UNISON National Delegate Conference 2024: Day 1 Tuesday

 

I am at UNISON National Delegate Conference (NDC) as a NEC member for Community (Housing Associations and Voluntary sector). NDC is the "Parliament" of UNISON and decides upon policies, finance and rules for the forthcoming year. 

In the morning I was up at 7am for a run (aka as a slow jog) around the beach for 2.5 miles enjoying the sea breeze and getting ready for the day ahead. Most of which will be spend on the NEC platform listerning to debates, reports and speeches inside the huge Conference hall.

My first meeting was with the other members of the NEC at our hotel at 8.30am where we discussed conference business and standing orders reports etc. Conference itself started at 10am

We began conference with a welcome by our lay President, Libby Noland, introductions to our guests and international visitors then we remembered UNISON staff and activists who had died in the previous year. This is always a moving moment. 

Next we had our Standing Orders Committee (SOC) report which outline the programme for the week and which motions had been accepted as "competent" (able to be debated at conference) "composited" (similar motions merged) and "consequences" (if a motion is passed it may result in other motions becoming out of date or invalid). 

The job of being Chair of SOC and reporting to Conference its decisions is a rather thankless task. Nearly all decisions taken by the 15 democratically elected members of SOC are routinely "referenced back" to the SOC (they are asked to reconsider their decisions). While this is an important rule book right of delegates, I feel that some abuse this right to "grandstand" and make speeches. It also wastes a lot of time at conference that could be better spent debating motions. 

We then went on to discuss the UNISON annual report, our Financial statements and receive the President's speech (which also included the presentation of the Eric Roberts Award to an inspiring young member).  

During lunch I attended the Greater London Regional new delegates event with my fellow London Council officers. I clearly remember how completely unfathomable and confusing my first ever UNISON conference was would have welcomed the chance to chat to more experienced conference colleagues about such things as "points of order", "card vote" and the "snake". 

There was a number of important motions debated on Climate change, Exploitation of migrant workers and the year of LGBT+. I thought it was very good that speakers were explaining their preferred pronouns, when introducing themselves at the beginning of their speeches. 

After conference there was a useful fringe on the "Political fund" ballot which must take place very soon. All members will be balloted on whether or not UNISON should have "political" funds. Every 10 years all trade unions have to undertake this. It will cost over a million pounds for this to take place. Note that shareholders are not individually balloted by post when companies decide to make political denotations to the Conservative Party. I hope that a future Labour Government will get rid of this requirement. 

Reminder: Workers Memorial Day event - 1pm Friday 26 April 24 at Three Mills Green, Stratford, E3 3DU - Theme is Climate Change impact on safety

This year since Workers Memorial Day is on a Sunday, my branch will be organising our annual wreath laying event on the Friday before (Friday 26 April at 1pm) outside the "Clasping Hands" Statue in Three Mills Green, Stratford, E3 3DU.

This is the site of a historic "accident" where a number of workers sacrificed their lives while attempting to rescue their colleagues.

Members and Staff Safety officers from local Housing Associations are expected but all welcome to pay their respects. Guest speakers invited.

(In local park next to historic mills and canel. Near Bromley by Bow tube, buses, can park for free near by at Tesco for limited time if you buy something)

"With last year the hottest year on record, the theme for 2024's Workers' Memorial Day is the impacts of climate change on occupational health and safety. Death at work and employment disruption as a result of global warming, not to mention occupational illnesses caused by polluting fossil fuels, are rising everywhere, and are only expected to increase.

Stand with us this year to remember the early victims of climate change-caused heat stress, UV radiation, air pollution, industrial accidents, extreme weather events, vector-borne diseases, and chemical exposure. And commit to fight for a world that's more, not less, safe to live and work in.
Check out TUC site for further details" (TUC)

https://www.megaphone.org.uk/events/stratford-international-workers-memorial-day

Labour Party Conference 2022: Day 3 Tuesday

 

I have just realised that I still have 2 more days to post on this year's Labour Conference. So Tuesday started off with another short run along the Mersey and back from my hotel. Weather was kind compared to Monday. The UNISON delegation started with a "huddle" on the day's business just before the start of conference. 

NHS Mental health Nurse and UNISON delegate, Gordon McKay gave a marvellous and passionate speech on the Health debate. 

As posted here I spoke on the Climate change/environment debate on behalf of UNISON but by coincidence, Newham Labour member Ken Penton moved the motion  while his colleague Luke Chartist (also a PPC) spoke. At the same time James Asser was on the NEC panel. 

There was many good conference debates and Keir's speech went down so, so well. We are starting to believe we can win at the next General Election and he will be our Prime Minister. The Tories, of course, were helping by doing every single thing possible to make our conference successful with their ridiculous unfunded tax cuts which sent the pound plummeting and raised interest rates.

After conference finished I went to the UNISON reception, were our deputy leader, Angela Rayner (UNISON's own of course) came to see us and gave a great speech followed by Keir who also spoke very well and stayed chatting to delegates and enjoying the event far longer than his aides had wanted.

Only one more (half) day to go. 

Labour Conference: Day 3 A Green & Digital Future debate - My speech "No jobs in a dead planet"

 

This is photo from Tuesday morning (Day 3 of Labour Party Conference) of me giving a speech to Labour Conference as a UNISON Labour Link delegate. It was during the debate on Climate change. It was titled the "decarbonisation of public services".  A bit of a mouthful but hopefully I got my point across. Many thanks to UNISON staff for speaker notes. Hat tip Julian Cooke for photo.

Check out here on Labour Party YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9-TW2vii0Q and go to 1 hour 39 minutes & 25 seconds

DECARBONISING PUBLIC SERVICES

Conference, John Gray speaking for UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union. Conference let’s be clear we don’t need any persuading that climate change is real, is dangerous and is destructive.

We know that there are no jobs on a dead planet. And if the transition to net zero is not just, it is working people and their families who will suffer the worst consequences.

And Conference, the breadth of our public services means that UNISON members see the effects of climate change at work. Whether working for the Environment Agency and local government at the time of flooding, or NHS staff seeing the rise in air pollution and asthma.

And we all know the impacts of pollution and climate change fall more heavily on the disadvantaged.

Conference, last year, UNISON supported the UK and global trade union movement at the United Nations COP26 Conference. The global trade union movement had four clear demands:

1) Raise climate ambitions with Just Transition policies;

2) Respect and promote human and labour rights;

3) Provide climate finance for the Global South;

4) Funded plans that would achieve net zero.

Conference, trade unions must play a central role so that workers voices are at the table. That way we will deliver the policies and measures that ensure the transition is fair. This is a once in a generation challenge that we have to rise to. And as part of this endeavour We know that decarbonising public services is key.

Public Services, even excluding transport, represents around 8% of UK’s direct greenhouse gas emissions And that’s before you factor in procurement, construction and social housing impacts which make it much higher. 

Conference, Decarbonisation in Public Services needs new money now! Local Government alone needs major investment to cover works including building retrofits, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure 
and enhanced waste collection and processing services.

I could give similar examples across the rest of the public sector but the Chair would agree that there isn’t enough time in this speech!

Conference, In the absence of a significant capital injection of funds, public services will only move slowly towards its decarbonisation targets, taking resources from already stretched budgets, with disastrous consequences.

So, Liz Truss, Your government needs to start the funding NOW! But also, I say to our Labour leadership Public Services must have a separate, significant additional climate and decarbonisation budget .And there must dialogue with trade unions on this issue NOW.

Conference, if we get this right with such ambitious plans Labour will win the next election. Thank You.

Green on Green: A great day to wash your dirty laundry in public?

 

Please see the fascinating exchange of emails between the two Newham Green Councillors Nate and Danny (The Green Group Leader) copied into 64 Labour Councillors, Mayor and various officers. 

From: Nate Higgins (Councillor) <Nate.Higgins@newham.gov.uk>
Sent: 17 July 2022 22:59
To: Danny Keeling (Councillor) <Danny.Keeling@newham.gov.uk>; Conrad Hall <Conrad.Hall@newham.gov.uk>; Council - All Newham Council Members <CEX-Councillors@newham.gov.uk>
Cc: Corporate Management Team <CorporateManagementTeam@newham.gov.uk>
Subject: Re: Message on behalf of Cllr Vaughan, Chair of Council

 Hi all.

 I would like to apologise for my colleague's remarks and disassociate myself from them. I would also like to make clear this is not 'normal summer weather' to be enjoyed, this is seriously dangerous to public health and life, and the result of climate change.

Please do whatever is necessary to ensure the health of all council staff and councillors, and I will fully support the council in doing that. Any questions about the rescheduling of business can wait until safety has been assured. 

Please stay safe all. 

Nate. 

 From: Danny Keeling (Councillor) <Danny.Keeling@newham.gov.uk>

Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2022 9:57:22 PM
To: Nate Higgins (Councillor) <Nate.Higgins@newham.gov.uk>; Conrad Hall <Conrad.Hall@newham.gov.uk>; Council - All Newham Council Members <CEX-Councillors@newham.gov.uk>
Cc: Corporate Management Team <CorporateManagementTeam@newham.gov.uk>
Subject: RE: Message on behalf of Cllr Vaughan, Chair of Council

Evening all,

I hope we all have had a great weekend?

I must stress that the last council meeting lowered the amount of full council meetings in the calendar – has this full council been cancelled or postponed?

I am fully understanding this unusual weather but we do have this beautiful expensive building on dockside that could assist us against the heat, alternatively do one of our property/facility managers have appliances to assist.

I do believe all of us have taken measures getting from A to B and working in these hot conditions already.

Are we not still able to hold full council, especially with the assistance of the brilliant space at Dockside. I feel like this is a very last minute decision. We have known about the heat for a good amount of time and making the meeting more comfortable, could have happened last week. There are plenty of brilliant and amazing spaces the council have throughout the borough that could have air conditioned spaces.

 Questions:

1.       Is this cancelling or delaying?

2.       Why was this decision made so late knowing the temperature already predicted?

3.       Do we expect residents to go to work on the day we do not go and hold full council ‘because it is too hot’

 I do obviously hope everyone is well and enjoying this Summer weather.

 Danny Keeling

Councillor, Stratford Olympic Park

Leader of the Green Group

"Can Scotland deliver a just transition to net zero" LAPFF fringe at SNP conference 21

 

This evening I took part in a panel discussion at a SNP conference virtual fringe hosted by the Smith Institute and supported by the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF).on "Just transition". I took part in my capacity as a Joint Vice Chair of LAPFF.  

It was a really interesting debate and Q&A. The Chair was Professor Nick Robbins (LSE) and other speakers, Alan Brown MP (Shadow SNP Spokesperson Energy & Climate Change) and Rachel McEwen (Just Transition Commission Scotland & Chief Sustainability Office SSE). It was a shame that Richard Lochhead MSP (Minister of Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work) was unable to join due to technical problems. 

This is my introductory contribution :- 

"Thank you, Nick.

I am a Councillor in East London and vice-chair of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF), which is a membership organisation representing over 80 public sector pension funds and investment pools.

Together our members have over £300 billion of assets under management and have holdings in many of the largest companies within the UK but also globally.

The work of LAPFF is focused on engaging these companies on responsible investment issues, including around climate and social issues

We do so not only because it is the right thing and I say this also as an active trade unionist who pension is in the LGPS, but also because as long term investors the environmental impact of companies and how they treat their workers matters for long term value of those companies and ultimately protecting the pensions of beneficiaries.

The theme of today’s fringe combines both these areas; how best to manage climatic and social risks and I am going to focus my time on the role that investors can play in supporting a just transition to net zero.

As we head towards COP26, the climatic risks we face as a society are well known. And reaching net zero is increasingly viewed as a priority for governments across the globe.

The urgency of the need for immediate climate action for all societal actors has been reinforced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report which has been called a ‘Code Red’ for humanity by the UN Secretary General.

This report shows that many changes are becoming irreversible and that there is no room for delay or excuses to avert climate catastrophe.

Climate change also has significant implications for long term investors such as pension funds. This includes stranded assets such as oil that cannot be extracted because of regulation or taxes and companies more generally failing to move to low or zero carbon business models

Moving to a zero carbon business model is far from straightforward and has social implications – many of these are very positive such as creating new green jobs and improving the air quality in our towns and cities.

But there are also risks of moving away from carbon intensive industries.

We have seen in the past the impact of deindustrialisation and pit closures on unemployment and local communities. I myself was brought up in NE Wales in the 1980s & experienced first-hand the closure of steel works & mills which resulted in massive social deprivation & up 33% male unemployment rates.

If we repeat the mistakes of the past and ignore the social implications of the transition, we risk creating opposition to the urgent and effective climate action that needs to be taken. We should never forget the “yellow jacket” protests in France which forced the government to reverse moderate rises in fuel duty & that it was Kentucky coal miners who helped elected Donald Trump

So as investors we have a role in supporting not only the transition to net zero but also one that is just.

As investors we can do so by first recognising the challenge and including the issue in policy statements to help guide investment decisions.

Investors can seek to understand the risks, including by engaging employee and community groups to get their views on the threats and opportunities.

Investors can also set expectations of companies and engage with company directors on these. LAPFF, for example, has been engaging a range of companies to ensure they have just transition plans. And the scale of the challenge means it is not just about oil and gas companies, but also utilities, carmakers, mining and manufacturing to name a few sectors.

However, investors can’t do it alone and we require support from governments

That is why LAPFF are supporting an inquiry into a just transition run by the All Party Parliamentary Group for local authority pension funds, which will be publishing its findings next month.

I think it is fair to say that much of what the APPG has heard suggests Scotland is leading the way, not least with the Scottish Just Transition Commission, something that the Forum thinks should be replicated at a UK level.

Over the past nine months the APPG has heard from different investors about the need for clear commitment from the UK government regarding a just transition and policy certainty. As long-term investors, without certainty it is hard to make investments in the transition or understand the social implications.

There are also areas where regulation could help, including ensuring companies disclose information on their workforce and that company TCFD (Task force for Climate-related Financial Disclosures) climate reporting includes the social implications of the transition.

And when it comes to financing projects to deliver the just transition, government funding in Scotland and across the UK will be needed to crowd in private finance.

This final example shows the importance of partnership working. While the roles of investors and government in ensuring a just transition are distinct, they are complementary.

Partnership working or social partnership, lies at the heart of what a just transition means, with all stakeholders involved in the process of making plans.

And to finish, the scale of the climate crisis and potential social implications of action required to address it, demands that investors, governments, companies, trade unions and society work together to ensure that the worst effects of climate breakdown are avoided.

Thanks"

Greater London UNISON Regional Council AGM 2021

 

Today was the Annual General Meeting of the UNISON Greater London Regional Council. It was held virtually with a shortened agenda but mirrored what happened when we had past physical meetings (sort of).

UNISON is the largest union in London with around 130,000 members. I was pleased to be re-elected unopposed with the rest of the Regional Convenor team this year (and last year).

Our elected lay National President, Newcastle Council worker, Josie Bird, was our first key note speaker. Josie spoke passionately to the AGM about the contempt this Government treats the working class & the personal difficulties, she and many others had experienced in "lock down" home schooling her children while trying to carry out a demanding job. 

As a UNISON NEC member I have been present at a few meetings being expertly chaired by Josie when her very young son has decided to join his Mum on zoom! It didn't happen today. 

Out next speaker was our  new UNISON general secretary, Christina McAnea who 
thanked all UNISON public service members & activists for their work during #COVID19. 

Also, despite being from Glasgow, she has now lived in #London for longer than anywhere else, and she had been so pleased to get support of this Region in her election. 

After a speaker on the vital importance on Climate Change, there was the regional annual report, my financial convenor report, motions (all very respectful including debates on those ruled out of order) and AOB. Elections for other positions took place via email afterwards. 

While I really miss such meetings, when held in real life (and of course with a few drinks and meal afterwards) I thought it went well and many thanks to our Regional Convenor, Yvonne Green, who chaired the meeting magnificently, with her very calm, very polite, inclusive but no nonsense manner. 

I shall look forward to a more traditional "rough and tumble" UNISON AGM next year! (fingers crossed)

Newham Council Cabinet gets welcome back gift from PEACH of Peaches

Yesterday's cabinet meeting at East Ham Town started off with a lively and good natured "action" by residents, children and activists from PEACH (The People's Empowerment Alliance for Custom House) with lots of singing, dancing and laughter.

A lovely change from the dire politics nationally.

They presented the Newham Executive Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and her cabinet with boxes of fresh peaches. Each peach had a name attached of an actual member of PEACH.

Activists said it was a welcome back gift to the Mayor after the summer break but also residents thanked her for the Council renegotiating rent levels for those in temporary decants. Some residents have experienced significant cuts in rent with one resident saying her rent had been reduced by £2400 per year.

PEACH being PEACH did not miss the opportunity of reminding the Cabinet that they still have further demands pending for better and more secure housing and they will be back.

The fruit was delicious and has been given out to Newham staff and family members.

There were a number of important items discussed and agreed at the meeting including Community Wealth Building and Climate Emergency/Improving air quality measures. 

Newham Council Declares a Climate Emergency

Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and Councillors agreed unanimously to support this motion. My local Councillor, Sasha DasGupta moved the motion which was seconded by Stratford Cllr Joshua Garfield.

Many thanks to Fossil Free Newham. Now to implement.

“Full Council notes:

1. Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity

2. In order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (Carbon Equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible

3. Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc. to make low carbon living easier and the new society norm

4. Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption

5. Newham council has already shown foresight and leadership when it comes to addressing the fiduciary duties of pension funds. Having been successful pulling local government pension funds away from the tobacco industry on the grounds of public health. It is crucial that Newham reduces its carbon exposure of its pension funds so that it can meet London’s goal of becoming carbon zero by 2050 (1)

6. Unfortunately, our current plans and actions are not enough; in Newham asthma remains one of most prevalent diseases of its constituents after diabetes, therefore it is in the public’s best health interests to further address air pollution and climate change (2) More needs to be done to improve existing infrastructure so that innovations in energy, alternative transport (e.g. electric car charging ports) and waste management can become more accessible to the majority. The U.K. is currently at risk of falling short on its carbon targets for 2023-2027, despite renewable power generation reaching its highest peak in 2018 (3)

7. The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published last year, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities (4)

8. City and local Councils (5) around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency. (6)

Full Council believes that:

1. All governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Newham and the United Kingdom that cities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible

2. Cities are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, as they are in many ways easier to decarbonise than rural areas- for example because of their capacity for heat networks and mass transport

3. As Newham was instrumental in the set-up of the London Collective Investment Vehicle (LCIV), it is our duty to be a leader on environmental issues in the U.K. and ensure this is reflected in investment strategies for both Newham and London going forward (7)

4. The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority; and

5. Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide)

Full Council calls on the Mayor to:

1. Declare a ‘climate and health emergency’;

2. Pledge to make the London Borough of Newham carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050, taking into account production and emissions8

3. Call on and work with other London Boroughs to pool power and resources together to make 2030 target possible

4. Call on Westminster to provide power and resources to make 2030 target possible

5. Work with other governments (both within the U.K. and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C.

6. To commit to a Green audit of all council services to ensure that weight is given to the environmental and sustainability impact as well as cost.

7. To provide air quality monitoring devices in all schools.

8. Explore local renewable energy grid systems to provide free renewable energy for residents in social housing maximising our use of industrial land in the borough.

9. Council must lead by example to remove single-use plastic items from their premises.

10.Council to encourage plastic-free initiatives such as Surfers Against Sewage/Plastic Free Royal Docks, and support events intended to promote plastic reduction in the Borough.

11.A representative of the council must be named on the Surfers Against Sewage/Plastic Free Royal Docks steering group.

12.Council to publish annual reports on progress towards reaching carbon neutral target.

Check out motion on line and references

Join the Shareaction Activism team

If you have a pension or insurance policy you may in law have duties and responsibilities for the companies your scheme owns and invests in. If you own it then you can't just moan about it without doing something about it...

"This is Michael writing from ShareAction. I’m our new Shareholder Activism Coordinator and am moving full steam ahead in organising our AGM activism over the coming months.

This is beginning with training sessions for new and existing AGM activists – can you help us promote these? They are as follows:

Climate-themed: 04 April, 6-8.30pm, Waterloo

Living Wage-themed: 18 April, 12.30-2.30pm, Holborn

General Theme: 26 April, 10am-midday, King’s Cross

AGM activism is a winning tactic, and any individual can participate in it. Tesco recently committed to using 100% renewable energy and one third of the UK’s top 100 companies have become living wage employers. AGM activism played a major role in making this happen.

If you have any means through which you’d be to promote these trainings that would be brilliant. The more skilled-up AGM activists we have, the more effective responsible investment becomes, and our movement expands.

To make things easier for you, here’s some template tweets you can use:

.@ShareActionUK is holding CEOs to account through #AGMActivism on #LivingWage, #Climate & more, get involved!>> http://bit.ly/2IFEj3F

Want to ask the CEOs of top companies to pay the #Living Wage? Join @ShareActionUK's #AGMActivism >> http://bit.ly/2IFEj3F

Want to challenge the CEO of Shell in person? Come along to @ShareActionUK's #Climate themed #AGMActivism session >> http://bit.ly/2FYeURd

It would be great if you could help spread the word!

Michael Kind

Shareholder Activism Coordinator

ShareAction

(Fairshare Educational Foundation)
16 Crucifix Lane, London UK, SE1 3JW

T: 020 3475 7874

W: shareaction.org

"UNISON launches campaign to divest pensions from carbon"

I chaired a packed 10th UNISON annual Local Government Pension Fund seminar yesterday.

The "Divest Campaign" is potentially one of the most significant things we can do as a union, not only to save our planet but also to save our pensions future.

Will blog further on the seminar later.

Guide will help members of local government pension schemes push for changes in the investment of their funds

A campaign to encourage local government pension funds to divest from carbon will be launched today (Wednesday) by UNISON.

UNISON’s step-by-step guide is designed to help members of local government pension schemes push for changes in the investment of their funds. The aim is to explore alternative investment opportunities, allowing schemes to sell their shares and bonds in fossil fuels and to go carbon-free.

Chair of UNISON’s policy committee James Anthony said: “Pensions are meant to safeguard our future, but that future is threatened by the burning of carbon in fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

“This campaign empowers people to hold their pension funds to account. If you contribute to a pension then it’s your money that’s being invested, and so it’s only right that you should have a say in where it’s invested.”

Figures published last year revealed that £16 billion was invested in the fossil fuel industry by local government pension funds*. At its annual conference last year, UNISON made the decision to campaign for divestment from these companies because of the devastating consequences that a changing climate will have on people, societies and ecosystems.

In addition to the threat of climate change, the UNISON campaign highlights other reasons why continued investment in carbon threatens the value of pension funds. For example, new government regulations for fossil fuels have raised the costs of high-polluting industries and reduced their investment appeal. Equally, emerging clean and green technology has created new and lucrative business opportunities for funds.

With five million members of local government pension schemes, and over 13,000 different employers paying into them, UNISON believes its campaign will resonate with a wide audience and is in a strong position to influence the pensions agenda".

Hat tip https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2018/01/unison-launches-campaign-divest-pensions-carbon/

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2017 - Tuesday

My Conference day started with a short jog up and down the famous Brighton beach. The weather was hot even at 7.30am.

At 8.30am we had our first UNISON NEC meeting to discuss and (hopefully) agree on any outstanding matters or policy positions.

Conference itself starts at 10am on its first day.  Firstly there is the "welcome to conference" speech by the Senior Vice President, Carol Sewell. She introduces all our international guest visitors.

Followed by Standing Order Committee (SOC) reports 1 and 2 (it is a long standing tradition at NDC to play reference back ping pong with SOC).

This is followed by a presentation and vote on our annual report and our year end financial statement. Our first motion of conference was 18 "Stepping up the campaign against bullying and harassment".

During lunch I went to the UNISON "There for You" AGM as a NEC member of the charities board of trustees. After lunch there was another round of ping pong and further motions debated including the 55 "UNISON and the WASPI campaign" about the rip of pensions by this government for many women.

Our General Secretary, Dave Prentis, gave a very powerful speech during which he thanked our emergency workers for all they had done in recent times and talked about the unexpected loss of his comrade, our President Eric Roberts.  After the speech I could see from the NEC platform a number of delegates wiping tears from their eyes and there was a (genuine) standing ovation by Conference.

In the afternoon there were more debates. Conference finished at 5pm. On the way back to my accommodation I was stopped and "persuaded" to go an excellent fringe on "Pensions and climate change".

"Why fossil fuel divestment isn't the answer"

Last month I went to a well attended public meeting on this topic in Forest Gate Coffee7 and a Chatham House rules seminar in the City. This article today in Professional Pensions reflects what I think and said at those meetings.

John Gray says it's better to reduce carbon exposure over a longer period while seeking suitable alternative investments

I am sure that many pension trustees will have been approached by both beneficiaries and climate change activists concerned about investments in fossil fuel industries. In local government the pension funds are often seen as belonging to the council so residents are also lobbying councillors and pension board members about divesting from carbon.

‎Like so many things about pensions, this topic is important but complex and definitely in the 'difficult box'. From my perspective as a councillor on one Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and as a union-appointed pension board member on another, I firstly try to make it clear that local government pension funds belong to its active members, its deferred members, its pensioners and dependents. Not to the council and definitely not to councillors.

The fund must be invested in the interests of beneficiaries.

Secondly, unlike in the private sector, there is no Pension Protection Fund for the LGPS nor does it have an explicit crown promise like other public sector schemes. 

While it may be unthinkable for many good reasons to imagine an LGPS fund going bust, trustees and those responsible for pensions have to think the unthinkable and in reality, who really knows what will happen in the long term? Due to the LGPS employer contribution cap, if future pension cost is more than 13% then either staff will have to pay more or benefits will be reduced.

What campaigners, who are rightly deeply concerned about the risk of climate change, should be doing is not just lobbying councillors and their officers, but building links and engaging with council staff and their trade unions. It is after all their deferred pay, their pension future, their money.

This doesn't mean that council pension funds should not be examining both the real financial risks ‎of investing in carbon industries but also be conscious of the impending Armageddon of our planet if we do not control our carbon emissions. 

Existing investments in carbon are usually valued on the basis of their proven reserves of coal, oil or gas. It is becoming clear that much of these reserves may never be mined or pumped out, since if they were to do so it would burn the planet. These so called 'stranded assets' are therefore likely to destroy the value of investments in carbon industries.

While to me the case for disinvestment in carbon is unanswerable, I do not feel divestment is the answer. Many calls for divestment want pension funds to sell all their carbon investments within five years. Disinvestment is a call to reduce exposure to carbon over a longer period while seeking suitable alternative investments.

It is probable that the use of fossil fuels will continue but hopefully we will see a significant reduction. It is arguable that at this time there are not sufficient alternative 'green' energy investment opportunities available. This will change but when?

I also feel tactically that calling for the divestment rather than disinvestment from carbon will play into the hands of climate change and other ESG sceptics in the industry, who would relish the opportunity to attack and rubbish total divestment, when they know that the case for disinvestment over time is so powerful.

Do not underestimate the resistance to such change in the industry. While there is much good practice, many professional practitioners may 'talk the talk' on climate change issues but are in reality 'greenwashing'. Beware!

John Gray is a member of Tower Hamlets Council Pension Board, writing in a personal capacity

Workers' Capital in the 21st Century: ShareAction Annual Lecture with Sharan Burrow

The keynote speaker at this years ShareAction annual lecture in the historic Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London was the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, Sharan Burrow.  The ITUC is the global version of the British TUC.

Sharan give a well argued and passionate speech on "Workers Capital" (the pension investments and other savings of workers) and in favour of using it to support climate transition while respecting fossil fuel workers and their contribution to our prosperity.

She repeated her mantra that I first heard her say at the recent CWC meeting last month "there are no jobs in a dead planet".  While she welcomed the green "disinvestment warriors" present who would want pension funds to immediately pull out of investing in Carbon industries such as Coal and Oil, she did favour engagement with firms if they are willing to take part in transition. Some will earn our trust.

              

If companies refuse to change then we do have the powerful leverage of disinvestment by our pension funds. We are close to losing the Climate Change War and must act if our politicians fail to regulate.

Sharan praised the TUC for setting up "Trade Union Share Owners" where trade union staff pension funds collectively vote their share holding and she hoped other national unions would do the same. Also ShareAction for its success in furthering the Living Wage.  She thought that the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader was a great symbol of the possible. 

                         

Her closing remarks was the battle cry "Zero Carbon, Zero Poverty".

Next Speaker was Gail Cartmail from Unite, who spoke about role that unions can play by representing the interests of their members investments, Colin Meech from UNISON who talked about the need to control costs of our pension funds like they do in Holland, while Jeannie Drake reflected that many workers do not have unions in their workplace and have contract not trust based pensions, so how do we leverage their capital?

There was then a Q&A during which Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett, asks whether there are civil Liberty groups present today and can we work together? I tried to ask a question but wasn't called on how trades unions generally will have to raise their game and give practical support and guidance to pension trustees if we want them to pursue a progressive agenda on climate change.                             

Catherine Howarth from ShareAction closed this successful event with a call for a legally binding "Charter of Rights" for investors and owners. 

Implications of Climate Change for Investment Returns and for Beneficiaries: AMNT Open Day

This is the first in series of posts on last weeks AMNT open meeting and AGM.

I was really pleased to see that there was a quite a few UNISON LGPS member nominated reps present.

The morning was a training session on the implications of Climate Change on Investment returns and for our Beneficiaries. Bearing in mind the very unusal weather we have been having this winter, this is a very topical subject.

Our meeting was opened by our Joint Chair Barry Parr who introduced Catherine Howarth. (see picture) who is a former pension trustee and the CEO of ShareAction (use to be called "Fair Pensions").

Catherine believes that Trust schemes have clear duties to take Climate Change seriously but with Contract schemes it is less clear legally but still a compelling reason to act.

She spoke about the Greenlight report launched recently with Pension Minister Steve Webb MP. There is a need to "nudge" pension schemes into managing the growing risk of climate change. There are a number of good schemes that are addressing this but many others who clearly "don't get it".

One sign of a good scheme is how well it communicates with its members.  Schemes needs to organise relevant training, look at governance policy development and carry out risk assessments. Need to look at low carbon investment opportunities and take into account that Auto-enrolment will bring in many young people into pension schemes, who will bear all the investment risk  of climate change in the coming decades.

Next was a speaker from PRI then climate change expert Meg Brown.

Climate risk: stranded assets, fracking and CapEx challenges LAPFF 2013

It is not often that you see a Texas based oil and gas executive in a UK debate on climate risk.

This was the last presentation of the day.  Chair David Pitt-Watson started the debate by pointing out that there is more carbon in the ground than we can burn and if we were able to burn all the carbon we would fry. He also contrasted how much is spent on oil and gas exploration with that on developing green technologies.

If the financial crisis of 2008 was predictable since they were giving mortgages to those who could not pay them back then the forthcoming carbon crisis is equally predictable and with greater consequences the loss of 10 points GDP.

Craig Mckenzie, Head of Sustainability at Scottish Widows (left) spoke of the risk that oil and gas companies were being valued on the basis of unburnable carbon reserves and investing in production capacity that will never be used. Is the coal mining industry on a death spiral? Is there an oil "cost curve" which means that the oil price will fall and companies will not generate a return for expensive wells?

A good point about fracking is that you can close down coal power stations, this caused a fall in carbon emissions in USA to 1994 levels. The downside is the greater use of water in extraction, danger of polluting groundwater, it may cause a methane leak into atmosphere, earthquakes and disruption.  The benefits may out sway the downside but not everywhere.

Faith Ward, investment adviser to the UK Environmental Agency pension fund (on right) spoke about their audit on carbon footprints of the companies they invest in and the "Green Light Report" by ShareAction. She believed that LAPFF can provide leadership to long term investors on the risks of climate change.

The last speaker was Sarah Teslik from the oil and gas Apache Corporation.  She started by saying she is happy to play the villain and will not deny everything that has just been said. But the average length of time for a company in the US S&P or UK FSTE index is only 11-14 years. They don't stay that long despite all companies saying they have a bright future. She doesn't share everyone's confidence about making predictions over the next 20 years. When she was younger she was an environmental campaigner. Every claim made about the future at that time has proved to be wrong. 

There is a false argument about the "stranded assets" issue. We have gone through half of the worlds carbon reserves in the last 100 years that took 300 million to make. It is false to suggest that  "reserves" will have to be written off. The rules on reserves is highly regulated by the USA regulator the SEC. They are 3 types of reserves - probably, possible and proven. "Proven" must be ready to produce tomorrow.

"You should sweat about the other stuff... Oil wells are getting more expensive.... Sun power and oil are all energy.... its the getting to it that costs....what should keep you up at night is the geopolitical risk.... 90% of reserves are not in the "West".... They are in other countries where they naturally want to run things themselves and often they don't care about return but want to control supply for strategic reasons.... this is what should worry you". Finally she concluded that technological change and advances could solve the problems associated with climate risk.

There was quite a sparky but constructive Q&A with David getting some stick about not being a "neutral" chair on this subject. While I am firmly in the "sweating" camp about the risk of climate change it was good to see a polite, well argued and informed debate on this subject.