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National Delegate Conference 2024

Tuesday 18 June 2024 – We first receive both Standing orders committee report one and two, there was references back made to this report which will feature in subsequent reports.  Both carried.

We then received the annual report 2023/24 and was carried you can read this below…

Then we received the Financial statements unto year end 31 December 2023 these were carried, you can read this below…

We then heard from the current Unison President Libby Nolan

Following this we now moved to the discussion on Motions, these can be found in the conference agenda below.

The first motion to be discussed is

Motion 63 – The Climate Emergency – Why it Matters to UNISON, this motion was carried as amended 63.1 as this was carried Motion 65 has now fallen.

Motion 6 – Challenging the Exploitation of Migrant Workers – this motion was carried as amended including amendments 6.1, 6.2 and 6.4. 6.2 has been withdrawn and 6.3 has was not carried.

Motion 9 – Supporting Black Members Experiencing Racism – was carried

We then received a speech from Monroe Bergdorf, LGBT+ activist, model, writer and broadcaster, you can see a self interview below.

we then return to discussions on motions

Motion 72 – Year of LGBT+ Workers – embedding LGBT+ equality in our union – was carried

Motion 71 – LGBT+ Rights – was carried

Wednesday 19 June 2024 – following referencing back on standing orders report we continue with discussion on motions.

Composite Motion B – National Care Service – this was carried

You can read about the composite motions here…

Composite C – The Legacy of the year of Black Workers – Was carried

Motion 14 – Speaking in a Personal Capacity – this motion fell and a lengthy debate happened on this motion with many for and against, there was also 5 points of order to for the question to be put on this motion.

Motion 83 – The Constitution of the United Kingdom – Reimagined in the Interest of the Majority – the was carried as amended 83.1 and 83.2

We also received a speech from Christina McAnea UNISON General Secretary –

Motions then continued with Motion 39 – Domestic Abuse: Access For All – Was carried as amended 39.1 and 39.2

Motion 56 – Tory Cuts to Police Funding Harms Community Safety – this motion was carried following a heated debate

Thursday 20 June 2024 – following the receiving and referencing back of the standing orders committee report we first moved to the international speaker, Dr Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the UK.

There was then a photocell asking for a Ceasefire Now.

The following organisation provides information on the issues in Gaza and Palestine. click on the image to learn more.

We then move to Composite Motion D – Palestine – this was carried

Motion 95 – Solidarity with Ukraine and its Labour Movement – Was carried.

Motion 45 – Cuts and Funding – this was carried as amended 45.1

We then moved to the Amendments to Rules and Schedules

Schedule Change 1 – Schedule E Political Fund Ballot – this was carried

Rule Change 5 – Rule G Stewards – This was carried by a majority

Rule Change 6 – Rule M Data Protection – This was carried by a majority

Rule Change 7 – Rule M Data Protection – This was carried by a majority

Rule Change 3 – Rule D Regional Representatives – This was carried by a Majority following a debate

Rule Change 2 – Rule C,D,E,G,H,I,K,M,P and Schedules A,B,C,D – This was carried by a Majority

Rule Change 4 – Rule D Service Groups – This was carried by a Majority

We then returned to the motions

Motion 31 – Time to Invest Now – Don’t Make Public Service Workers Pay the Price of Austerity! – This was carried as amended 31.1

Motion 18 – Artificial Intelligence – This motion was Carried

Friday 21 June 2024 – We first receive the Final Standing Orders report which was carried and we now move back to the motion debates.

Composite Motion A – Organising to Win (made up of Motions 1, 1.1,4,4.1,5,5.1) – this motion was carried

Motion 3 – Organising and Training to Win Ballots and Disputes – this motion was carried as amended 3.1

Motion 98 – The Right to Strike – this motion was carried as amended 98.1

During this motion Christina McAnea introduced and welcomed UNISON members currently involved in Strike Action across the union.

We then return to the remaining order of business

Motion 8 – Union Learning is Central to Skills and Development for UNISON Members and Activists – this motion was carried as amended 8.1

Motion 28 – Health and Safety Response to a National Crisis of Stress and its effects on Public Service Workers – this motion was carried

Motion 40 – Zane’s Law – this motion was carried

Motion 15 – Treating our Members with Dignity and Respect – after an in-depth debate this motion was carried.

Motion 41 – Justice for the Victims of the Windrush Scandal – this motion was carried

Motion 24 – Four Day Working Week – this motion was carried

Motion 76 – Stop Tory Attacks on Disabled People’s Income and Independence – this motion was carried

Motion 33 – End Child Poverty – this motion debate was halted as at this point it was deemed that conference was not quorate as too many people had left conference early. this motion along with all the none prioritised motions will be discussed and agreed by the NEC (National Executive Council) at a future meeting.

We then move onto the final part of conference which is a speech of thanks to Libby Nolan this years UNISON President who steps down at the end of conference for the next agreed president to take over. there was a retrospective look back at what libby has done over her past year and also the contribution she has made for the Union movement over her working life.

That concludes conference we hope you’ve found this update useful and look out for the next update soon.

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Local Government Conference June 2024

We first receive both Standing orders committee report one was carried. Standing orders committee report two, there was references back made to this report which will feature in subsequent reports.  Both carried, these can be found here…

We firstly have the moving of the first part of the Annual Report 

Glen Williams , Chair, Local Government Service Group Executive, this report was received and carried. 

You can read this here…

We now move to the moving of Motions, the first motion to be discussed is; 

Motion 8 – Supporting and developing young members and activists within the UNISON Local Government Service Group. This Motion was carried

Motion 4 – Gender Pay Justice for Women – This Motion was carried

Composite A – Make 2024 the Year of the LGBT+ workers and embedding LGBT+ equality in Local Government – This Motion was carried

Motion 3 – Next steps for our work on the Disability Employement Charter – a bargaining approach – This Motion was carried

We now hear a speech from Cristina McAnea UNISON General Secretary

We then continue with discussions on motions 

Motion 41 – Workplace Violence – This Motion was carried

Motion 40 – Maternity pay in Local Government – This Motion was carried

Motion 38 – Erosion of T&Cs , Pay and protection – This Motion was carried

Motion 39 – Stop Charging disabled members to go to work – This Motion was carried

Motion 33 – Living Wage as part of a pay strategy – This Motion was Lost 

Motion 35 – Demand that councils and other NJC employers recompense staff who have overpaid tax and NI due to lump-sum backpay form pay awards, and avoid future overpayments/impacts on benefits. – This Motion was carried

Motion 37 – Car allowance rates as part of our national pay negotiations – This Motion was carried

Motion 42 – Food Standards Agency – Pay, Terms & Conditions – This Motion was carried

Motion 6 – Black Social Workers face disproportional disciplinary and capability procedures – This Motion was carried

Motion 7 – Council Bankruptcy and its Impact on Black Workers – This Motion will roll over to order of business on Monday. 

Monday Session 

We now move to Standing Orders Committee Report No3, there has been references back being made these will be reported back in subsequent reports.

We now move to the moving of motions these start with Composite C – End the collapse of Local Government and renew the call for fair funding to a New Government – this motion was carried. 

Motion 30 – Pay and Funding in Local Government – this motion was carried as amended 

Motion 32 – Cuts in domestic violence services – this motion was carried as amended 

We now receive a guest speaker – Sue Sanders CEO Schools Out, Co-Founder LGBT+ History Month UK. 

You can see Sue in action in the below Ted Talk Video.

Following this very informative speech we then continue motions and we hear about Motion 45  – Government Meddling / coercion in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Now for Composite D – Defending and improving our Pensions – this motion has been carried 

We now hear from the International Speaker Lina Monitilla Diaz, from Central Unitaria de Trabajdores (CUT)

We now hear the final standing orders report number 4.

We now move to the Education and Children’s Services (Section 4) of the annual report. 

Motion 20 – Further Education and Pay is now being moved and this was carried.  

Motion 13 – Insource Children’s Trust  – this motion was carried 

Motion 15 – A New negotiating body for school support staff – this motion was carried as amended 

During this motion Becky Everett your Branch Secretary spoke in support of this motion, you can watch her speech below…

Motion 23 – Organising in Education – this motion was carried

Composite B – Crisis in our Schools, School Support Staff need our support – this motion was carried 

Motion 19 – Preventing Violence Against School Staff – this motion was carried

Motion 22 – Organising outsourced workers in the college sector – this Motion was carried 

Motion 21 – Improving stress levels in colleges – this motion was carried 

Motion 18 – Impact of OFSTED on Support Staff Must be Acknowledged – this motion was carried

Motion 5 – Tackling the exploitation of migrant workers –  this motion was carried as ammended

Any of the motions that weren’t discussed during the conference will be considered by the Local Government Service Group Executive at their next meeting. 

The motions are as follows

Motion 11 – A Real National Care Service

Motion 12 – Organising LGBT+ workers in social care 

Motion 9 – Defending our Social Workers

Motion 10 – Supporting the next generation of social workers

Motion 14 – A New Negotiating Body for Early Years Workers

Motion 24 – Cuts in Education and the Impact on Women & Children in Northern Ireland

Motion 28 – Real investment in Local Government before S:114 becomes the ‘new normal’

Motion 31 – Housing budget cuts

Motion 34 – NJC Pay Negotiations & Universal Credit: The Impact of Delays to Pay Negotiations on Low-Income Families 

Motion 36 – Campaign for a Pay and Grading Review

Motion 46 – Governmental meddling/coercion in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Motion 47 – Governmental Meddling/coercion in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

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UNISON National Delegate Conference 2023 – Afternoon Session – Day 3

We return to conference for the afternoon session, firstly there is a minutes silence for those that lost their lives in the tragedy in Nottingham this week.

As mentioned in the previous blog here is the Year of the Black Worker group photo…

We now move to the vote on Rule Amendments, rule amendments must carry a majority of two thirds on the conference floor for this to carry. Firstly we discuss Rule D – Young Members Seat – this proposes to raise the age of a young member from 27 to 30 – this amendment passed with a majority so is carried.

You can read all these amendments in the below document…

You can also read the current existing rules in the below rulebook…

Rule amendment 5 – Rule G – Branch Meetings – adding the opportunity for online meetings for branch business to the rule book for all branches was carried with a majority

Rule amendment 7 -Rule G – Branch Officers – making data protection compulsory – Was Carried with a majority

Rule amendment 8 – Rule G – The Branch Secretary – ensuring that data protection is kept within branch – this was carried with a majority

Rule amendment 1 – Rule C – Honorary Life Members – stating that Only existing members in full membership of the Union may be nominated for honorary life membership – following a debate this was lost by majority

Rule amendment 3 – Rule D – Service Goops – this adds clarity to the groups within the union – this amendment by a majority was lost

This concludes the debate of rule amendments we now move to the debate on motions, and we start proceedings with Motion 84 – Effective Use of Our Unions Resources to Build our Industrial Action Fund and Capacity to Deliver Effective Industrial Action. this motion has generated a lot of members wanting to speak for and against for this motion and will take time to put the vote to conference.

As amended 84.1 his motion following a fallen point of order and a point of order that was successful in putting the question, this then lead to a card vote and the results will be revealed tomorrow morning, to be continued….

This Concludes todays Conference session and we hope you’ve found this useful and look out for the next update.