Do not take this union's support for granted
- Prentis warns Labour
 "Do
not take this union's support for granted, you'll have to earn
it," was Dave Prentis clear message to Labour as he addressed
conference. He warned Labour that it needs to change direction
or it will not be re-elected.
And to those waiting in the wings for Tony Blair's departure
as Prime Minister, "We've been let down too often before. That
means abandoning the ideological attacks on our public services."
"I do not want the Tories back, I want a Labour government, a
real Labour government, but Labour will not be re-elected and
nor will it deserve to - unless it changes direction, restores
trust and reconnects with its core vote."
"March 28th. What a great day! The biggest strike since the General
Strike." Dave congratulated members on the Local Government Pension
Scheme.
"UNISON at its most determined, driven. 800,000 members, shoulder-to-shoulder
with 12 other unions. Strong, united - one million workers, angry
that this government cared so little for them and angry at being
denied the same protection as others."
"And what does happen if the judicial review fails. The fight
goes on to protect our pensions, not just for this generation,
but for future generations. And I promise you this, any final
offer will be put to members in a ballot and if negotiations fail,
we will ballot again for industrial action."
Dave criticised the Government for "wasting billions on management
consultants, the here today gone tomorrow rip off merchants."
and "so called turn around teams in the NHS like KPMG paid £700,000
in three months i one trust and axing 400 jobs."
"We will fight back to defend our NHS. Joining forces with patient
groups, community groups, NHS unions working with the TUC and
the grassroots of the Labour party putting forward an alternative
vision - an improvement agenda. Co-operation not competition.
Efficiency, not cuts; Devolution, not framentation."
"We will support our members in the NHS taking industrial acion
against job cuts and privatisation of our National Health Service."
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Palestine and Israel - build the trade union links
International debates will dominate this morning with guest speakers
from the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions and the
Israeli Histadrut trade union federation.
As we welcomed guests from Palestine General Federation of Trade
Unions and the Israeli Federation Histadrut to the STUC in April,
we should similarly welcome their representatives to UNISON conference.
We work for a free, independent, viable Palestine, alongside
a secure Israel.
We remember the words of Nawaaf Masalha the Chairperson of the
International Committee of Histadrut at the STUC, "I am against
the humiliation of Palestinians, I support a Palestinian state”.
He also called for, "Israel and Palestine to be together
as workers... We are more than neighbours”.
UNISON Scotland has just agreed to send money to support equipment
for a cultural and computer school in Jenin in the north of the
West bank and office equipment for the regional office in Jericho.
Motion 126 reflects the work UNISON Scotland has put
into facilitating the dialogue between the PGFTU and Histadrut.
The dialogue was never going to be easy but is progressive and
creates historic opportunities.
126.01 should also be supported. But Amendment 126.02 explicitly
removes the action to facilitate crucial dialogue and co-operation
between the PGFTU and Histadrut. This is in complete opposition
to the position Scotland has taken and the work it has been doing.
SUPPORT 126 and 126.01 OPPOSE 126.02
Comp H Venezuela The new government of Hugo Chavez in
Venezuela and its importance for emergent politics of other states
in the Andean Continent are addressed in composite involving Wales
and others including Edinburgh. However, our solidarity should
be raised through broad-based organisations campaigning within
UNISON's criteria for affiliations. SUPPORT
99 and 98 Protecting and Organising Migrant Workers Scotland
and the Women's Committee assert a particular trade union responsibility
to protect migrant workers, particularly women, particularly in
health and social care.
125 Labour Migration While recognising the rights of migrant
workers and the benefits they bring, we must be wary of the adverse
effect of their migration upon their indigenous countries. SUPPORT
45 Racist Attacks The continuing scourge of racism was
evident in the May local government elections in England. In Scotland
we cannot be complacent. We've witnessed racist attacks on our
members at work and in the community. It's a trade union issue.
Motion 45 calls for vigilance and action in union activity at
work and in the communities. SUPPORT
45 and 45.01 8. Monitoring of Sexual Orientation and Gender
Identity by Employers Is any kind of monitoring of the workforce
a means towards a positive end taking up constructive enablement
or forcing identification and victimisation? It depends upon the
conditions and these are addressed in Motion 8. SUPPORT 8 and
8.01.
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