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Thursday 23 June No 1 - Briefings
A day for Europe and international solidarity
European Constitution, Emergency Motion 1
This takes account of the recent French and Dutch
referenda and calls on the union to develop an new perspective
on Europe in conjunction with the French CGT and other sister
European unions. This will be particualrly around the framework
dircetive which would exclude public services from the liberalisation
agenda.
This reflects the approach which UNISON Scotland
argued at the recent STUC Congress. There will be a special Congress
convened later this year to consider a Scottish perspective where
public services have a more prominent role in the general economy.
Support Emergency 1
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IRAQ - Taking advice from our union contacts
In pursuing an agenda of reconstruction and solidarity,
we need to take the advice of our contacts in the Iraqi trade
union movement. There is a need to build capacity in the civic
and government institutions before troops are withdrawn.
Amendement 112.3 which would seek immediate withdrawal,
should be opposed as it would fail to take account of the perspective
of the Iraqi trade unions, some of whom should be with Conference
during the debate. Oppose 112.3, Support 112 NOTE:
UNISON has established a fund to assist in rebuilding
the trade union movement in Iraq and UNISON Scotland contributed
a significant prize in a fund raising draw being run at Conference.
Make Poverty History - Comp F
It has been said many times this week - get to Edinburgh
on 2 July and support this motion. UNISON is a founding member
of the Make Poverty History coalition. members will be coming
to Edinburgh from all over the UK to join the march and to run
a stall on the Meadows.
Mordachai Vanunu
Conference is expected to hear from Mordachai Vanunu
on a telephone link from Jerusalem. Mordachai served 18 years
in jail for whistle-blowing on Israel's nuclear capability. Since
his release he has been kept under house arrest. UNISON Scotland
has been part of the widespread campaign in support of Mordachai,
the recently elected Rector of Glasgow University.
Aung San Suu Kyi
Conference will present honourary membership to
Burma's pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as who is now
serving her third term of house arrest. National League for Democracy
was elected with 80% of the vote in 1990 and Aung San Suu Kyi
would have been President.
The military Junta never allowed the democratic
government to take power. The Junta has received worldwide condemnation
as one of the worst violators of human rights. The City of Edinburgh
Branch has been very involved in the Burma campaign and Aung San
Suu Kyi was granted the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh last
weekend.
More information at http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/burmaseminar.html
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RULES - Hooray!
Rules, rules, rules are the essential ingredient
of an anorak's agenda. Most are "tidying up" with the exception
of (8) - which was adopted by Scottish Council in February last
year.
But oppose (3). Why should self-organised groups
have greater access to conference agenda than a region? It is
important not to disrupt the balance of what is a branch based
and motion based Conference. The NEC is leaving to Conference
(cop out), Scotland advice is oppose
Biannual branch elections (15) may reduce an accountability,
which is a principle not necessarily translated into practice
in a universal review at branch, regional or NEC level - oppose.
Fixed penalties in disciplinary cases (19 & 20)
may seem superficially attractive and at one with judicial procedures,
but we deal with different standards of proof and circumstance.
This would remove flexibility to address the specifics of an offence,
for example, allowing serious offenders (eg theft of funds) to
just come back in after only two years. Oppose.
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