17 April 2024 NEC report
- SA in UNISON
- Apr 23, 2024
- 4 min read
General Secretary Report
The General Secretary raised a number of issues including the ongoing attacks in Gaza, the social care reforms, the health sector strikes, local government, education sector, Windrush campaign, and the Mercer case.
Questions and comments to the General Secretary: A number of NEC members raised the issue that ‘not rocking the boat’ before a General Election is not a tactic that any union should use. This period will be key for UNISON and we need to defend against any attacks on members in the most robust way possible, with our actions promoted and publicised. Our industrial action should not be hampered or curtailed by considerations for the Labour Party.
We discussed the genocidal attacks on Gaza, calling for a more robust approach from the union, encouraging and supporting local action by branches, and publicly supporting the national demonstrations by PSC, including the demo on 27 March and on International Workers Day. This will help to build confidence among members. There were calls for the Gen Sec to speak at these national events, which she has so far not done.
We discussed the announcement by the Labour Party that there will not be extra funding for Local Government, posing the question what can UNISON do about this? NEC members discussed the need for the Labour Link to put pressure on the Labour Party over their position on LG funding and the National Care Service. There is little trust in Labour Link being able or willing to challenge the Labour Party over these issues.
We raised the issue of Birmingham City Council and Nottingham City Council, who are facing drastic cuts to services and attacks on members. We need a determined response from UNISON to support the members facing these attacks, as well as publicising their struggles and sending solidarity messages. We raised these struggles as key priorities for the union in the pre-election period. We discussed the National Care Service (NCS) and how the Labour Party is rowing back from its commitment. The union’s position is a NCS within five years whereas Labour has said it will be the second term of government at least. UNISON media is praising Labour for supporting NCS but should not sow illusions within our membership.
The Cass Review was raised, as it plays a part in the Tory ‘culture wars’ and their anti-trans rhetoric. The Cass Review is scientifically flawed. The Labour Party has also been unsupportive on this issue. We demanded that the union takes a more proactive position to Transphobic rhetoric from the Labour Party.
2. Presidential Report.
The President referred to a number of important issues, including trans rights, Gaza, local government cuts and pay campaigns.
Questions & comments: We discussed the massive cuts that Birmingham City Council is carrying out, with 600 jobs going and 400 vacancies being deleted. The Council is trying to blame trade unions for this situation, because of their successful Equal Pay Claim, but the reality is that over a decade of austerity has cut £1 billion from their budgets, combined with a costly ill-fated IT system. There are also attacks on the facility time for the UNISON local government branch in the city. This attack is a sign of things to come for other local government branches. We will need a determined response from UNISON to defend these members from attacks by a Labour local authority. We called for mobilisation to the Birmingham May Day demonstration against the cuts.
We discussed the good work the President has been doing in attending picket lines and supporting the PSC by speaking at their national Gaza rallies.
We discussed the Health Conference, where strikers were given a very warm welcome, and we agreed that this should be replicated at NDC. The union`s focus and resources could be used on developing the confidence of our branches on pay campaigns. NDC could be an opportunity to share experience and good practice in successful strikes, and learn the lessons from all the recent action. Delegates should leave NDC feeling equipped and confident to engage in the pay campaigns. More strikes are the way to build the union and to win the pay that members deserve. Comrades made the point that there will be no respite from austerity attacks under a Labour government, and any pause in preparations, any reduction in momentum or any attempt to win concessions through back room deals, will end in failure. Only through our strength and solidarity can we win these struggles.
We discussed Women`s Conference, and the President was thanked for highlighting Trans rights and abortion rights in her report. Both areas are being used by the right wing in the ‘culture wars’ to oppress and divide the working class. The union needs to be bold in defending these rights publically, as well as organising against attacks on these fundamental rights.
3. National Delegates Conference Business. The Appeals, motions and amendments were agreed for NDC. There was a robust discussion on a motion regarding Ukraine, with (unusually) officer intervention in support of the motion, which won NEC support by one vote, against the recommendation of the Policy Development and Campaigns Committee. Concerns were raised about the proposal in the motion to affiliate the union to USC, which calls for arms for Ukraine. We discussed the expansion of NATO over the past 25 years, and the inter-imperialist nature of the struggle between the US and Russia, and by extension, China. More weapons for Ukraine does not get us closer to peace. The point was made, that “A bayonet is a weapon with a worker on both ends” John Maclean.
Read more on Socialist Alternative’s analysis of some of the issues raised at this NEC meeting:
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