UNISON's national conference, held between the 15th and 20th June, reflected the general change in attitude that most union leaders have now taken towards New Labour. Scepticism, if not occasional hostility, is the new tack that UNISON's NEC and General Secretary Dave Prentis have taken. FRED LEPLAT reports.
Mounting pressure from members facing continuing low pay and privatisation and the realisation that the strategy of dialogue with the New Labour government has failed are at the roots of this change. This contradiction was one of the reasons why the muchanticipated debate on the future arrangements for UNISON's political funds turned out to be a "damp squib" and that there was a large vote for the NEC's recommendations.
Two years ago, UNISON conference voted through a motion demanding a review of the two funds, the General Political Fund (GPF) and the Affiliated Political Fund (APF).
This year the NEC held a poorly organised consultation of members, while at the same time, the APF started to promote
The Political Funds Review concluded amongst other things, that "the political funds and their representatives at all levels must support and argue for UNISON policies".
The flouting of UNISON policies by the APF representatives on the Labour Party NEC was one of the major complaints.
The left in the union, the United Left, argued for a single political fund which was democratic and which could support any credible candidate in elections, not just those from the Labour Party, who supported UNISON's policies.
Unfortunately, supporters of the Socialist Party supported the setting up a third political fund as they believed that it was the only way under the union's rules to allow support for socialist candidates. This split in the left was a contributory factor in the poor vote for change in the arrangements of the political funds.
General Secretary, Dave Prentis, had nevertheless to concede to much of the dissatisfaction when he said that he was "sick and tired of getting up at 5am for a radio interview, to speak up for members only to be confronted by a Labour minister sponsored by UNISON".
Although the NEC's recommendations to keep the two funds essentially unchanged were endorsed, the debate on the link with Labour will not go away.
London Region convenor, Geoff
Martin, stated in a fringe meeting of
400 people attended by George Galloway his belief that "the union should remain affiliated to the Labour Party, but I have no fear about opening the debate on whether to support other candidates."
He added "the London Region of UNISON should back Livingstone for London Mayor. A precedent has already been set by ASLEF and the RMT, and they have not been expelled from the Labour Party".
Despite winning the vote on the future of the political funds, the leadership of the union lost votes, such as on a motion condemning the national deal on teaching assistants (which gives them additional duties after just one day's national strike. which would be regularly topped-up. Embassy bombing. the willing". National Executive on the NEC from 9 to 14 out of 60. poor average of 6 per cent. attacks on pay and conditions. attacks is more urgent than ever. without the guarantee of additional funding for regradings), and one regretting the precipitate manner in which the national local government 2-year pay deal was accepted
Delegates also voted, in opposition to the NEC, to condemn the rise in national insurance contributions as it penalises the lower paid, and to set up an Industrial Action Fund
Conference also voted overwhelmingly to call for Freedom and Justice for Samar and Jawad, unjustly accused of the Israeli
In Iraq, a resolution involving the NEC and some branches called for the immediate withdrawal of British and American troops, democracy for the people of Iraq, and for the reconstruction to be paid for by the "coalition of
At the close of conference, a new
takes over. Unprecedented gains were registered by the United Left as it increased its numbers
The average share of the vote for the United Left candidates was a remarkable
UNISON Whipps Cross thospital TeICO CiTizenS ALSO FIGHTING low pay, these hospital support staff at East london's Whipp's Cross Hospital staged a solid 2-day strike against contractors ISS Mediclean in May, demanding parity with NHS ancillary staff