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National Delegate Conference 2017 Blog – Day 3 – Morning Session Continues

The next motion to be discussed is the working globally for LGBT rights this had emotional accounts of global struggles of LGBT rights, this motion was carried and more about this can be read here…

 

 

 

 

 

Now we receive a video message from Huber Ballesteros who after 40 months in jail, Huber Ballesteros has finally been released from prison. On 13th January the court lifted the preventive detention order against the prominent trade union and peasant farmer leader, allowing for his release from La Picota Prison in Bogotá. read more about his story here

Here is his message of thanks for support….

Now we receive a special message from Sonia Howard, Branch Secretary from Kensington and Chelsea Local Government Branch, she speaks of the Grenfell Tower Tragedy and how hard her members have worked tirelessly to support the victims and pays tribute to all those that have donated and sent messages of support and solidarity to the branch. this leads in to the discussion of the next motion “Why we need to build a new housing consensus for affordable and decent homes for all”. There are many accounts showing how important social housing is for those suffering domestic violence, those on low income, those in debt due to high university costs, higher rent prices, and damage that the  right to buy scheme has had on social housing. To read more about this motion and its amendments please see the above conference guide. This motion was carried with all amendments.

The next motion to be discussed is “Media Portrayal of Older People” this motion raised much debate around this issue with both for and against debates. This debate will continue this afternoon as first business.

This concludes this mornings blog, please look out for this afternoons blog.

 

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National Delegate Conference 2017 Blog – Day 3 – Child Marriage IS Child Labour – Morning Session

Wendy Nichols former President of UNISON chairing this mornings session welcomed all to conference and informed everyone of housekeeping rules and the levels of security for the conference.

The Standing Orders Committee report 6 has been presented to conference and questions were raised against this with reference back to the se questions not being received. A composite motion on the General Election will take place on Friday after Jeremy Corbyn’s speech to conference. the SOC report was carried.

Stephen Lewis – CDo-Director of AIDS Free World is the guest speaker before a discussion on the motion “Child marriage is child labour”.

To find out more about his organisation you can read below

 

You can also watch the following videos to find out more…

Now the discussions begin on the motion “Child Marriage is Child Labour” and it is presented with an emotional accounts, and that child marriage is substituted for child labour specifically for girls who are in forced marriages without choice but forced to work within the household, in forms of sexual exploitation, violation and prostitution Are the highest forms of un-recognised child labour. and the ILO statistics are skewed as child marriage isn’t recognised in these statistics where millions of girls are working in their forced households and missing of any reports. Accounts of world wide problems not only in the UK but countries across the world,  reiterating that “Child Marriage IS Child Labour” also excerpts from Whitney Houstons “The Greatest Love of All” were sung.

I believe the children are our are future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier

More emotional and upsetting accounts of speakers who are affected by forced child marriage and trafficking, speakers have been receiving standing ovations for bringing their personal and difficult stories to conference.

This Motion was Unanimously carried and seeks to:

Conference calls on the National Executive Council to:

1)  Work with AIDS Free World, Anti-Slavery International and other groups calling on the ILO to include child marriage as a worst form of child labour;

2)  Request that the Trades Union Congress and Public Services International raise the issue with the ILO.

 

Please look out for the next morning update soon.

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National Delegate Conference 2017 Blog – Day 2 – Afternoon Session

Following the collection at the end of the first part of the conference £1608.30 was raised for the Red Cross, where money will be distributed to support the victims of  the terrorist attack in Manchester, London Bridge, Finsbury Park and the Grenfell Tower Tragedy.

This afternoons business has begun and the first motion of discussion was on “Getting the public on our side – public service campaigning” this motion was passed and seeks to

There was also reference for this motion to the #BackYourChampions campaign here are few videos that explain this campaign.

Now that this afternoons motions have been discussed the conference moves on to the remaining order of business, other wise known as “The Snake” which contains motions to be discussed if the main conference business has been discussed.

As a branch we had the opportunity to prioritise motions to move up the snake we have prioritised the following:

40 – Public Service Champions Recruitment Camp
85 – Standing together in LGBT Equality
37 – Housing Associations and Charities that refuse to recognise Trade Unions
50 – Universal Basic Income
36 – Why we need to Build a new Housing Consensus for Affordable and Decent Homes for all

The first motion being discussed from “the snake” is “Challenging Racism and Xenophobia” this discussion provided some emotional accounts of delegates who have faced workplace racism, islamaphobia, and xenophobia. this motion was carried. The following motions can be read in the Conference Document here…

“Race Inequality in the Workplace” was the next motion to be discussed and following on from the previous motions emotive accounts, more speakers gave examples of issues they faced that were not acceptable in the workplace and that this motion seeks to tackle this. this motion was carried.

The motion “Tackling Stress” was discussed that speakers highlighted their own personal stories to show how relevant that this motion is in the current climate and how restructures and lower staffing levels in organisations in the public and private sector have on employees who have to take on additional work pressures and working hours. This motion was carried.

“Dying to Work Campaign” motion I brought to the conference and is being discussed and looks to support Terminally Ill workers inline with those covered by the Pregnancy/Maternity Rights, protect death in service benefits, and allow workers with terminally illness to die in dignity. Emotional personal accounts were given on the importance of discussing this motion. This was carried. special mention went to the “There for you” a charity that can support UNISON Members and more detail and all their support services can be found here:

 

 

 

 

that concludes the debate for today come back tomorrow to see more updates.