Labour Party Conference 2024: Monday

 

Monday was pretty wet, windy and rainy but being from North Wales originally - I was used to it. I had some UNISON stuff to sort out in the morning and my first fringe was "Why we need to track social economic diversity to break the class ceiling" (The Purpose Coalition and The Wise Group)".  

As one of the panellists quoted (who bravely admitted he used to be a management consultant) "if you can't measure it you can't manage it". 

In my question to the panel I said that I had taken part in engagements with major corporations on diversity in the boardroom and while some companies were very positive, when I asked about social economic diversity, some seemed very bothered that they will be expected to monitor class as well as everything else! I was sceptical that you will get meaningful data without regulation, such as the requirement to report on gender pay. 

My favourite memory of this fringe is the Chair trying to also encourage his toddler son, sitting to the side, to be good and eat his chips (due to a breakdown in creche arrangements). 

Next was "Building Worker Power: The New Deal for Working People" run by Labour Unions and IPPR. 

This took place in a large hall which was packed to overflowing with standing room only.  All the food had run out except for bread, cooked carrots and red cabbage. Which was still surprisingly tasty. UNISON & TUC EC officer, Gloria Mills, gave a passionate speech about rolling back decades of unfair, anti worker and anti-union laws and legal judgements. 

Then "Saving for the Future: How can Labour's Pensions Review Help to Deliver Sustainable Retirement" (New Statesman & People's Partnership". 

It was good to see Emma Reynolds MP in her new position as Minister of Pensions (and treasury role?). I can remember her speaking very well at a CLP meeting and at our UNISON Housing Association Branch AGM when she was the shadow Housing Minister. I think however, that we have to be careful in the pension world over the assumption that bigger is always better. I look forward to engaging with Emma another time about the role of pension consolidation, productive finance and retirement. 

Final fringe of the day for me was "Funding Homes for Social Rent: A Role for Institutional Capital: Drinks Reception.(Prowgress, Home Builders Federation & Left Foot Forward). 

While I would take issue with any wording that suggests you can provide social rented homes without government subsidy, there is definitely a role that Institutional Capital can play.  Leaseback schemes for example, are incredibly complex and therefore risky but may provide at least a partial solution to the real risk to Council finances from the rising cost of Temporary accommodation and provide decent homes. 

It was good to talk as well to a representative of a charity that I had "crossed swords" (big, big row) with in the past over their refusal to recognise trade unions for collective bargaining. This representative assured me that they were now very keen to consider trade union recognition and I will be sending their details to our UNISON Regional officer. 

Afterwards I went to a private dinner and had a fascinating conversation on the role of Local Government and Growth. By coincidence many of us on my table had a connection with Stafford. 

On the way home I stopped off for a drink at the first of the two "Newham Nights" with local Party members and Councillors. 

Windrush 75th anniversary - London UNISON & Newham

 

This evening I attended two events remembering and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the ship, Empress Windrush, docking at Tilbury Port, Essex  in 1948 with several hundred West Indian migrants, who came to the "motherland" in order to fill job vacancies and rebuild the UK after 6 years of Total War with Germany and Japan. 

At the UNISON HQ centre in Euston Road, our National Officer for Equalities, Gloria Mills gave a moving and personal account of her own family, who faced terrible racism, exploitation and discrimination (landlord signs saying "No Dogs, No Blacks and No Irish").  

Hackney Deputy Mayor, Anntoinette Bramble, (and UNISON LGA branch equalities officer) gave a passionate speech about how black workers must always fight for their rights and for justice in their workplace. 

Next were a series of award for union members who had distinguished themselves and I was pleased that Newham Council Branch secretary, Gloria Hanson was recognised and given an award.  

After this I went to the Old Town Hall in Stratford, for the Newham celebration. I missed the main event but was able to chat to people and also admire the black and white photo exhibition of the "Windrush" generation entering the UK. The main Newham Council celebration of Windrush will be on Saturday. 

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2022: Day 3 (Why hasn't our NEC resigned yet?)

 

This morning I started the day with another slow jog along the Brighton beach front. During breakfast at the hotel my branch delegation agreed which 6 motions that we want to be "prioritised" for debate on Friday afternoon (the infamous UNISON "snake" - please don't ask me to explain what it is).

Conference started with a Solidarity photo call in support of Turkish trade union leader, Gonul Erden followed by an address by Mehmet Bozgeyik, co-president of KESK. After further debates on motions, Patricia King, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions gave a video message. 

During lunch I attended a very good fringe on health and safety. First a comprehensive report and presentation by Scott Donohoe from UNISON  Scotland on their Covid-19 Response then a fascinating academic report on the effectiveness of safety reps by Minjie Cai from University of Greenwich. A great fringe which had very practical solutions for union reps followed by some well researched blue sky thinking. 

Thursday afternoons at UNISON conference is set aside for debate on proposed rule changes. Normally a poorly attended and often pretty boring session. Not today. 

I spoke on the rule change 1 which was about whether conference could trust the current NEC to allow unemployed members to retain their unison positions. Clearly in light of the overwhelming decision on motion 11 that conference has no confidence in the NEC. We cannot trust them. The amendment was passed but there was a card vote and this failed to reach the 2/3 majority needed. 

However, Rule Change 2 was passed by more than 90% of delegates (so no card vote needed). Which meant that if someone is dismissed due to discrimination then the NEC would not be allowed to give that honour to them. Of course if someone is cleared on appeal then their position would be reinstated. 

I did point out in my speech that if my branch met and and passed a vote of no confidence in its executive, we would of course all resign and there should be fresh elections. Why hasn't out NEC resigned yet? Isn't Conference supposed to be "Sovereign" in our union?

After conference I went to another great fringe organised by UNISON black workers on "Racism and levelling up". Chaired by my branch member Lola Oyewusi. Keynote speaker was David Lammy MP with UNISON Head of equalities Gloria Mills, TUC Kudsia Batool, Alba Kapoor from Runnymeade Trust and UNISON East Region secretary Tim Roberts. 

Afterwards David met up with UNISON Labour Link members. 

UNISON's "Goodbye and so many thanks" to Rodney Bickerstaff

On Thursday I went to a packed out memorial in the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster to celebrate the life of our former UNISON General Secretary, Rodney Bickerstaff. The meeting was compered by UNISON National officer for Equalities, Gloria Mills, who had worked with Rodney for many years. We had marvellous music by the Dodworth Colliery Band and the UNISON staff Choir.

The first speaker was an old friend of his, former MP and deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. John praised Rodney for understanding that we need both the political (the Labour Party) and industrial (trade unions) wings of the Labour Movement to protect our people. 

Rodney "always left everyone with a smile". Not only a "union man" but a fighter "for social justice in Britain and across the world".  He was a man "For the many not the few". 

Next our UNISON President, Margaret McKee,  a catering assistant from Belfast, who gave a fantastic and moving speech about how Rodney was openly on the side of working people and especially a champion of low paid women. He was also very warm and personable, who loved  swooping stories and to "enjoy the craic".  She finished with a message of support and love to his family. 

Current UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, reminisced about his former "friend and boss". "If you knew him you loved him... To his bones he was collectivist....A voice for the voiceless driven by a burning sense of injustice" 

The actress, Maxine Peake, spoke about meeting Rodney at the People's History Museum in Manchester and made the comparison in looks to him and Buddy Holly but also compared him to Fred Astaire! 

John Sheldon, the former joint General Secretary of the civil service union PCS described Rodney's quick wit which he used to disarm opponents and his implacable opposition for many years to Margaret Thatcher banning workers at the GCHQ becoming trade union members. 

We then all stood up and sang "The Red Flag".

Next speaker was Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn MP. Jeremy was a former official of NUPE (a predecessor union of UNISON) when Rodney was its Head of its NHS members. He reminded us that Rodney had done so much to bring about the National Minimum Wage and how the next Labour government will bring about a real National  Living Wage. Jeremy said that Rodney would love the the fact that there was a colliery band and a choir at this memorial. He recognised that we need "Bread and Roses".  

Final speaker was his son, Philip Bickerstaffe, who spoke of the pride his family had in him and he had in his union. His dad described himself as a "Journeyman ranter" who always knew that UNISON grave diggers and cemetery workers would eventually get their hands on him. He finished with the famous Shakespearean quotation which he used to describe this 1970s trade union leader and adopted Yorkshireman "Now is the winter of our discontent. Made glorious summer by this son of York"

Our final song sung was the "The Internationale".

While I had met Rodney on a few occasions over the years and he had been a strong supporter of my UNISON branch, I regret that when I bumped into him a few years ago in a cafe before a regional  AGM he invited me to meet up for coffee and a proper chat and I never took him up on it. My loss.