Welcome
to UNISON, Scotland's public service union
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| Welcome
to UNISON, Scotland's public service union | ||||
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Eugene Duffy – Chairperson welcomed Delegates and Speakers to Unison Retired Members annual Conference - 2008. After his opening remarks the Chairperson introduced our first speaker, Christine Graham. Christine Graham is a Scottish Nationalist Party MSP. She is a backbencher, and has held the position of MSP for nine years. Previously she was a lawyer, and a teacher. She won an award called ‘Free Spirit of the Year’, and after her talk it did not take much to understand why. Christine elected to speak on ‘growing older’. After a humorous introduction about some of the pitfalls of old age, she informed Conference that her father was still very much alive at 93 years of age, and that was what we should all aim for. The main thrust of her talk was the State Pension which she said was basically ‘crap’. She asked what use were free bus passes [although very much welcomed by pensioners] if there are no efficient bus services in place. She spoke at length about the pensions and benefits system which is in place, and the unfairness and anomalies. She underlined the lack of pick-up on benefits by those that need them the most. A decent state pension would solve this problem and Government should work towards this. She reminded Conference of the ‘power of old age’ and urged us to collectively use this power to persuade and inform government of what we want. There followed a question and answer session. Listed below is a summary of a couple of important topics: Q. What was her view on the 10% income raise for pensioners aged between 60 – 65? A. All parties are concerned about this and she feels it should be reversed. Q. Why is there no council tax rebate in retirement? A. The SNP answer to this is the local income tax. This tax will not be based on property value. Cont: Scottish RM Conference 2008 Report page-2 Christine Graham [on growing old] continued: Q. What if the Westminster Government sticks to its threat of stopping benefits if the 3p local income tax that the SNP government proposes in Scotland, does get introduced? A. This should be vigorously fought out. Money saved should come to Scotland to be ring fenced, which would then be designated within our own system. The above is a brief summary of the involved question and answer session. It was evident by the number of questions that Christine will leave us with a clear picture of what delegates to Conference would require from her government. The Chair thanked Christine for her enlightening, entertaining, and illuminating contribution to Conference.
Inaugural Scottish Retired Members Conference 2007 Report: Eugene Duffy [Chair] stated that he hoped we would build yet again on last year’s Conference. We should learn and evolve, and he would earnestly hope that this Scottish Conference would continue to gain momentum and experience year upon year. He also expressed the wish that this Scottish Conference would make a real difference in changing things for all pensioners, today’s and tomorrows. Irene Sweeney [Scottish Committee Secretary] referred Conference to the Scottish Retired Members newsletter ‘SeniorMac’. It is intended that this magazine be issued to all branches, with the hope that it would reach all retired members of Unison. Eugene and Irene both thanked Liam Chalmers who is responsible for the collating, editing and printing of this newsletter. Eugene Duffy stated that it is our magazine and he hoped that members would consider input to it. This would enable a local voice to be heard on a much larger platform, and would also let the members know ‘we are there’! One delegate asked if all branches could issue forms to newly retiring members. Another delegate asked how we could motivate new retirees to join RM sections? Irene Sweeney stated that a Retired Members pack would be issued hopefully quite soon, and that it was at local level that new members should be encouraged. It was up to us to encourage our branches in all efforts to strengthen our membership. ______________________________________________________________________
Scottish RM Conference 2008 Report page-4 Conference moved to Discussion Topics: Chair explained that these ‘topics’ are so named because National Committee has ruled that they cannot be brought forward to National Conference. However he stressed that this did not make them any the less important. This Conference would inform the Scottish Committee of the most critical, important and pertinent matters which were of concern to Unison retired members. This in turn would empower the Scottish RM Committee to put these topics forward to West Campbell Street, and most importantly, gave collective voice to all Unions RM branches. ~~~~ Topic 1 [submitted by Perth & Kinross Branch] With a view to ensuring that the proposed Annual Scottish RM Conference is held in properly laid out terms, Conference requests the Secretary of Unison Scottish Region to give urgent consideration to the immediate appointment of a steering committee, comprising mostly of retired members, but chaired by a prominent officer from Unison Scottish Region to consider and report: The Chair replied, thanking Perth & Kinross for an excellent and efficient topic report. He stated that this would indeed be the way forward, and that it would be an excellent position to be in, and sincerely hoped that this would be the case in the future. He then drew Conference attention to paper four of the agenda, pointing out that was exactly what had been requested and had been thrown out. Therefore committee went ahead with the current format for a Scottish Conference because we felt it crucial to have a Scottish Voice. He also stated that because we are asking these questions, and what we want is not within the rule book, then National Conference will indeed have to look at this situation. Irene Sweeney informed Conference that getting the allocated funding for a Scottish Conference was also crucial. If we did not use this funding, then we would lose it. At this point the Secretary noted Conferences gratitude to the STUC for providing us with accommodation. There followed a discussion from the hall about topic-1, after which the Chair thanked Perth & Kinross for there work on topic-1 stating this would be noted for the future. Scottish RM Conference 2008 Report page-5 Conference moved to Discussion Topics - continued. Topic-2 Restoration of the Link [submitted by Glasgow University RM] Pensions Act 2007 states; Increasing the basic State Pension in line with earnings rather than prices. This change will happen from 2012 at the earliest and by 2015 at the latest. This Government therefore has ignored all representations to restore the link with earnings as a matter of urgency, with regard to the basic State Pensions. However increases in Pension Credit are linked to earnings It is obvious further, stronger action is necessary and this Conference therefore instructs National Retired members Committee to pursue, through the NEC, joint action with the National Pensioners Convention, the TUC, STUC, Scottish Pensioners forum, and other appropriate organisations, to restore the link with earnings as a matter of urgency. There followed an in depth discussion as to the best methods of pressing Government on this, as there was no dissent from Conference as to the unfairness and unjustness of the 2007 Act. Conference members should be pressing through their branches to lobby government. The delegate for Glasgow University asked could we submit these topics to National Conference. Irene Sweeney informed Conference that although they are ‘topics’ which have been discussed at this Scottish Conference, branches can submit them to National Conference. Topic-3 Spiralling Cost of Fuel & Food Prices [Submitted by Glasgow University RM] It is 5 years since a fuel allowance of £200 was introduced to help pensioners with their fuel bills. Since then the cost of fuel has spiralled out of control, effecting not only essential home heating but also increasing the cost of food. This is particularly over the past 3 years, thus leaving the pensioners with a ‘Hobson’s Choice’ between heating the home and feeding themselves. Scottish RM Conference 2008 Report page-6 Conference moved to Discussion Topics - continued. Topic-3 Spiralling Cost of Fuel & Food Prices –continued: [Submitted by Glasgow University RM] Conference instructs the National Retired members Committee, and calls upon the National Executive Council, to recognise the urgency of the situation and strongly campaign for at least £300 to be added to the personal £200 allowance. It should be noted this extra money is needed as the present basic State Pension of £90.70p [as from 7th April 2008] can in no way even begin to cover the cost of present day heating and fuel bills The discussion for both Topic-1 and Topic 2 submitted by Glasgow University were discussed by Conference jointly, and in depth. ~~~~ Elinor McKenzie - Scottish Pensioners Forum Our next speaker was Elinor McKenzie who spoke on the purpose of the Scottish Pensioners Forum, which was to advance Pensioner Rights and present a unified voice to Authorities. SPF covers all pensions issues; bus travel, elderly care, etc. The SPF was started in 1992 after discussions with other Pensioners Organisations, and was set up to speak up on behalf of all pensioners. SPF has direct links with Trade Unions and the STUC. She spoke of the need for young and old to come together to fight for a fair and just pension. SPF campaigns for a linked pension for young and old alike, as todays young are tomorrow’s pensioners. They meet regularly with MPs and MSPs to discuss all pension issues. They meet with Scottish Parliament, so that they [Scottish Parliament] can in turn lobby Westminster on behalf of pensioners. The SPF is represented on Parliamentary Forums and speaks to Ministers there. Issues dealt with are; education, cultural activities, smoke alarms, issues on NHS, Post Office closures. They are involved with strategy documents for the Elderly in Scotland. Scottish RM Conference 2008 Report page-7 Elinor McKenzie -Scottish Pensioners Forum – continued The SPF attempts to debunk the myths that there are too many young unemployed, and too many living longer, who must both be provided for by the state. The fact is that the benefit/pensions system is failing, and there is not enough money laid aside for them. Elinor then discussed how poor our state pension is compared with our countries. The mixture of State/Private Pensions is failing because it is cumbersome and is twice the administration. Private investment, as we have also witnessed recently is not secure. Company pensions have in the main been abolished and companies are now very loath to get involved at all. The graded means tested benefits system is not working, and benefits provide almost half the top up for pensions. Only a realistic State Pension can provide a safe and balanced system. We must fight together for better jobs which in turn provide better pensions. The biggest problem is that we do not need to live in poverty, the money is there to provide a decent State Pension, and the fairest and most efficient method of doing this is to develop the economy and provide a decent living, and generate a decent State Pension. Elinor McKenzie stated the SPF will continue to promote this way forward, and spread the message of a fairer, more just society. There followed a most lively question and answer session, on a subject that was high on the agenda of every delegate in the hall, and indeed a crucial priority to all pensioners. The Chair thanked Elinor McKenzie for providing Conference with a most stimulating and informative talk.
Scottish Conference 2008 Report page-8 ‘Unions unto Schools’ – Scottish Trade Unions Council Our last but by no means least speaker was Terry Anderson from the STUC, who was invited along to speak on ‘Unions into Schools’, a programme which has been introduced by the STUC. Terry was a train driver for 14 years before becoming involved with this work. One of his roles with the STUC is as co-ordinator between Unions and Schools to operate this programme, which is a national project. This is working well, and will hopefully build for the future. Funding is supplied by the Scottish Executive called Enterprise for Innovation. The STUC works in conjunction with Education and Scottish Government. Together they train Representatives to go into schools and speak to the students about the history of Trade Unions. There is an information pack designed for 13 to 17 years old students. This pack explains; workers rights, Union globalisation, and other essential and important union issues. There will soon be an official launch of the pack in Edinburgh, and hopefully these packs will then go out to all schools. Our speaker informed Conference that young people warmed to the theme of unions, but he also stated that young people do not necessarily see them as the first port of call. These visits provide a human touch and explain to young people what trade unionism is all about. Terry Anderson stressed that young people are well of what is just and unfair. Indeed some of them are working a 37 hour week [which is illegal] to facilitate their education. The STUC is going to apply for funds for pensioners to go into schools and speak to pupils about trade unionism and their experience of trade union history. Scottish RM Conference Report page-9 ‘Unions unto Schools’ – continued. Terry Anderson said he would also like to initiate a drama group so that the young can express themselves through this medium. We as trade unionist should be pro-active in explaining the purpose and history of trade unions. We have to be a lot more active within the communities. Evaluation statistics received by Government gives a 95% success rating for the programme. This is especially important as the programme is evaluated by the Education department, teachers and pupils. There followed an extensive question and answer session. Conference delegates expressed great interest and emphasised with the idea of such a programme. The Conference as a whole agreed that this was an excellent idea, and congratulated Terry Anderson, and wished him every success for the future.
Closure There being no other business Eugene Duffy [Chairperson] closed Scottish Retired Members Conference 2008 by thanking everyone involved with the organisation of the day; the STUC, our speakers, and all delegates. He wished everyone well and looked forward to next years Conference with great enthusiasm.
[As reporter to Conference I would apologise to our speakers For any misquotes contained within this report. Mae Stewart]
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