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