Lilian Macer

Conference delegates backed a range of measures to combat the rise of vulnerable employment and casualisation across the UK and to restore decent jobs, decent pay and decent standards in the public, voluntary and private sector.

Scotland's amendment highlighted the Working Together Review in Scotland which has led to the establishment of the Fair Work Convention - a stakeholder body providing leadership in industrial relations and promoting Decent Work and Dignified Lives for working people.

Scottish Convener, Lilian Macer, was a member of the Working Together Review and is now one of the trade union representatives on the Fair Work Convention.

She told delegates that the Review group was tasked by the Scottish Government to work with trade unions, private and public sector organisations, academics and the Scottish Government itself to help identify and share policies, insights and methods needed to support the development of more collaborative working environments, with a clear focus on measures to optimise relationships between trade unions, employers and the government.

Lilian said: "Last week the First Minister in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, told a conference in New York that in Scotland we oppose the undermining of trade union rights by the UK government. She also highlighted the importance of working positively with trade unions to develop a new model of industrial relations in Scotland and emphasised that the Scottish Trades Union Congress is an integral part of the Fair Work Convention."

Lilian pledged that in Scotland UNISON will work with the Scottish Government "to oppose the vicious attack on workers' rights by this Tory government."