National Delegate Conference 19-22 June 2007

Conference makes landmark decisions on pay and privatisation

Delegates voting

Conference made fundamental decisions about a co-ordinated fight for pay south of the border - across health and local government - a trade union wide fight against privatisation, with national and regional demonstrations. It also decided key policies on pensions.

It called on workers to serve as trustees on occupational pension schemes and has become the first union in the country to set up its own training scheme for shareholder activism.

It praised the significant role of migrant workers in Britain's public services and called on the government to shift attitudes that criminalise workers rather than those who exploit them.

Attempts by EU leaders to rehash the EU constitution were also opposed, along with directives that force privatisation. It called on the government to consider levying windfall taxes on companies making exorbitant profits.

Mike Kirby

Scotland played a huge part, in much greater proportion than our numbers. Jane Carolan played a key role speaking for the National Executive on all of the major issues of the week. Scottish Convenor Mike Kirby rescued the business on Thursday morning by guiding the Vice President into keeping the agenda going.

Mike spoke on many key issues and was joined by a host of other Scotland speakers from branches large and small and across a range of services. All in the tradition of putting the arguments, trying for the hearts and minds - being critical when needed - but largely avoiding destructive and cheap platform bashing.

Our speakers had something different to say each time. They addressed the motions and the points of debate. That is refreshing in a Conference where some took pleasure in getting up time after time to flog the same dead horse.

Mike Kirby

Again, the international guests reminded us that trade unionism should mean global solidarity. We have our struggles but when you hear of theirs it makes you feel very humble.

The plethora of Scotland speakers did expose one issue we need to address for the future. It is not just in Service Groups that the devolution agenda is becoming obvious, it is national Conference too. Issues like housing, schools, and many health and local democracy issues are specific to Scotland.

We need therefore to develop discussion in the union about how we can all fully involve ourselves under UNISON's national policy agenda.

The answer may well lie in developing joint seminars with the NEC Policy structures on various topics to ensure devolution issues are addressed while maintaining solidarity and a broad policy and campaigning consistency across our union.

top