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APF Committee Report | Notes
from LabourLink (APF) Forum
APF Forum: 2 November 2002
Scottish APF Committee Report
The Committee met on four occasions this year. The
Chair is Karie Murphy and the Vice-Chair is Pat Rowland. John Lambie
was Secretary until his retirement in June when Dave Watson took
over this post. I would wish to pay my tribute to John's significant
contribution to the development of UNISON Labour link in Scotland.
Organisation
This year has seen an increase in area based Labour
Link activity although it remains patchy. There are still 35 branches
who do not have Branch APF officers. The development of Labour Link
organisation is now an integral part of the Branch Development Plan
process and a Branch APF Officers training course was run on 7/8th
October with 17 participants. The Committee will be considering
how we can support local Labour Link organisation in the coming
year.
Communication
We have undertaken a number of new communication initiatives
in order to highlight the work of Labour Link in Scotland. These
include a web page on the UNISON Scotland web site, a Scottish Labour
Link newsletter and a Scottish page in the UK version. Branch APF
Officers also now receive a monthly bulletin. Externally we have
circulated UNISON Labour Link newsletters to CLPs and provided speakers
to a number of CLP and branch meetings. The overall aim is to bury
any lingering perceptions of a ‘closed' organisation through openness
and transparency.
Constituency Development Plans
We are currently reviewing the existing Scottish Constituency
Development Plans. A questionnaire has been circulated to the interested
parties and a report will be submitted to the January meeting of
the Scottish APF Committee.
Policy Development
The Committee has played an active role in the Scottish
Labour Party Policy Forums leading up to the reports submitted to
this year's Scottish Labour Party Conference. Many important amendments
were made to these reports and the details summarised in the August
newsletter. However, it was disappointing that widely shared concerns
about PPP were not reflected in the final papers. As there is no
provision for amending these reports at conference the delegation
felt obliged to vote against those reports which referred to PPP.
The UK policy forum process, which covers a range
of reserved matters of interest to members in Scotland, is now under
way. We have submitted detailed responses to the UK APF to ensure
that the Scottish perspective is addressed.
APF Review
At the last meeting the committee received an initial
report on the outcome of the APF review and further details will
be presented to the Forum. In light of the likely extensive rule
changes to be presented to conference next year the committee decided
not to proceed with changes to the Scottish APF constitution this
year. However, the committee will review the membership of the committee
in January and will co-pt if required to ensure the committee covers
all parts of the UNISON Scotland organisation.
Scottish Parliament Elections 2003
The candidate selection process for the Scottish Parliamentary
elections next year has continued throughout the year. The committee
has supported UNISON members in this process. The committee will
be giving detailed consideration to our organisational support for
the elections early in the new year.
European Elections 2004
The committee agreed to nominate all three existing
MEPs in the trigger ballot process. A variety of promotional activities
have been organised in support of UNISON member Bill Miller.
I would like to thank all members of the committee
and branch APF officers for their assistance this year.
Dave Watson
Secretary
14 October 2002
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NOTES OF SCOTTISH LABOUR LINK (APF) FORUM
held in the City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh
on Saturday, 2 November 2002
1 ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES
There were 61 delegates, visitors and guests in
attendance
There were 9 Parliamentarians in attendance
There were 7 staff in attendance
There were apologies (Annex)
Karie Murphy in the Chair
2 WELCOME
Eric Milligan, Lord Provost opened the Forum. He reminded delegates
of the important role political activity by trade unionists had
played in the history of Edinburgh. From the freeing of King James
from the nobles, to universal suffrage.
3 CHAIR's OPENING REMARKS
Karie Murphy welcome delegates.
4 REPORTS
(a) Scottish Labour Link (APF) Committee
- NOTED
Dave Watson confirmed that the committee would
review membership in January to ensure that all parts of the
UNISON structure was represented.
(b) National APF Committee - NOTED
(c) Scottish Labour Party Executive - NOTED
(d) Scottish Labour Party Policy Forum -
NOTED
(e) Scottish Trade Union & Labour Party
Liaison Committee - NOTED
Dave Watson and Karie Murphy outlined the events
leading up to last years Scottish Labour Party conference and
the actions taken by STULP to improve the presentation of the
trade union policy position
(f) Parliamentary Reports - Scotland;
Westminster and Europe - NOTED
5 SPEAKER
Anne McGuire ~ Minister of State for Scotland
Anne McGuire, thanked UNISON activists for their
support in the General Election campaign. She said trade unions
are part of the Labour family and we would all be weakened if we
divided. Whilst there were inevitable strains, we had a shared set
of values which had held strong for a hundred years. She highlighted
the achievements of the Labour Government and the recent increases
in public investment.
6 WORKSHOP - APF - LABOUR LINK REVIEW
Steve Warwick, Chair of the National Labour Link
(APF) Committee presented a progress report on the APF review and
delegates considered the review in a series of workshops.
7 SPEAKERS
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary
Dave Prentis identified issues on which UNISON
departed from government policy including Iraq and responding to
racism. On public services he confirmed UNISON's commitment to progressive
reform whilst rejecting the wasteful use of private finance. Despite
these differences he emphasised that we are the Labour Party and
we have shared values. We have achieved much through the Labour
Link and in particular he commended the Scottish PPP Staffing Protocol
as real progress in the campaign to end the two tier workforce.
Andy Kerr ~ Minister for Finance and Public
Services
Andy Kerr outlined the recent spending review that
had seen the Scottish Executive budget grow from £16bn in 1997 to
£26bn next year. The Executive would be using these resources to
increase the capacity of Scotland's public services and to close
the opportunity gap. Local government was being properly funded
for the first time in a generation. He wanted councils to be leaders
in their communities and the Local Government Bill would give them
new responsibilities through community planning and the general
power of ‘well being'.
8 PRESENTATION
Steve Lawther ~ Scottish Labour Party
Steve Lawler outlined some of the key issues in next year's Scottish
parliamentary elections. Delegates considered a "Road to the
Manifesto" discussion document in workshops. The views expressed
will be fed into the manifesto process.
9 SCOTTISH QUESTIONS
The panel consisted of ~ Rachel Squire MP, Eric
Joyce MP, Scott Barrie MSP, Karen Gillon MSP who answered questions
on a range of reserved and devolved policy issues.
10 MOTIONS
(a) Motion No 1 - Accountability
and Policy Making in the Labour Party under Partnership in Power
The undernoted motion was MOVED
by Edinburgh City Branch
"We recognise that there is falling Party
membership and declining interest in taking part in Labour Party
policy processes and seek to address two matters which we believe
contribute to these problems.
We recognise that Partnership in Power has
not resulted in a clearer and more effective policy process.
We further note that the arrangements operating in Scotland
have reduced the Scottish Party Conference to a review of Scottish
Parliamentary business, allowing no discussion of non-devolved
matters (with the consequent absence of all but a few MPs).
It is time to review these arrangements and propose changes,
not to return to things as they were, but to incorporate decision
making by bodies accountable directly via delegate structures
to the membership, ensuring that voting takes place to decide
between rival positions where these exist. Therefore
- UNISON APF in Scotland agrees to propose the opening of such
a review at the forthcoming Scottish Conference and in the Scottish
Labour Party Executive;
- it further resolves to canvass for support amongst other trade
unions and to support initiatives calling for such a re-examination
such as that proposed by Edinburgh East and Musselburgh CLP;
and
- to take a similar motion to the National APF Forum.
We also believe that under Partnership in Power
there have developed substantial differences between the beliefs
and policies of most members of the Labour Party and affiliated
organisations in Scotland and the actions of Labour-controlled
administrations in Government over some key policies - for example,
PFI/PPP, outsourcing/privatisation. Mechanisms for ensuring
that Labour administrations and elected representatives keep
in step with views in the Party are not working effectively.
We believe that this will eventually have dire
consequences for the Party and the union's political objectives.
To rectify this we believe that UNISON must -
- set out clearly what it expects over key policy issues of
elected Labour representatives;
- give active support to those who have a record of fighting
for policies which UNISON supports;
- withdraw active support from those who do not; and where they
do not, should consider promoting rival candidates in reselection
processes;
- encourage Scottish Labour MPs, MEPs, MSPs and Councillors
to speak clearly in public in support of the policies held by
this union, even where these are not those of the Party leadership."
The APF Committee moved two amendments:
Delete all after "reexamination"
in the second bullet point.
Delete the sixth bullet point.
These amendments were accepted by the mover
and the motion as amendment was CARRIED
(b) Motion No 2 - International Policy
Issues
The undernoted motion was MOVED
by Edinburgh City Branch
"This Forum notes that the APF has been
relatively quiet on issues of international policy. For example
it regrets that the APF submission to the first round consultation
on Britain in the World failed to say anything about our long-held
support for unilateral nuclear disarmament. Further there have
been no policy forum or internal discussions organised around
these issues. However, it recognises that many are of direct
relevance to UNISON members and that in promoting a party for
government, the union has to be concerned about the whole of
its programme, not just the bits which effect our interests
in employment.
We agree to ensure that UNISON's policies on
international questions are heard in the Labour Party. In particular
we intend to -
1 give full support to UNISON Scotland's
activities against war on Iraq and National Missile Defence,
including writing to all Scottish Labour MPs on these subjects;
2 organise a policy forum or similar
event to discuss and explain policies like opposition to
war on Iraq, support for the Palestinians, nuclear disarmament,
missile defence, debt relief, Tobin tax, GATS etc;
3 ensure these policies are fully included
in all policy forum submissions;
4 call on NAPC to do likewise and to
report back."
The APF Committee supported the motion with
the qualification that the National APF Committee had undertaken
a range of activities on international issues. The motion was
CARRIED.
(c) Motion No 3 - International - Middle
East Tensions
The undernoted motion was MOVED
by North Lanarkshire LG Branch.
"The situation in the Middle East, as
it currently stands, has the world on a high war alert.
Much comment has been made on the perceived
arsenal of Iraq under Saddam Hussein and the dossier of ‘proof'
held by the United States of America. The dossier apparently
verified by the British Prime Minister after his meeting with
President Bush.
We are constantly reminded of Iraq's failure
to comply with United Nations resolutions. For this reason among
others, written and unwritten, the United States of America
feels justified in bringing down the current regime. Does the
same hold true of other countries? In particular, the government
of Israel, who by their non-compliance to United Nations resolutions,
1397 and 1402, 242,338 and 194, flames all forms of undemocratic
practices on its own doorstep. Double standards indeed.
As democratically minded people we echo the
concerns of a great many of the British public and indeed those
throughout the international community who ask why our British
Government is giving almost total unquestioned commitment to
America's quest for military action.
The opportunities for the democratically elected
British Parliament to debate the situation was stalled, thus
depriving the British public of Parliament's considered democratic
view. That is unacceptable.
We are faced with a moral dilemma. The United
Kingdom is anything but united on this issue. Therefore, what
right do we have to send our military personnel into an offensive
combat situation when there is no clear mandate?
Therefore, this Scottish Affiliated Political
Forum is resolved to -
- use the influence of the APF Labour Link at all levels in
the national and international Trade Union and Labour Movement
to promote reasoned debate;
- urge all governments to engage in diplomatic processes via
the auspices of the United Nations;
- work towards, with others, for a just and sustainable peace
throughout the Middle East recognising a country's right to
exist and live in peace."
The motion was CARRIED
(d) Motion No 4 - A Question of Healthy
Lifestyles, Sport and Sustainable Funding
The undernoted motion was MOVED by North
Lanarkshire Branch
"We applaud the initiatives of the Scottish
Executive and local government in promoting healthier lifestyles
in all aspects of society. We welcome the additional funding
to enable these projects to come to fruition.
Health and Sport are linked. Competitive or
uncompetitive sporting activity plays a substantial part in
all of our lives. Whether we are actively participating in or
enthused by our favourite sport. The result, victory or defeat
can make or break our day, week or indeed the next four years
in another pastime, that of soul searching.
A fair percentage of healthy activity and the
pursuance of sport can be achieved at little or no cost to the
participant. However, when it comes to achieving full sporting
potential Scotland lags behind. We are of the view that too
much of the funding available is of a short-term nature and
often competing with other issues and priorities.
We call for funding for the longer term to
establish facilities and promote a culture that encourages participants
with real financial support.
With this long-term commitment in place we
are confident that the state of Scotland's health will improve
and we will be on the right track to take the opportunities
for realising full potential in life and sporting activity."
The motion was CARRIED
12 ELECTION RESULTS
(a) Scottish APF Committee - 9 (At least
5 must be women)
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NAME
|
BRANCH
|
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Roddy Cameron
|
Fife
|
|
Tom Clark
|
South Lanarkshire
|
|
Arthur Donnachie
|
Inverclyde
|
|
Sandra Goldie
|
Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care
|
|
Nancy Kirkland
|
Lothian Primary Care
|
|
Sally Lee
|
Scottish Healthcare
|
|
Karie Murphy
|
Glasgow Health
|
|
Pat Rowland
|
West Dunbartonshire
|
|
Graham Young
|
West Lothian Health
|
(b) National APF Forum - 8 (At least 5
must be women)
|
NAME
|
BRANCH
|
|
Roddy Cameron
|
Fife
|
|
Arthur Donnachie
|
Inverclyde
|
|
Sandra Goldie
|
Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care
|
|
Nancy Kirkland
|
Lothian Primary Care
|
|
Karie Murphy
|
Glasgow Health
|
|
Pat Rowland
|
West Dunbartonshire
|
|
Graham Young
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West Lothian Health
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n 1 woman (low paid) vacancy
(c) 2003 UK Labour Party Conference -
2 (At least 1 must be a woman)
|
NAME
|
BRANCH
|
|
Arthur Donnachie
|
Inverclyde
|
|
Pat Rowland
|
West Dunbartonshire
|
13 CHAIR's CLOSING REMARKS
The Chair thanked everyone for their participation
and thanked the UNISON and City of Edinburgh staff for organising
the Forum. She also paid tribute to the work of John Lambie on behalf
of UNISON and the Labour Party until is retirement earlier this
year.
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