UNISON Edinburgh Conference 2001 Report

Report from National Delegate Conference and Local Government Service Group Conference
Brighton 18-22 June 2001

Delegation

The 2001 delegation was Maureen Christie (also a teller), Kevin Duguid, Alison Gowrie, George Lee, Natalie Robertson, John Stevenson (Branch Secretary), Irene Stout, and Wattie Weir. George Lee was depute leader. There was no nomination for the manual womens seat which was left vacant. Mo Innes had been elected to the delegation but after the Branch Committee on 4 June she indicated she would unfortunately be unable to attend. Because of the need for proportionality and because there was no other method available, Irene Stout was asked to join the delegation. She was able to make arrangements to attend and we are grateful to her.

It was a delegation that worked together with every member prepared to speak on branch policy, even if only two actually got the chance. Nevertheless good liaison work was done to get amendments accepted and our policies backed. Thanks to George Lee for his work as depute leader and his help in compiling this report.

Our Branch's Amendments

· 11.1 Car Allowances (LG Conf) - Carried, adding the issue of Road Tolls and the effect on all staff in course of their work and particularly disabled members. Wattie Weir moved the amendment.

· Comp C - Carried with prominence to our addition of a Commission on Social Need (14.1). Natalie Robertson to speak but mix up and question put before her.

· 32.1 Food Safety - Motion not heard

· 61.1 ME Retirement - Movers withdrew motion

· 70.1 Visual Fire Alarms - Motion not heard. Was next on agenda when Conference closed. However, branch secretary negotiated with the moving branch and SOGs to have amendment accepted.

· 111.1 Drop the Debt - Motion not heard but would have withdrawn in favour of NEC amendment which better stated the branch committee position.

· 156.1 Communications Strategy - Motion not heard

· 162.1 Stress Counselling - Amendment accepted by movers and Kevin Duguid spoke. Amendment carried.

Mandates

The mandate on several motions and amendments was to `Listen' and the decisions taken are marked thus (*). On three issues the delegation voted differently from the mandate when the issue became clearer and to vote with the mandate would have compromised branch policy. They are marked thus (**).

Speakers

Kevin Duguid spoke very well to a hushed Conference on 162.1. George Lee was listed but kindly deferred to Kevin as a first time speaker. Wattie Weir spoke on our Road Tolls amendment at Local Government Service Group Conference. John Stevenson was pipped at the post for speaking on 131 The Labour Government - What do we get for our money and Rule Change 23, Kevin Duguid on Tuition Fees and Alison Gowrie on Visual Fire Alarms in that it just missed being heard.

Conference

The first two days of Conference were pretty slow and quiet, perhaps because of a remarkable post-election unity with a clear consensus against the Government's apparent statements on privatisation. The Branch was instrumental in setting one of the main policies of the Conference in Composite C on Public Services, adding the strategy of a Commission on Social Need. Things livened up in the rules debate of all places (see below).

Solidarity: New General Secretary Dave Prentis gave, by general agreement across the political spectrum, one of the best General Secretary speeches heard at Conference. His keynote was `solidarity' and he tore into PFI and privatisation.

"I will continue to contest the notion that the private sector equates to efficiency and effectiveness. If the private sector is the answer someone has asked the wrong question", he said.

"So my challenge to the Government is this if you are truly modernising, if you are really evidence based and if you are customer focused just as you say you are, get on with the investment, get on with the reform but stop the creeping privatisation, scrap the private finance initiative and make your rhetoric match the reality, which our members experience every day in their working lives."

Dave also thanked the union for its solidarity in his fight with cancer. A report of his speech can be found at www.unison.org.uk ,or www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2001.

President: President Adrian Dilworth from the energy group proved to be one of the best chairs we have seen at Conference. He handled proceedings fairly, gently, with humour and firmly. During Stephen Byers' speech he managed to balance
dealing with the heckling while leaving the MP in no doubt about UNISON's position on public services.

Because Adrian has a visual impairment, he was assisted by Scotland's Danny Gillespie who was his eyes for the week. Both Adrian and Danny are facing redundancy from their jobs in the industry this year - Danny for the second time.

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