|
Housing arms
length wrangle
One of yesterday's
Local Government debates will impact on Composite C on Wednesday.
In spite of Scottish
delegates' attempts, the Housing Stock grouped debate opposed
Arms Length Companies in principle and could result in a distortion
of UNISON's campaign against Housing Stock Transfer.
Opposition to arms
length companies will, in fact, remove an option, which could
offer a middle ground between retention of housing stock under
local authorities and full-scale transfer.
Mary Crichton, Scottish
Regional Delegate said "In Glasgow, one of the largest proposals
is being vigorously opposed in a joint tenant/UNISON campaign
with UNISON playing a crucial role."
"We do, however, have
serious problems with a proposal which would rule out any consideration
of arms length companies. In many ways, we in Scotland wish we
had to opportunity to say no to them. The Scottish Executive in
its housing proposals is ruling out any option other than stock
transfer"
Angela Lynes, Glasgow
City Council Branch Secretary said "Arms Length Companies would
be an alternative we would want to explore. Our campaign against
Housing Stock Transfer is still going strong. 5,500 UNISON members
livelihoods are at risk and this ties our hands at a national
level."
131 ‘misleads'
and would break link
We could hear Motion
131 today if the business moves along. The UNISON settlement on
the management of political funds was agreed at our first Conference.
Motion 131 calls this carefully arrived at position into question.
The wording of the
motion misleads, eg "members are asking why we hand over millions
of pounds of members money", when it is of course only the money
of APF members who have elected to be part of that fund.
It is right to call
the record of the Government into account. It is also right to
make demands for the second term. Lots of other motions on the
agenda do this. At the end of the day this is not what 131 is
about. It would seek to break the link with Labour, but is not
honest enough to say so.
Oppose 131 and 131.1
Access: Words
into practice
The access problems
at last night's Scottish Branches meeting are another example
of the need to work at turning policies into reality.
It is standard practice
that UNISON Scotland would ensure that venues were accessible.
Something went wrong
this time in communication in the organisation or with the hotel.
Mike Kirby has promised that the issue will be looked into.
 Nigel
Pimm (Disabled Members Committee) said, "After the number of years
and the number of motions this is an example - not unique to Scotland
- of how disabled members' access is still, often unintentionally,
ignored at every turn.
"It shows just how
important it is that we campaign on and adopt the social model
of disability”.
Delegates may wish
to keep this in mind when looking at Motion 67.
Do you need
the briefing in another format?
Please let us know
if you or any of your colleagues need the briefing in large print,
braille, or any other format and we will be happy to oblige.
Visitors
Scotland in UNISON
conference briefings will be available on the tables at either
side of the Visitors Gallery. It would be useful if delegates
could pass this message on to colleagues in the gallery.
Welcome back
to the NHS
South Glasgow Hospitals
Branch hopes a decision to bring all privatised Sodexho and Olscot
staff back in house will be confirmed next week.
"We believe we can
reach an agreement which will return all our support services
back in-house, deliver ‘Value for Money' and return the staff
to Whitley Council terms and conditions”, said branch secretary
Robert Rae.
"UNISON has been campaigning
for the return of all staff back into NHS employment over the
years and we are delighted that it is now going to be a reality”.
The staff affected
work for Sodexho at the Victoria/Mansionhouse and for Olscot at
the Southern.
If the decision is
confirmed, Sodexho will be entitled to 12 months notice, unless
they walk away before then.
"The NHS is a public
service which should be provided by public service workers, not
profiteers”, added Robert.
Keeping a
media profile
It's only Tuesday
yet two branches have already been linked into press, radio and
TV items in Scotland.
Chris Bartter (Scottish
Communications Officer) is in constant touch and has been able
to contact branch reps here in Brighton to make sure media opportunities
are not missed.
If you have issues
going on back home you need help with, contact John Stevenson
via the Briefings Team.
|
