and Edinburgh - Kevin Duguid contributes.
Vice president Angela Lynes read out
a message of support fror the jailed Burma leader as delegates
held up photos of Aung San Su Kyi.
Reach out and take back our world. Let
asylum seekers work Conference backed
and East Midlands motio calling for a change in the law to allow
asylum seekers to work and UNISON will engage with the TUC's "Let
them Work" Campaign
Calman Commission Reports UNISON
Scottish Secretary Matt Smith sat on the Calman Commission. Here
he looks in detail at the recommendations that could take devolution
to the next stage
Calman recommendations must go before
‘civic Scotland’ The final report of
the Calman Commission was published yesterday bringing forward
a range of key proposals for taking forward devolution in Scotland.
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Conference Briefings
 Throughout
Conference week, the Scottish Communications and Campaigns Committee
will issue daily briefings for delegates and update these web
pages with selected reports on issues from a Scotland perspective.
Use the links on the right to see the pre-briefing information
going out to delegates.
Meeting of Scottish Branches on: MONDAY 15 JUNE 5.00PM
Barcelo Brighton Old Ship Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE - Click
here for map (pdf)
Local Government Branches will also meet at 5.30 on Saturday
13 June in the Grand Hotel.
Standing Up For Social Work: Fringe meeting Sunday 12.45 -
1.45 Beta Hall West. As part of the meeting, John Stevenson
will preview Helping People Change Their Lives, UNISON
Scotland and BASW Scotland's joint Manifesto for Social Work,
set to be launched on 25 June. Sean Fox, Haringey, and Jim Board,
Doncaster will also lead the debate.
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Arrangements for Distribution of Card Voting Booklet
This will be managed in a different way to previous
years. Branches will collect card voting booklets on the first
morning of Conference, before conference starts, from the card
vote collection point at the Brighton Centre.
DETAILS - All card vote books can be collected by
branches from the card vote collection point (CVCP) as follows
LGSGC
Saturday 13th June 2009 15:30 to close
Sunday 14th June – 08:30 onwards
Monday 15th June 08:30 onwards
NDC
Monday 15th June from 15:30 (unless LGSGC has a
card vote)
Tuesday 16th June from 08:30 onwards
Wednesday 17th 08:30 onwards.
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