Thursday afternoon was a thrill a minute, set piece series of debates. The NEC's proposed ammendments to the rules of the union always provoke lively discussions and this year was no different. The main debates were around changes to union organisation, giving more 'devolved' power to secotors within service groups. For instance the voluntary sector and the careers sector are within the Local Government service group, but because of the size of local government these valuable groups of members ofetn feel their concerns are being sidelined. The change in our organisation would help facilitate greater involvement of our members in these smaller sections.
However, many conference delegates felt that the rule changes did not go far enough in specifically, in rule, ensuring lay member democratic decision making in those sectors. Lay member democracy is a highly prizeed principle in our union and following a close vote a card vote was agreed. The NEC needed a two thirds majority but in the end failed to get even a simple majority so this and another connected proposal consequently fell.
Similarly a proposal to change the wording in the rules which allows the union to expel members of the BNP and other far right groups led to a brilliant debate. The problem with the proposals was that many conference delegates thought perfectly good wording which was specifically tarhgetted at racist, facist and white supremicist groups was widened to include anyone who encouraged or particiapated in a political party not in line with UNISON's aims and objectives. Many felt that this wording was unnecessary and could be used to expel other political parties, from the Tories to the Sociualist Party oe Socialist Worker Party.
The debate resulted in another vote too close to call and a subsequent card vote. The proposals were defeated- although a simple majority was secured, the two thirds majority needed for a rule change was not achieved and the motion fell.
This morning we have had a closed debate on funding the equal pay challenge, followed by a grouped p[ensions debate. Conference has just supported a composite motion calling for continued defence and improvement of final salary pensions and a motion (moved by the Retired Members representative- our very own Dave Kippest, who those with a long memory will know well!)
The rest of the day will be a rollercoaster ride of fast and furious debates, as delegates try to get as many motions as possible debates and voted on by the close of the day.
I thank the Branch for giving the delegates and visitors an opportunity to come to this year's conference on you r behalf. the whole team has served you well and I am proud of our Branch's significant participation. In my view cardiff has always been the best Branch in Wales and this year has been no different- so thanks to the delegates and visitors for their conscientious and hard working approach to conference.
Mark
Friday, 19 June 2009
Thursday, 18 June 2009
UNISON Conference- the Welsh Emerge from the Shadows!
Yesterday morning Jane Moore spoke well, off the cuff, to conference alongside a string of Welsh delegates on the Cymru wales Region's motion on domestic violence.
The afternoon was fairly quiet, but this was, I think, the calm before the storm, because Thursday afternoon is... RULES day! Yes, you may think I am a Conference anaorak, but the Rule Change debates, traditionally scheduled for Thursday afternoon, often herald the most interesting and heated debates. This year looks to be no exception, with the usual prospect of sides limbering up for accusations of the powers that be being anti democratic and the opposers being labelled scaremongers. There are some critical debates around changes to the rules which allow us to expel members of far right and rascist organisations, with a change to the wording so that UNISON can expel anyone who is a member of a political party which does not agree with UNISON's aims and objectives. This is intersting wording which conference delegates will want to scrutinise very carefully. Could that wording be used to expel those on the left as well as the right? members of the Liberal democrats or Plaid Cymru? The debate will be critical to the future opertaion of the union and it is hotly anticipated.
I spoke today on Motion 82.02 on Cuba, supporting the call for Regions and Branches to affiliated, as we have done, to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, but also gave a warning to our comrades in Cuba, that the motion, which rightly called for the lifting of the US blockade, contained a danger to the revolution. When I visited Cuba the Higher Education Minister expressed concern about the limited areas where the feree market was allowed to develop, and that in areas like the tourist resort of Varedero, a waiter could earn more than a surgeon because of tips! This imbalance is a danger for the revolution, and the lifting of US economic sanctions may be a huge boost to the Cuban economy, but the private sector and free market, as we know, is not keen on limits, but is rapacious in its greed. I warned the conference to look at China, which, whatever you thought it was before, is now undoubtedly a capitalist country 'red in tooth and claw' and if we are to save the Cuban revolution the workers in Cuba must not be tempted down that road- all that glitters is not rum!
The motion, as ammended, was passed.
The debate on Palestine was, as usual a set piece intense debate, with feelings running high. In the end the Branch, after much discussion, voted against the Composite because the majority opposed the concept of a UNISON boycott. However, the Composite was passed.
So, now I'm going back to the fray and preparing for the excitement of Rules!
Cheers
Mark
The afternoon was fairly quiet, but this was, I think, the calm before the storm, because Thursday afternoon is... RULES day! Yes, you may think I am a Conference anaorak, but the Rule Change debates, traditionally scheduled for Thursday afternoon, often herald the most interesting and heated debates. This year looks to be no exception, with the usual prospect of sides limbering up for accusations of the powers that be being anti democratic and the opposers being labelled scaremongers. There are some critical debates around changes to the rules which allow us to expel members of far right and rascist organisations, with a change to the wording so that UNISON can expel anyone who is a member of a political party which does not agree with UNISON's aims and objectives. This is intersting wording which conference delegates will want to scrutinise very carefully. Could that wording be used to expel those on the left as well as the right? members of the Liberal democrats or Plaid Cymru? The debate will be critical to the future opertaion of the union and it is hotly anticipated.
I spoke today on Motion 82.02 on Cuba, supporting the call for Regions and Branches to affiliated, as we have done, to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, but also gave a warning to our comrades in Cuba, that the motion, which rightly called for the lifting of the US blockade, contained a danger to the revolution. When I visited Cuba the Higher Education Minister expressed concern about the limited areas where the feree market was allowed to develop, and that in areas like the tourist resort of Varedero, a waiter could earn more than a surgeon because of tips! This imbalance is a danger for the revolution, and the lifting of US economic sanctions may be a huge boost to the Cuban economy, but the private sector and free market, as we know, is not keen on limits, but is rapacious in its greed. I warned the conference to look at China, which, whatever you thought it was before, is now undoubtedly a capitalist country 'red in tooth and claw' and if we are to save the Cuban revolution the workers in Cuba must not be tempted down that road- all that glitters is not rum!
The motion, as ammended, was passed.
The debate on Palestine was, as usual a set piece intense debate, with feelings running high. In the end the Branch, after much discussion, voted against the Composite because the majority opposed the concept of a UNISON boycott. However, the Composite was passed.
So, now I'm going back to the fray and preparing for the excitement of Rules!
Cheers
Mark
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Dave The Brave!
What was looking likely to be a quiet conference was completely turned around yesterday afternoon when the General Secretary, Dave Prentis threw a verbal hand grenade onto the conference floor. We may have thought things couldn't get more exciting after Cardiff delegate Jane Moore spoke to Cardiff's excellent motion on supporting members who work with children and vulnerable adults, Dave followed Jane with a barnstorming speech which took everyone by surprise.
Dave called on the Labour Link to suspend payment of Constituency development funds to Labour constituencies, to 'ensure that our union only promotes and supports prospective Labour candidates who are willing to stand up for our values of public service' and that we should 'only work with and support trade union MPs who also stand up for our values.' In a speech punctuated by cheers, long periods of applause and finally the longest standing ovation Dave has ever had, he said 'our members are tired feeding the hand that bites them'.
It stirred everyone up and turned conference into the most exciting place in Britian to be.
This morning Tom Woodruff, Vice President of UNISON's sister union in the US, canada and Puerto Rico, gave a tour de force of a speech about the applaing state of affairs for workers in America ad how they have used the organising approach to become the US's fastest growing union - stirring stuff and a lesson for us all.
Mark
Dave called on the Labour Link to suspend payment of Constituency development funds to Labour constituencies, to 'ensure that our union only promotes and supports prospective Labour candidates who are willing to stand up for our values of public service' and that we should 'only work with and support trade union MPs who also stand up for our values.' In a speech punctuated by cheers, long periods of applause and finally the longest standing ovation Dave has ever had, he said 'our members are tired feeding the hand that bites them'.
It stirred everyone up and turned conference into the most exciting place in Britian to be.
This morning Tom Woodruff, Vice President of UNISON's sister union in the US, canada and Puerto Rico, gave a tour de force of a speech about the applaing state of affairs for workers in America ad how they have used the organising approach to become the US's fastest growing union - stirring stuff and a lesson for us all.
Mark
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Cardiff County at UNISON Local Government Conference
Sunday and Monday saw UNISON Local Government Delegates converge on sunny Brighton for another year's debates on future union policy for Local Government.
Cardiff's motion on the Independent Safegusrding Authority and POVA and POCA investigations was 'composited' with the National Womens Committee's motion. But the composite still looked mainly like ours. The main points were that UNISON should develop a toolkit to help Branches negotiate support packages for staff who are subject to allegations and investigations under these protective processes. And also that we should develop a pack with advice and support to give to members who are in such an unfortunate position. The motion almost didn't get debated because conference time was taken up with a number of lengthy presentations and a 'panel' on Personalisation of social care- very focussed on English matters.
But I managed to speak (but with time cut to 2 minutes!) and the motion was passed unanimously.
Our ammendment to the Welsh motion on School Support Staff didn't fare as well. The Welsh motion was not 'prioritised' and was then reprioritised to the bottom of the list of motions, meaning that there was no way it would be discussed. This caused some frustration amongst Welsh delegates, who had sat through 2 days of anglo centric debates, and the one motion referring specifically to Wales was not considered important to the rest of the Country. In my view this should provoke Welsh Branches to consider putting a rule change to next year's conference allowing some 'weighting' to devolved regions so that their concerns are not sidelined by the much bigger voting strength of the English Regions.
The weather has been kind to us, but the hotel has not! Still, I'm sure members will be pleased to know that their delegates are not living it up at their expense!
Today, (the first day of National delegate Conference) Mike Hayes has spoken twice in his role as Chair of the National Finance Committee and Jane Moore is due to speak on Cardiff's similar motion on the ISA, this afternoon.
Hopefully the Branch will be comforted by the knowledge that Angie Shiels, Deputy Secretary, is looking after you all at home- but I'm never more than phone call away.
Cheers
Mark
Branch Sec
Sunny Brighton
Cardiff's motion on the Independent Safegusrding Authority and POVA and POCA investigations was 'composited' with the National Womens Committee's motion. But the composite still looked mainly like ours. The main points were that UNISON should develop a toolkit to help Branches negotiate support packages for staff who are subject to allegations and investigations under these protective processes. And also that we should develop a pack with advice and support to give to members who are in such an unfortunate position. The motion almost didn't get debated because conference time was taken up with a number of lengthy presentations and a 'panel' on Personalisation of social care- very focussed on English matters.
But I managed to speak (but with time cut to 2 minutes!) and the motion was passed unanimously.
Our ammendment to the Welsh motion on School Support Staff didn't fare as well. The Welsh motion was not 'prioritised' and was then reprioritised to the bottom of the list of motions, meaning that there was no way it would be discussed. This caused some frustration amongst Welsh delegates, who had sat through 2 days of anglo centric debates, and the one motion referring specifically to Wales was not considered important to the rest of the Country. In my view this should provoke Welsh Branches to consider putting a rule change to next year's conference allowing some 'weighting' to devolved regions so that their concerns are not sidelined by the much bigger voting strength of the English Regions.
The weather has been kind to us, but the hotel has not! Still, I'm sure members will be pleased to know that their delegates are not living it up at their expense!
Today, (the first day of National delegate Conference) Mike Hayes has spoken twice in his role as Chair of the National Finance Committee and Jane Moore is due to speak on Cardiff's similar motion on the ISA, this afternoon.
Hopefully the Branch will be comforted by the knowledge that Angie Shiels, Deputy Secretary, is looking after you all at home- but I'm never more than phone call away.
Cheers
Mark
Branch Sec
Sunny Brighton
Friday, 12 June 2009
UNISON Conference
Delegates from Cardiff County UNISON will be heading to Brighton tomorrow (13th) to take part in the Local Government Conference on Sunday and Monday, and National Delegate Conference Tuesday to Friday.
The Branch has one motion( which has now been included in a Composite motion) on Supporting Members in Social care, about those under investigation under POVA. POCA and the impact of the new Independent Safeguarding Authority. We also have an Ammendement to the Welsh region's motion on School Support Staff,(to include the abolition of Term Time Only Pay as a priority in negotiations on a new negotiating body). We also have a similar motion on Social Care a the National Delegate Conference.
Hopefully, we will be keeping the Branch up to date via daily blogs - so keep watching the Blog!
Mark
The Branch has one motion( which has now been included in a Composite motion) on Supporting Members in Social care, about those under investigation under POVA. POCA and the impact of the new Independent Safeguarding Authority. We also have an Ammendement to the Welsh region's motion on School Support Staff,(to include the abolition of Term Time Only Pay as a priority in negotiations on a new negotiating body). We also have a similar motion on Social Care a the National Delegate Conference.
Hopefully, we will be keeping the Branch up to date via daily blogs - so keep watching the Blog!
Mark
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