TUC Congress 2018: Day 2

A somewhat random selection based on my tweets from Monday.

Frances O'Grady TUC leader in her speech to Congress calls for a 4 day working week for 21st Century. Just as in 19th century the TUC successfully campaigned 8 hour day & in 20th-century for weekend off & annual leave.

Also, she told Mrs May. "If you won't give us the New Deal that working people demand, then stand down. And take your ‘do nothing’ government with you. Give us a General Election. And we’ll do every thing in our power to elect a Prime Minister who will".

UNISON leader, Dave Prentis, while moving composite 7 "Public Services Outsourcing - Lessons from Carillon calls for an end to privatisation and making demands of Labour too. A day one commitment to abolish the divisive, destructive, disastrous policy of privatisation. No reviews, no reports but an immediate end!

Lunch time I went to "Show Racism the Red Card" fringe. Chaired by UNISON Liz Snape & 1st speaker UNISON Roger McKenzie. Last speaker UNISON Liz Cameron. The meeting was packed. Sign of times with growth of racist football lads alliance?

Finished off with evening fringe at Midland hotel on pensions chaired by Henry Tapper. First a short history of pensions then some home truths about the appalling miss-selling of unsuitable investments to British Steel pension holders. Surely this fraud this must be a criminal offence?

While fascinating presentation on new pension scheme for Royal mail workers based on dutch and Canadian models.

UNISON delegates had their delegation social later.  A good time was had by all.

Liz Cameron UNISON NEC Candidate Black members Female Seat

"Help us achieve fair pay, keep our jobs, terms and conditions, pension rights, stamp out racism in all its forms, fight for equality for all members, Women, Men, Black, Disabled, LGBT, Young Members and in all our sectors. Keep us safe and health protecting our Local Government, our NHS, our Policing and our Education"

Liz Cameron Black Members Female Seat

UNISON NDC 16: Tuesday morning

Guest Post By NEC member Elizabeth Cameron. "And we're off! !! ‪#‎uNdc16‬ gets underway.

Fairly lengthy but also interesting standing orders report delivered by new chair Mark Rayner for whom this is a well deserved achievement,

Mark has worked tirelessly for years on this committee and couldn't be a better replacement for Clytus (never knew how to spell his name apols if it's wrong).

The annual report is moved and Financial statements and accounts both accepted with some additional work we need to do with our members. The hall is full and I forgot how lovely it is at this conference bumping into old friends from across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in all of our sector groups. I hope we can look within the next few days at ways we can work together to do the best job possible to represent and campaign both with and for our members especially on equalities Black, Women, LGBT and Disabled.
 
I'm excited and proud to be speaking on Motion 65 'How much worse can it get for Black members' on Wednesday, when I'll also be a speaker at the 'Show Racism the Red Card' fringe in Syndicate room 3. A magnificent organisation and tireless campaigner against the growing tide of racism xenophobia and anti immigrant feeling.