Angela was on form with a confident, at times funny but completely persuasive political message of hope and then Q & A that if Labour wins power in the next General election (not a given) that it will transform our country and its people for the better.
I was an elected member of the Greater London delegation. We had arrived the night before for our delegation meeting (followed by delegation meal).
Forum started with a well deserved presentation to our former General Secretary, Dave Prentis, thanking him for his decades of service to the union and to Labour Link. Dave also spoke about the battle ahead to get a Labour Government elected. There was a minutes silence to remember UNISON members who had passed away since we last met. Followed by a report from the Standing orders committee and on our Annual report.
Next we began to debate motions. I was really pleased that during the course of the Forum nearly all members of our delegation spoke. Some of them for the first time. I moved our regional motion on "Stop Workers Being Charged to have #DBS Checks When They Start Jobs" which was passed unanimously. I will post on this important campaign another time.
Before Lunch we had Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (and former UNISON activist who I remember well attending these forums) give the keynote speech. She started by breaking the welcome news that both she and Keir Starmer had been cleared by the Police over the so called "BeerGate" investigation. They had both pledged to resign if they had been prosecuted. A clear sign of integrity in contrast to the appalling behaviour by Boris Johnson. Angela gave a barnstorming speech, without any notes and dealt decisively with a range of questions during the Q&A.
After lunch we continued to debate motions and managed to complete all 18 by 3pm. After a break, we had a MPs Panel. Four MPs & (and also UNISON members) spoke about their roles & took part in Q&A. Daniel Zeichner MP, Liz Twist MP, Bambos Charalambous MP and Chi Onwurah MP.
I asked the panel the question about what would advise us to say to working class Tories when on the campaign trail for Labour? Some good responses about listening to people and showing them respect but also asking the question - do they feel safer in their communities under the Tories and are they better off financially?
Our National Chair (and NHS nurse) Linda Hobson closed the Forum and we look forward to next year's (hopefully we will return to it being a 2-day Forum).
Especially happy to see Sian as one of the Wales NEC members flying the flag for Cymru/Wales.
As chair of UNISON Cymru/Wales Labour Link committee looking forward to working with both of you".
Hat tip Dan Beard.
However, today we find that the ultra left in UNISON NEC tried to destroy our members right to self organisation
"Felt very uncomfortable today by proposals by some on UNISON’s NEC, including a Vice President, that nominations made by our elected Self Organised Groups of who UNISON’s representatives on the TUC Women’s Committee and TUC Disabled Members Committee and the motions they agreed to submit to these conferences should be overturned by NEC.
I strongly argued against and said this was a very dangerous road to be going as it sounded like our Policy Committee knew what was good for women and disabled members rather than the women and disabled members themselves.
At the end it was agreed to remit for further discussion but if this is Time for Change I believe it is time for our members to challenge this change. The leading voice for Women, Disabled, Black and LGBTI+ members are those people themselves".
Hat tip Gordon Mckay (former UNISON President and current NEC member).
I made 31 calls, had 47 call outcomes (whatever that means) and 10 voter surveys completed.
Many thanks to Joe Cox from Labour Unions and Gail McDude from the Labour Party for organising this rally and phone bank.
