Trade Union Congress 2024: Wednesday

Last day of TUC 2024 in Brighton. For once it was bright and sunny! Good to hear my UNISON branch colleague (the shy and retiring) Lola Oyewusi, give a confident and clever speech, were she used her mobile phone torch light to make her point. The TUC President, Matt Wrack, afterwards remarked on the "unusual" nature of her speech! 

It was also brilliant, that the Labour Government published that day plans on finally getting rid of "no fault" evictions and "better bus services". 

I signed the petition at the PCS stall on the campaign to reinstate 3 union reps sacked by the Civil Service for their trade union activities. 

At the close of Congress, Matt was given the TUC Gold Badge and a well deserved vote of thanks. I rushed off to the station to try and get back to London in time for a series of online meetings and calls with HR and members. I had to stop off briefly at Gatwick airport to make one online meeting. Never a dull moment. 

TUC Congress 2023: Day Three

 

Tuesday was a busy day for me. In the morning we had a great speech by guest speaker, the shadow Deputy Prime Minister (I love repeating this), Angela Rayner on Labour's "New Deal for Working People". 

During lunch I took part in a fringe panel debate on "Collective Defined Contribution" (CDC) pensions sponsored by First Actuarial, Hilary Salt as Chair. This was well attended and there was a thoughtful debate with lots of audience participation. I will post further on this, since CDC could be incredibly important to future pension provision in this country. 

There was a sober but at times passionate address by Lynn Sudbury-Riley on behalf of "Covid Bereaved Families" during the debate on the ongoing Covid-19 public enquiry. 

Since my mother died this year after being tested positive with Covid it was important to for me to listen. (but to be clear that the death certificate did not mention it even though she died of a respiratory condition but again, she had been unwell for a long time)

In the afternoon I spoke on behalf of UNISON in the affordable Housing key worker debate. I will post the speech later. People said it went well but I did mess up the timings a little bit. Hat tip the UNISON self confessed "nerd" who was at home working but still listening to the TUC live stream and sent me the picture top left. 

Later on there was a dignified and important debate on a composite calling for solidarity with Ukraine. One affiliated union spoke against this motion since it called for military equipment to be supplied to Ukraine but every other union who spoke was firmly in favour and the motion was carried overwhelmingly. Outgoing PCS General Secretary, Mark Serwotka, gave an amazing and powerful speech in favour. What a swan song Mark. 

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. 

Update on Pensions

Following recent developments over Public Service pensions I thought I would give my take on things. There has been lot of excited and largely ill-informed postulating.

On Friday the main local government unions UNISON, Unite and the GMB agreed "a joint statement on discussions on a new set of principles and timetable for detailed negotiations on pensions....if agreed, the unions believe they "lay a positive framework" for full negotiations to start in January....The statement stresses that no decisions have been taken over details surrounding contribution increases or the future look of the local government pension scheme".  The Government was willing to proceed on this basis.  However it seems that Eric Pickles MP has been doing his best to wreck a deal.  It appears that his silly letter has now been withdrawn.

Yesterday UNISON health negotiators received a final offer from the employers which they quite rightly intend to consult upon with the Health Service Group elected lay Representatives.

Other unions (with the one exception of the main Civil Service union PCS) appear to be close to an "outline deal".

No-one cannot seriously argue that there hasn't been significant changes and improvements to schemes since the decision was taken to ballot for strike action. Also as the TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said : "Since the day of action on November 30, we've seen a new atmosphere in the negotiations".

I think that some commentators are in danger of cutting their nose to spite their face.  They also clearly do not understand that it is not and never has been (and never will IMO) the role of British trade unions to take action against the wishes and interests of its members.  We are interested in resolving trade disputes and not engaging in infantile and doomed toy town revolutionary politics. While I am very proud of the work that my union does to change society and promote a progressive agenda.  We put the interests of our members first and not what are told to believe by extremist central committees.

By coincidence yesterday evening I was at Congress House in London for a UNISON Regional Council Officer meeting.  There was also a meeting of the TUC Public Services Liaison Group to discuss the negotiations. Outside the main entrance was about 25 protesters (see picture) calling for a National Strike (and various other things).  I went outside to see what was going on and had even had a chat with my former branch chair. I must admit that I did wonder why these tiny number of protesters thought that they had the right to "demand" that 6 million TUC members do as they tell them?

The elected lay Representatives of the Union will decide what to do next. Ordinary trade union members will have the final say about whether these changes are sufficient to settle this dispute. They will vote in a secret ballot either: Yes or No.

UNISON trade union recognition in Civil Service?

I suppose that many people will be surprised that the largest public sector trade union in the country is not recognised by the Government. There are around 2000 UNISON members who work for the “Core” Civil
Service and probably another 10,000 who work for related outside bodies.  Yet there is no formal recognition agreement with UNISON. This is not to say that the traditional Civil Service unions, the PCS,
Prospect and FDA are not doing an excellent job for their members.  It only seems fair that UNISON should take their place alongside the other unions.

Especially now that the Civil Service is doing away with devolved bargaining and negotiations and having a national framework instead.

Without recognition this could mean that UNISON members have changes to their terms and conditions without their union even being consulted.  This cannot be right.  Even worse, if the government does
go ahead and bring in universal credit.  One consequence of this could be another 10,000 UNISON members who are currently housing benefit officers in local councils may well find themselves under Civil
Services terms (again).

In the run up to the Tolpuddle Festival next month this is a good time to remind the Civil Service managers that everyone is entitled to collective bargaining.  Never mind universal credits this is a universal and fundamental human right.

Newham Trades Council relaunch: What was Good, Bad and at times Ugly

Last night I went to the relaunch of Newham Trades Council which took place inside the Town Hall Council Chamber. I was late due to another meeting and missed the opening speeches by NUT General secretary Christine Blower;  PCS assistant General secretary Chris Baugh and
Steve Hedley from the RMT. Steve had left by the time I arrived.

I must admit to being impressed with the turn out, which pretty much filled the Council Chamber. People were  making contributions as I took my seat.  Most of which were very good and constructive.  Pointing out that we must build unity to defeat this Tory led coalition. I was surprised though that quite a few of the speakers admited that they did not live or work in the borough.

However, there were some extremely silly and sectarian grandstanding going on.  Repeating almost word for word in some instances, the Tory lies that Labour Council cuts are all unnecessary and are only being carried out to embarrass the government.  I could imagine the Evil one himself in the corner chuckling to himself at some of the comments made.  How anyone thinks they can build opposition by splitting and wreaking is beyond me?  I'm more than happy to have a row with such people but I would rather be fighting Tories.  Honest!

Overall there were many good points made and of course it is entirely legitimate to constructively criticise the Party and hold elected representatives to account.  However one contributor ended his thoughts by calling for people to stop voting Labour.  There was some clapping to this. My response is yes, if you do not agree with Labour, then don't vote Labour.  It is a free vote. No one is forcing you to vote Labour in the borough with the biggest Labour vote in the entire country.

Chris and Christine made excellent closing speeches.  Chris reminded everyone that the anti poll tax campaign was successful because everyone was under attack and everyone was united in opposition.  While Christine pointed out the ludicrous situation that there is no legal requirement for a school to have a library but there is for a prison to have one. Both of them urge support for the likely Pension's strike on June 30th and look forward to possible further strikes over Pensions involving all the public sector unions later on in the year.

I thought this was on the whole a successful meeting and well done to Newham Trades Council Secretary, Peter Smith (left of picture) for a well organised and well chaired event.  This could be the basis of a successful relaunch of the trades council.  But not if some just want to use it to bash Labour.  We must agree on what we can agree and leave the rest to be fought over elsewhere and another day. I didn't stand up and say my piece last night out of respect for the speakers present.  Because a good meeting would have just descended into a shouting match (both ways).  But I doubt I would hold my tongue again.  It also desperately needs the centre left to participate and not stay away because they cannot be bothered to go to a meeting and be lectured by those they consider (rightly or wrongly) to be weirdo la la fantasists. 

We should also recognise that the majority of workers in Newham are not in the public sector and many desperately need our help to organise.  Our fight over the Tory cuts affects everyone, but we must also support and campaign on bread and butter trade union issues in Newham such as Living wage plus, trade union recognition and health & safety in small businesses.  As the UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis said, Trade unions were not created for the good times, we were created for the bad times.  That bad time has come under this Government.  We need to organise centrally and locally in the Labour movement. Newham Trades Council has a proud history and I hope a bright future.   

Civil and Public Servants Budget day strike

Reasons for strike action

"On 31 July the Cabinet Office first published formal proposals for reform of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS), in effect the redundancy payment scheme for the civil service....

The proposals tear up the 1987 CSCS agreement, which in our view contains accrued rights based on the 1972 Superannuation Act and replaces them with an inferior set of conditions.

In essence the new scheme laid before Parliament will impose;

•a maximum cap of two years pay and/or £60,000 in any compensation package (however, if a civil servant earns less than £20,000 there is a maximum cap of three years pay)

•the removal of access to pension, unless it is paid for from the compensation payment

•new right for employers within the civil service and related bodies to put together their own voluntary compensation schemes, subject to the statutory minimum and maximum compensation cap being retained

•some limited protections for existing staff who leave as a result of compulsory redundancy.

The under 50s

Approximately 50% of PCS members are between 30 and 50. Anyone earning over £20,000 would suffer a detriment. This detriment becomes greater the more you earn. Nearly 40% of full-time civil servants, earn between £20,000-£30,000 per annum.

Those earning over £30,000 would lose their existing entitlement to three years compensation, which would be replaced with a two year cap, a loss of tens of thousands of pounds in many instances. Those earning between £20,000 and £30,000 would have any compensation capped at £60,000 if they had enough service.

Staff over 50 with five years service

Nearly 30% of PCS membership is aged between 50 and 59. Members with five years service, who are over 50, under the present scheme have an entitlement to an enhanced pension and lump sum with up to 6 2/3 years added.

Under the employer's proposal the entitlement to enhanced pension will be abolished for staff who become 50 in the future. For those aged at least 50 (and with five years service) at 31 March 2010 there would be an option to use their lump sum to access an unreduced pension on redundancy. Those currently between 50 and 60 will have some restricted protection but only in a compulsory redundancy situation.

Pre-1987

For the very specific group who have substantial reserved rights to CSCS benefits dating back to 1 April 1987, their current entitlements would be reduced by 60% over the period 2011-2014.

After publishing the initial proposals the Cabinet Office consulted on them and over 18,000 people responded; the overwhelming majority of whom were opposed to the proposals. Since the consultation period there have been further negotiations following ministerial meetings. Whilst PCS is willing to continue talks, the government laid an amendment to the scheme to change the CSCS before Parliament, on 5 February. The new arrangements will be effective from 1 April 2010.

If implemented as proposed, even with the limited changes included after the consultation, this will seriously reduce the legal and contractual rights of many civil servants and PCS members to compensation in a redundancy situation".

The Great Nuclear Debate

This should be interesting (double click picture to bring up details).

11/01/2010

Chair of the CND Dr. Kate Hudson will be debating against a professional from the Nuclear Industry Association on the pros and cons for nuclear power.

Joining Kate Hudson will be Chris Baugh, assistant general secretary for the PCS union and active in the Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group.

Alongside the Nuclear Industry Association expert will be the GMB union convenor from Selafield - the worlds first commercial nuclear power station.

How do trade unionists and green campaigners work together to agree on policy for nuclear power? Where is there common ground? When issues become contentious how do we move forward?

The Vestas dispute solidified the issue of climate change as a trade union issue, but how do we now move forward when faced with issues surrounding clean coal or nuclear power.

This debate hopes to raise these issues and work out strategy for moving forward.

Check out Battersea and Wandsworth TUC site.

Saturday: International Seminar - Palestine

First seminar session was “Justice for Palestinians”. Sarah Colborne spoke of behalf of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PCS). While from another perspective Paul Ussiskin (picture) was a speaker from “Peace Now”. Paul is a British Jew and former member of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) who had actually served in the West Bank.

Paul agrees with the recent UNISON conference composite that there should be a boycott of goods and services produced in the occupied West Bank. He does not support the PCS view that there should be a total boycott of Israeli. He believes that such a total boycott will just serve right wing nationalist interests and encourage a “Fortress Israel” mentality. Paul has been attacked by other Jews because of his support for an independent Palestine. He also understands people who hate Israel and while he believes that is their right: if people hate he cannot have any dialogue with them. Change can only come about by dialogue. He explained that USA Jews are very influential in Israel while those in Europe are not. Many Israeli simply don’t understand why Jews still choose to live in Europe. However, there is now a new generation of American Jews who question the traditional Jewish lobby position of supporting “Israel right or wrong”. He is more optimistic for the future.

In the Q&A Sarah pointed out that while PCS was very disappointed with the current Labour government they had done research with Tories candidates and found them even more hostile towards Palestine than even previous Tory Parliamentary candidates.

UNISON International Officer Nick Crook spoke next on Palestine – the trade union perspective. He spoke about implementing the UNISON conference decision on Palestine and the partial boycott. UNISON is to issue advice about what pension funds can or cannot legally do. As a member nominated representative in the Local Government Pension Scheme I look forward to this advice. However, I am pretty sure that it will fall short of what some people want. The key issue will be the “threat” to a fund from having investments in the “illegal” occupied settlements in the West Bank.

(I try and post on other sessions during the week)

SERTUC Regional Council – “Nationalise Liabilities, Profits remain Private”

This morning (Saturday) I attended the Trade Union Congress, Southern and Eastern Regional Council (SERTUC) as a UNISON delegate with my fellow Greater London Regional Council Officer, Gill Brown, who is our Equalities convenor.

The TUC is divided into regions and each region will hold quarterly Council meetings of affiliated union and trade council delegates. SERTUC meets every 3 months in Congress House, London. There were 76 delegates present. I will not pretend that this post is a full report on this meeting but I will mention bits and pieces I thought interesting.

The Council President, Martin Gould, in his introductory presentation referred to this anomaly about the current financial crisis, that while we have nationalised the liabilities or risks, the ability to take any profits from this nationalisation remain in private hands? A fair point I think. Martin made a number of other good points although I didn’t agree with everything (of course!). He brought up the fairly widespread view that the current problems had effectively destroyed the “Private Good, Public Bad” argument. We now have people who beforehand continually attacked the “nanny state” now begging and pleading for state aid. He also pointed out that it had been claimed that a public sector pay claim of over 2.5% would be inflationary. However, it appears that pumping £500 billion into the economy is not??? Martin argued that it was time for a “new approach”. To overcome a recession we need to increase demand by increasing pensions and pay. A wealth tax on energy to help pay for the renationalisation of utilities. To address rising unemployment he referred to Lenin’s “what is to be done”, which is the first time in recent times that I have ever heard that “name” mentioned in the hallowed grounds of the TUC!

We also had a minutes silence for 5 comrades who are no longer with us. Including John Onslow, who was Tower Hamlets GMB steward and member of SERTUC executive. John was a trade union and Labour party stalwart. He was old School labour movement from fingers to toes. He lived only 100 yards from where I work and we use to bump into each other from time to time. He is one of the very, very few activists that I have never heard a bad word against. RIP Comrade.

However, Martin came back to earth by saying that if we can’t get socialism during this crisis then we should at least take a step in the right direction and demand “Social Justice”. The creed of Greed, Parasites and the pursuit of profit at all costs has been shown wanting. The trade union movement needs to provide leadership. There can be no partnership with the multinationals. The door is open for change; all we have to do is push it.

The new regional secretary of the PCS (whose name I did not catch – apologies) reported on future strike action over pay. Interestingly he claimed that there were 52 billionaires in the UK and that 32 paid no tax last year. I think he meant income tax? He also spoke about united strike action in the public sector over pay. I’m afraid that I am not holding my breath.

My former Tower Hamlets JCC colleague (with John Onslow), Alex Kenny, from the NUT, spoke about their strike ballot over pay and united strike action. He criticised the supposedly independent teachers pay review board as being under the control of the government and exercising pay restraint.

The SERTUC regional secretary Megan Dobney reported that the new Mayor of London, Boris had agreed to meet SERTUC representatives next year in January, May and September. That should be fun.

Adrian Weir from UNITE reported on the House of Lords reversal of a section of the Employment bill which means that trade unions cannot expel Nazi’s. I will do a separate post on this important topic. All unions should use any influence they have with MP’s to overturn this measure.

Steve Hart, the regional secretary for UNITE gave a presentation on the finance and banking sector (75,000 members) and how they are coping with the financial crisis. Steve is someone you should listen carefully to and take note. He pointed out that UNITE not only have members facing problems in the financial sector but their members in UK car and van factories now face short time working after years of 24/7 shifts and unlimited overtime. Many building sites are now being shut up and moth balled. One good thing from this present crisis is the collapse of the neo-liberal fantasy. It is now important to have Keynesian measures in place. It is a “patriot duty” to increase wages rates to increase demand to prevent recession. He prased the chancellor for bringing forward big public building projects. Protect home owners from eviction by taking over their properties and renting it back. Take over insolvent private sector builders. Tax the rich. “The moment is here”. He finished by reporting back on the London bus dispute for pay parity across the capital which has run into problems with the Royal Court of Justice Judges (tell me about it).

During questions I did my party trick and reminded Council about the role that workers capital can play in preventing the misuse of our money and savings in the future.

Karen Livingstone gave a good presentation on the East of England development agency.

Finally, Chris Green from the White Ribbon campaign to end male violence against women gave a cracking presentation. 89% of domestic violence is by men against women. A woman is seriously injured by a man in this county every 10 seconds. After every football game that the England football team plays there is an increase in violence against women – won or lose. The 25th November is their action day. It is really positive to see men taking responsibilities for their actions. Their aim is to change attitudes, especially amongst young men. Mind you a speaker did point out in this country there were only 300 refuges for women facing domestic violence while there are over 2,000 sanctuaries for animals. Makes you think...