UNISON Community Conference 2010: Hidden Workforce project

This is a bit late but I am finally typing out my report to my union Branch on last month’s first ever Community Service Group conference.  Check out previous reports here and here about the mornings events.

During lunch there were two fringes for delegates to choose from.  One on the Personalisation Agenda (implications of the disabled and elderly controlling their own care budgets) and the other on UNISON Hidden Workforce Project.  I went for the Hidden Workforce fringe as I had heard about the project but wasn’t that sure what it was about.  The other fringe had sandwiches and coffee and was very well attended while ours did not and was not that well attended.  Purely co-incidental of course!

The project is a pilot funded by the last government (those were the days!) looking into ways to protect workers who provide public sector services but had been outsourced from the public to the private and voluntary sector.  In particular vulnerable groups such as migrant workers who are more susceptible to exploitation - such as not being paid the national minimum wage, 0 hours contracts and bogus self-employment.  In particular cleaners and kitchen staff in schools and hospitals.  However, it is not just about migrant workers - but anyone who has been outsourced (even me).

The pilot is looking at using technology so that members, new activists and stewards can keep in touch.  Especially mobile phones and text messaging. The number of Mobile phones exceed the population of the UK by 130% and 87% of people of all ages have mobiles.  Migrant workers in particular use mobiles. From the organising point of view if you have a credit card and access to the internet you could set up a texting communication service with a free text back facility in 15 minutes.   The approach in low union density workplaces is to concentrate on collective issues that affect everyone not case work.  New and potential members are told that “we can’t do this for you – you will have to do it for yourselves” (which must be difficult to tell people). Then build by campaigning, get a few wins and once density is built - go for recognition. 

I have some concerns about this model but pleased that UNISON is trying different things out.  We face a huge problem if we just do nothing.  At the moment 75% of public services are “in-house” and there is a 33% UNISON density.  In contracted out services there is only a 10% density.  If more and more services are contracted out and the 10% density remains the same - then do the maths for the future of the union. 

UNISON Community Conference 2010: Dave Prentis

Our General Secretary gave the key note speech to Conference.  He began by playing a tribute to activists.  John Martin, who was a guest of this conference had spend many years trying to bring about today.  Community is the fastest growing part of the union.  If we recruited as well elsewhere in UNISON as we have done in Community we would have more than 2 million members.  Equally, Community activists have been forced to fight.  In the dispute with Notting Hill Housing.  They had to take action against purely ideological attacks by a CEO that advises Tories on housing policies.  In Hampshire there is currently a dispute over an attempt to derecognise our union. 

There is an onslaught on everything we have negotiated in the past for our members.  This is crunch time.  The greatest test for our union and our membership.  Attacks at a time when the economy is on life support.  All are being hurt by ideological polices by this government. They have no democratic mandate.  Attacking pay, pensions, jobs, public services and our welfare state.  Attacks the like we have never seen before.  Applying a Chainsaw to public services.  This is not due to the deficit but due to an ideology that hates public services and loves privatisation.  An ideology that sees public services not as an achievement but as something to attack. 

This coalition has a choice – it could go back to Banks, the Spivs, and the Speculators and say “you caused this mess now you clear it up”.  No, their friends in the City say you cannot do this but instead attack the benefits of poor people.  They will let down the people who rely on the services that we provide.  If money is available for banks and bonuses, for war and Trident then there is definitely money available for public services.  Money for the Social Housing that we need so much.  If money is that tight why have Bankers and Executives increased their money by 55% in the last year alone.  We have had enough of their greed and arrogance.  Spivs should do less for themselves and more for their country. 

Our commitment is that unions will speak for those who work for public services and those who rely on them.  We will be your voice to let people know what we are doing.  We cannot have thousands of families having to move homes.  Got to build opposition. Not to sit back.  We must recruit to lever support.  We have got to give practical support to those on our communities fighting to defend services and not just to look after the interests of our members.  We have got to stand together for what is right. 

The recent massive lobby of parliaments.  More people outside Westminster Hall than able to get inside.  This was a tremendous start.  Movement of trade unions and community groups, pensioners, students, taxpayer and unemployed.  Not just to oppose cuts and protect jobs and services.  Got to be a movement to campaign and build a better future.  Build an economy to build a better society.  We have our million voices for public services and a million voices to build a better society.  Build alliances with other unions to break the pay freeze.  We will rise to the challenge.  This is our time.  Unions were born in adversely.  Our history is about protecting the poor against the rich.  We have got through good times and more difficult times. This is our time not just for members now but for their future.  Yes, will lose some of these battles but we will have victories along the way.  Show our resolve to protect our welfare state.  Go back to 1945 when after the war there was a massive debt which we have only just paid off now.  The Labour Party still came out with a manifest building for the future – they created NHS, schools and the welfare state and we will not let this government take this away.  We want a society that says whatever your lack of wealth you deserve dignity.   

Unison has 1.4 million in membership.  We are the public services union.  Other unions in the UK and Europe look to UNISON to lead the fight.  What I say to you more than anything is that we will lead the fight.  If Osborne cuts go thru cuts we will fight back.  If they come for our pensions, I am sure it will be the straw that will break the camel’s back.  We will march next year; will hold rallies, walkouts and we will be visible. 

We may march in our thousands but we vote in our millions.   We must let people know where blame lays – the Banks and the Coalition who wants to make cuts to the poor rather than the wealth of our friends.  We are not waiting 4 years.  Next year in May local elections, get them out of our Town Halls.  In Wales and Scotland get them out. 

Defend our members in the workplace. Challenge Cllrs and MP's, we have got a plan that will move forward but it needs your involvement.  Will be great for us to prove what unions can do.  The reason why unions came about is to protect.  Not just this generation but future generation. Thanks for what you have done and what you will do in future.

UNISON Community Service Group Conference 2010

The first ever annual UNISON Service conference has just opened in Telford.

"Community" was created last year for members who work in the Voluntary sector and Housing associations.  There are 60,000 members and we are the 3rd largest service group in UNISON behind Local government and Health.

There are about 100 delegates registered from all over the UK.  London region has 30 delegates.  There are motions on pay, pensions, cuts, social housing and health & safety.

This being a UNISON conference the first business of conference was taken up with failed attempts to refer back the Standing orders committee reports.