Day three started with some early HIIT training to wake me up, followed by an NEC pre-meeting and then breakfast with my Community colleague Denise.
Conference (NDC) began at 9:30am, and thankfully the rudeness and disrespect previously shown towards our lay elected volunteers on the Conference Standing Orders Committee was far more limited today.
Throughout the day, debates were generally more thoughtful and more respectful, even on potentially controversial issues such as Palestine. Many UNISON delegates from London made excellent contributions.
At lunchtime, I attended the fringe meeting on the Employment Rights Act — quite simply the most important victory for UNISON in my entire trade union membership of over 30 years. A huge well done to everyone who played their part in achieving this.
Of course, we want more. The law is still imbalanced in favour of employers. But, for once, can we please give ourselves a collective pat on the back? This is what the Labour Movement family — unions and the Labour Party working together — can deliver: meaningful, positive, and radical change for working-class people.
I remain firmly convinced that the Housing Association and Voluntary Sector should be the next to secure a Fair Pay Agreement. Denise and I will be fighting tooth and nail to make this happen.
In the afternoon, we moved on to rule change debates. Once again, I was pleased to see further respectful but sharp discussion on issues such as reviewing subscription rates and whether LGBT+ members should have NEC seats in the same way as other Self-Organised Groups.
In the evening, I had to write a speech for tomorrow and deal with various branch and other matters. As much as I enjoy conference, I am looking forward to it closing at 4pm tomorrow. However, we then move straight on to the very important NEC Presidential Team elections — watch this space.
