UNISON National Delegate Conference 2024: Day 1 Tuesday

 

I am at UNISON National Delegate Conference (NDC) as a NEC member for Community (Housing Associations and Voluntary sector). NDC is the "Parliament" of UNISON and decides upon policies, finance and rules for the forthcoming year. 

In the morning I was up at 7am for a run (aka as a slow jog) around the beach for 2.5 miles enjoying the sea breeze and getting ready for the day ahead. Most of which will be spend on the NEC platform listerning to debates, reports and speeches inside the huge Conference hall.

My first meeting was with the other members of the NEC at our hotel at 8.30am where we discussed conference business and standing orders reports etc. Conference itself started at 10am

We began conference with a welcome by our lay President, Libby Noland, introductions to our guests and international visitors then we remembered UNISON staff and activists who had died in the previous year. This is always a moving moment. 

Next we had our Standing Orders Committee (SOC) report which outline the programme for the week and which motions had been accepted as "competent" (able to be debated at conference) "composited" (similar motions merged) and "consequences" (if a motion is passed it may result in other motions becoming out of date or invalid). 

The job of being Chair of SOC and reporting to Conference its decisions is a rather thankless task. Nearly all decisions taken by the 15 democratically elected members of SOC are routinely "referenced back" to the SOC (they are asked to reconsider their decisions). While this is an important rule book right of delegates, I feel that some abuse this right to "grandstand" and make speeches. It also wastes a lot of time at conference that could be better spent debating motions. 

We then went on to discuss the UNISON annual report, our Financial statements and receive the President's speech (which also included the presentation of the Eric Roberts Award to an inspiring young member).  

During lunch I attended the Greater London Regional new delegates event with my fellow London Council officers. I clearly remember how completely unfathomable and confusing my first ever UNISON conference was would have welcomed the chance to chat to more experienced conference colleagues about such things as "points of order", "card vote" and the "snake". 

There was a number of important motions debated on Climate change, Exploitation of migrant workers and the year of LGBT+. I thought it was very good that speakers were explaining their preferred pronouns, when introducing themselves at the beginning of their speeches. 

After conference there was a useful fringe on the "Political fund" ballot which must take place very soon. All members will be balloted on whether or not UNISON should have "political" funds. Every 10 years all trade unions have to undertake this. It will cost over a million pounds for this to take place. Note that shareholders are not individually balloted by post when companies decide to make political denotations to the Conservative Party. I hope that a future Labour Government will get rid of this requirement. 

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2024 - Greater London regional meeting

 

This evening I attended the London Regional meeting in advance of the start of our UNISON National Delegate Conference (NDC) in Brighton. Our Regional delegate Yvonne Green, aided by our Regional Secretary,  Jo Galloway, briefed around 100 of our delegates on conference arrangements and events. 

UNISON NDC is one of the largest independent trade union conferences in the world. There are thousands of delegates and visitors from hundreds of branches, regions and nations, service groups and self organised groups, representing 1.3 million members. It is a huge and immensely complicated event, 

Jim Mansfield, who is our elected London representative on the conference Standing Orders Committee (SOC) gave us a briefing on their report. The SOC runs the conference business and timetable in line with our rule book and legal obligations. 

Some delegates, no doubt genuinely, find it difficult to understand these processes. So do I at times, despite being a conference veteran. But it needs to be run in line with our rules and the law. It is not a "free for all". 

At the end I gave a plug for delegates to attend the UNISON Labour Link meeting on Wednesday evening where Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Tom Gray (a well known musician and no known relative!) will talk to us then lead canvass sessions in Brighton Pavilion. Also, we passed around an information sheet on how London delegates can register to find out further information on how to campaign for Labour in London.

I am at conference as an elected member representing the Community Service Group (Housing Associations and voluntary sector) of UNISON National Executive Council and will look forward to listening to the debates, fringes and guest speakers and of course, meeting and listening to my members.

NEC pre meeting 8.30am tomorrow morning. 

Keir Starmer Leader Speech to Labour Party Conference 2021

I am back home after spending the last 5 days at Brighton for the Labour Party Conference 2021. It was great to be back in Brighton at a physical, real life face to face conference, after all this time. 

I was there as a Party member (self funding) and not a delegate. I am knackered but still attended my UNISON branch committee zoom this evening. I will try to post further on conference later. 

The highlight of a wonderful week (speeches, stalls, fringes, discussions, arguments, gossip, good food, late night debates - mixed in with just a little bit of socialising) was the keynote leader speech by Keir at the close of conference. 

I thought it was a wonderful speech which showed us, a potential future prime minister. He has the 3 "P's" - "politics, policies, personality (and I would add "grit"). He is the only person that can take on the SOS that have ruled us disastrously for so, so long.  

I now think we have a really good chance of a win at the next general election. 

Frankly, after 11 years of Tory rule, nothing else matters. 

Labour Party Conference 2021

 

My pass to Labour Party Conference has arrived, travel, Covid vaccination pass and accommodation sorted out and I am busy checking out which fringes and debates to attend. I am not a delegate, so no early morning delegation meetings to attend nor having to sit through all the really boring speeches!

I will be in Brighton from Saturday to Wednesday. I am looking forward to the London Labour Party reception tomorrow and I am speaking at a Pension Fringe on "Just Transition" on Monday. Newham Labour "get together" will probably be on Monday evening. Watch this space. 

Labour Party Conference 2019: Tuesday #Lab19 (Twitter)

"We will only be able to keep global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels if we effect unprecedented transitions in all aspects of society, including energy, land and ecosystems, urban and infrastructure as well as industry'
https://ipcc.ch/srocc/home/

@IPCC_CH
After excitement of leaders speech back to the fringe circuit with

@LAPFForum discussing how #pension funds can help deliver net zero carbon economy and just transition #LAB19 #labourpartyconference2019

Watching @UKLabour @jeremycorbyn giving his leader speech to #labourpartyconference2019 #lab19 "the NHS is not for sale" 

Inspiring panel yesterday @TWT_NOW on housing struggles with @MoyraSamuels (
@officialJ4G ), Andrea Jones (Community Led Homes Brighton), Sophie Odgers-Roe (
@ACORN_Brighton ), @grayee and @rokhsanafiaz (@NewhamLondon ). About radical changes the planning system needs, for the many

Rokhsana and I were part of a interactive panel of 5. Probably the most interesting & intelligent "fringe" I have attended this conference #LabConf19 #lab19

At @TWT_NOW Housing Struggles fringe w/ @grayee & the amazing @MoyraSamuels speaking passionately abt #Grenfell + people power = the impetus for quality housing for all. Plus talking community involvement, Community Land Trusts & improvements we’re driving in #Newham #LabConf19 

John McDonnell praised our mp
@lynbrownmp member of his shadow treasury team " I want to thank Lyn Brown... Lyn's the conscience of our party in ensuring everything we do will secure social justice and equality for all that need it" Well done Lyn! https://youtu.be/M7cKGdspE0E
At #lab19

@NSLiveEvents fringe with @NewhamLondon Mayor @rokhsanafiaz speaking on "Efficient, Effective, Attractive: how to build the Cities of the Future " @AECOM

A wet and windy run along #Brighton beach. Great way to start the day #labourpartyconference2019 #lab19.

Labour Party Annual Conference Saturday #Lab19

I am on route to Labour Party conference in Brighton belatedly looking through the handbook and trying to decide which debates and fringes to attend. This year I am attending as a Councillor not a delegate. Being a delegate gives you the opportunity to vote and possibly make a speech but it is far more fun being a visitor and being able to go, see and hear what you are really interested in.

There has already been one massive row over the attempt to get rid of Tom Watson as Deputy Leader. While I can understand why people are frustrated with Tom, kicking a directly elected deputy out at the eve of a general election was not a great move.

Hopefully, we will not score anymore home goals during Conference and instead concentrate on attacking the Tories, trying to clear up the Brexit mess and preparing for the election.

So far, I am planning to attend this evening the Labourlist fringe and then the Greater London regional reception. Sunday has a number of debates on “rebuilding public services” and in evening there is the Newham Labour “Get together”.

I am due to speak at some housing fringes and hope to attend the Unison reception and Local Authority Pension Fund Forum fringe on “A Just Transition” on Tuesday evening.

Conference finishes on Wednesday afternoon following the Leaders speech. I hope to post more often at this conference... but I say this every year.

Update: I arrived at Brighton station and walked to my hotel near the Pier. I had booked accommodation via the Expedia website some months ago. Last Thursday I got a text saying that this had been cancelled due to “over booking”. After a series of telephone calls Expedia eventually booked me into suitable alternative accommodation at a cost of over 4 times my original booking. They covered the extra costs. Something to think about if you normally do not use a booking agency for booking accommodation.

Trade Union Congress 2017 #TUC17

Now in Brighton for TUC annual conference. I will be trying as usual to post on speeches and fringes.

Congress started for UNISON with a delegation meeting at 3pm where we decided our policy on motions, agreed speakers and support for the General Council report and the TUC campaign plan 2017-18. 

The conference opened at 4pm with this years President, Mary Bousted, welcoming delegates and sororal/fraternal visitors. I was once on a panel at a Labour Party conference fringe on Pensions with Mary.

Congress then stood while obituaries of leading activists was displayed on the screen including that of the still sad loss of our former UNISON President (and my friend) Eric Roberts.

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2017 - Tuesday

My Conference day started with a short jog up and down the famous Brighton beach. The weather was hot even at 7.30am.

At 8.30am we had our first UNISON NEC meeting to discuss and (hopefully) agree on any outstanding matters or policy positions.

Conference itself starts at 10am on its first day.  Firstly there is the "welcome to conference" speech by the Senior Vice President, Carol Sewell. She introduces all our international guest visitors.

Followed by Standing Order Committee (SOC) reports 1 and 2 (it is a long standing tradition at NDC to play reference back ping pong with SOC).

This is followed by a presentation and vote on our annual report and our year end financial statement. Our first motion of conference was 18 "Stepping up the campaign against bullying and harassment".

During lunch I went to the UNISON "There for You" AGM as a NEC member of the charities board of trustees. After lunch there was another round of ping pong and further motions debated including the 55 "UNISON and the WASPI campaign" about the rip of pensions by this government for many women.

Our General Secretary, Dave Prentis, gave a very powerful speech during which he thanked our emergency workers for all they had done in recent times and talked about the unexpected loss of his comrade, our President Eric Roberts.  After the speech I could see from the NEC platform a number of delegates wiping tears from their eyes and there was a (genuine) standing ovation by Conference.

In the afternoon there were more debates. Conference finished at 5pm. On the way back to my accommodation I was stopped and "persuaded" to go an excellent fringe on "Pensions and climate change".

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2017 - Monday Evening

Comrades together picture from this evening outside the Holiday Inn Hotel in Brighton after the UNISON London Region delegates meetings.

Our ace Regional Conveyor, Yvonne Green, is on my left with Housing Association branch delegate Mitsy on her left and Croydon delegate Kia, on my right.

Conference starts tomorrow morning and although I am here as UNISON NEC, I have been busy supporting my Housing Association Branch delegates with hotel bookings problems and getting ready to speak on our housing motion 36 which is high up on the "snake" (UNISON conference jargon. Don't ask it will blow your mind)

All four of our branch delegates are confidant and articulate black women workers who have spoken at previous conferences and I have no doubt, whatsoever, they will participate fully in the next few days.  

Our National Executive Council "Proud to be in UNISON"

This I think is a great picture of the UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) at our annual conference in Brighton June 2016.

There are 65 members of the NEC representing the 1.3 million members in UNISON and they are all elected by them to speak on their behalf.  It acts as the "Parliament" of the union to make decisions in between conference. 

Unison NDC 16: Greater London Regional Delegates meeting

Unison is back in Brighton for its National Delegate Conference. The NDC is the annual Parliament of our 1.3 million members. Over 2000 delegates and visitors will be in Brighton for the conference

Picture is from the London meeting this evening for delegates. Regional publicity convener, Lynn Bentley, is speaking about the daily newsletter she helps publish for delegates. 

The elected regional  delegates Yvonne and Mandy, give their report and make it clear that their role is to help delegates enjoy and participate in the conference (they are not there to recommend local pubs, give train timetable information or change hotel rooms). 

Jim, our regional representative on Standing orders committee made it clear that conference itself really decides on how conference is run. If conference wants to let dozens of delegates give endless speeches self congratulating themselves on motions that no one disagrees with then so be it. It is not the role of SOC to interfere, it is up to conference to stop this and raise points of order to bring the debate to a close. 

The regional staff conference team were introduced and the importance of making sure that delegates attend all debates and are properly scanned in as they enter the hall was explained.  All branches were also reminded to make sure they pick up their Card votes!

Finally, Karen reminded us of regional conference events. Tomorrow lunchtime (Tuesday) at 12,30 3rd floor BCC there is a new and lone branch delegates lunchtime event (which  I really recommend). 

A motion re-prioritisation  huddle on Wednesday 5pm at confrrence floor and our regional social on Wednesday 7.30pm at the Holiday Inn (£5 per ticket). 

Enjoy conference delegates!

Labour Party Conference 2015. A view.

I've just finished packing for Conference and will soon be on my way to catch the train for Brighton.  For the Party this should prove to be a pivotal Conference.

After the shock and devastation that we all felt following the Conservative victory in May, we now unexpectedly have a Labour Party Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who is firmly of "the left".

He is also supportive of trade unions and many of our policies and who actually defines himself politically as a trade unionist.  I don't think this has fully sunk in yet.

I also think that many people do not fully understand the reasons for his massive victory nor the political mood change that brought it about.

Its not just those on the right who just don't get it. On the left there are those who don't understand how you can be a radical and softly spoken. How you can respect those who you don't agree, without the need to attack them personally. 

Jeremy of course, has to deliver. To do this he has to win the next General Election. It is pointless to have a leader who supports you if he or she is not in a position to actually legislate. This is especially important to trade unions, when we are currently facing a huge threat to our long term existence from the Tory (anti) trade union bill currently going through the House of Commons.  The Unions foundered the Labour Party in the first place to rebalance power in the workplace in favour of workers.

It was always going to be tough to win the next election regardless of who is leader. The economy is likely to slowly recover (in spite of Tory policies), unfavourable boundary changes are very probable and if the UK votes to stay in the EU then UKIP is likely to collapse. So difficult but a Labour leader who can inspire and enthuse could do it.

The first big test will be the London Mayoral, Scottish Parliament and local councils elections in May next year.

Expect further abuse and monstering of Jeremy (and his family) before then. He therefore needs all our support. The new members and supporters who have flocked to the Party must take the next step and become activists and be prepared to organise and go out on the doorstep.

Existing Party activists who didn't choose Jeremy as leader must now accept that he is and he has a mandate for change. It doesn't mean you will agree with everything (who does in life?) but all those who consider themselves democrats must accept this and give him his chance. There is no alternative to this and those who don't like this will simply have to lump it.

I will post further on the Conference as and when. 

TUC Congress 2015

I am just about to board a train for Brighton as a UNISON delegate to this year's TUC Congress.

There is a delegation meeting at 3pm then Congress opens at 4pm.

This is the third time I have been to Congress as a delegate.

I suspect that this year with the election yesterday of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Leader and the onslaught that the Tories are about to inflict upon the movement tomorrow with the publication of their anti-trade union bill that it will be the most lively yet.

I will try and post/tweet as and when.

Saturday Sectarian: Green Lies & the Green Housing vacuum

I have just enjoyed reading two very different posts on the Green Party and their policies.

The first was from the never shy nor retiring Kitty Jones on
"You’d have to be Green to believe the Green Party: two more lies exposed".

While the other post by Steve Hilditch "The grass isn't any greener on the other side" is more reflective and is a pretty powerful exposure of the vacuum that is the Green's Housing policy. Which, for a so called "progressive" party is unacceptable and amateurish.

I suppose some supporters of the Green's will say such posts are a sign that they are a rising political force and feared by Labour. I don't think so, it's about time that fringe parties such as the Greens and UKIP are challenged about their practices and policies and not be allowed to get away with stuff.

My own favourite "Green" story was watching an interview with a Brighton Council worker whose wages were being cut by Green run Brighton Council - He described them as "F**king Tories on Bikes".

After the week that was - UNISON Conference #uNDC14

On Friday afternoon after the close of the 2014 UNISON NDC conference at Brighton, I went to nearby Worthing for the weekend to recover.

On Saturday I went for 10.5 mile walk across ancient iron age forts in the South Downs. The weather was simply glorious, very warm with blue skies but there was a nice cooling breeze.

You could see Brighton in the far distance. I had spent the last 4 days from 9am to 6pm in what is fundamentally, a very large shed with up to 2500 other people. Walking outdoors in shorts, sandals and tee-shirt in beautiful countryside was a real treat. It was strange to start the day without a standing orders committee report mind!

It had been a very successful conference and we are now clearly taking the fight over low pay to the government. We were I think on the whole united and "in UNISON". Bizarrely one of the few disputes in the conference hall originated in the squabbling and infighting following the demise of the extremist so called "United left" group.

While I may wish the ultra left trotskyist "permanent revolutionaries" will stop fibbing their manta at the end of every speech that "their union money is going to the Labour Party" (the truth is that it is only from members who choose to pay the Labour Link levy), I enjoy their distinctive sleep inducing "house style" of speaking, which in the absence of hard liquor makes listening to them bearable.

While none of the motions that I was due to speak on behalf of the NEC came up high enough in the agenda, I did enjoy listening to the debates and the fringes. I was able to help out my branch delegation with speech writing and chaired the Capital Stewardship fringe.

A highlight of conference for me was the election by the NEC of Eric Roberts (London Ambulance Service branch secretary and Health NEC) as a new UNISON Vice President. Eric is a London comrade and top trade unionist. I look forward to him being President of the union in 2016.

I will post further reports on Conference as and when I write them up. 

Roll on UNISON Conference 2015 in Glasgow.

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2014 #uNDC14

UNISON National Delegate Conference has just started. Picture from early this morning at Brighton beach.

For the first time ever at Brighton, I finally managed to go for a swim in the sea. It was, let me say, rather cold, but you soon got use to it. Must remember to keep my mouth shut when under water mind.  Some folk may suggest this is not the only occasion that I should keep it shut.

I arrived yesterday evening and went straight to the London Regional briefing for delegates and visitors in the Holiday Inn. Conference Standing orders Committee (SOC) took a bit of stick over motions ruled out of order. "SOC bashing" is of course a recognised UNISON sport enjoyed by many.

I am on the platform at front of conference with my National Executive Committee (NEC) colleagues. NEC Bashing" is another traditional conference sport, which which no doubt will be indulged in during the coming days.

First business at conference was the introduction of international guests. Now Maureen  le Marinel is making her Presidential address to conference. Her central message is that when we are united and work together - we can win.

Maureen made a personal, passionate and emotional speech "straight from the heart" as my good comrade Mary Locke sitting next to me said.

Next, conference remembered all those members and Labour movement figures who died in the past 12 months. The first name to appear on the screen behind us was Stuart Barber, London regional organiser who sadly died of an heart attack this year and whose memorial service will take place next month.

I will try and post on NDC as much as I can during conference. In between preparing my speeches and helping my branch delegation. 

TUC 2012: The State of the Unions

I'm in Brighton for the Trades Union Congress 2012 as an UNISON delegate. Conference starts at 4pm. Stacks of reports, motions and policy papers to wade my way through.

While on the crowded train here I tapped some strictly personal thoughts into my BlackBerry about "the state we're in".

First the bad news. Not a good start last week to hear that total trade union membership has dropped under 6 million for the first time. A long way from the 1970's 12 million.

Recession and austerity will mean that membership may (will) decline further. The public sector is shrinking and many new jobs in the private sector are so far either in non unionised sectors or self employment (real or bogus).

There are various attempts to even further restrict trade union rights such as threats to get rid of facility time and demands for minimum turnout in strike ballots.

I'm trying desperately to think of any good news. Nope, can't think of any. "Good" is not the right word but there is still hope and there is still the potential ability to turn negatives into positives.

Lets not forget that we are still by any measure the largest mass membership organisation in the UK.

The need for unions are as compelling now as they have ever been. Power at work is stacked in favour of the employer. The simple fact of the matter is that you cannot trust the government, the law or your employer (no matter how well meaning) to protect you at work, only your trade union.  Without a collective counter balance at work even the "best" employer will have nothing to stop them going amok from time to time.

Ironically it is this horrible and cruel government which could be our unlikely recruiting sergeant. There has always been is a strange belief that unions are not really needed because if the boss misbehaved you can take them to the cleaners at the courts. This has always been rubbish but the wholesale assault and ripping up by the Tory led Government on workers legal rights and protection must surely be acting as a wake up call? Are you going to be able to pay a upfront court fee of £1500 to try and get justice if you are unfairly thrown out of work?

The unions also need to start thinking out of the box about making us appear attractive to workers in small companies and the self employed. Many members of my family are in this position. They don't need representation or collective bargaining but they are worried about what will happen if they fall ill or how much money will they get when they retire. Trade unions in other countries provided income protection if sick why can't we? Why can't UK unions provide pensions? Why not offer a national Defined Benefit pension scheme modelled on the new look Local Government Pension Scheme 2014?

Finally, it seems likely that this government will last until 2015. So we have less than 3 years to use our influence in the Labour Party to help it become the next Government on the back of policies that will really benefit working people. Money alone is not enough. We need to get active within the Party and use our relatively privileged position within the Party to argue for change.

In the meanwhile let's do our bit educating our members and the public about the alternatives to this  governments rotten economic policies and get a mass turnout on October 20th as part of a wider Labour movement renaissance. Hopefully next years state of the unions will indeed have some "good news". 

Brighton Beach delegation meeting

Off message. But a very Brighton picture from yesterday lunchtime. Members of the Housing Association Branch delegation enjoying a sandwich lunch on the beach.

It was a bit uncomfortable sitting on the pebbles and a little wet and windy - but it was warm in the sunshine. Not bad for March!

I had been for a run along the beach in the morning. A great of getting rid of the cobwebs (aka hangover)  

People's Front of Judea - request for nomination to UNISON NEC

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to ask your UNISON branch to consider nominating me in the forthcoming election to UNISON's National Executive Council (NEC). I am seeking re-election in the Male seat to represent the Greater Judea Region.

I am the Secretary of the People's Front of Judea local government branch and have represented Judea on our NEC since 03AD. I believe that the experience which I have gained and the enthusiasm which I have not lost together mean that I could play a valuable role as an NEC member in what will be our most challenging times.

I am asking you to nominate me to continue to represent you on the NEC because of what I will do if elected.

Most importantly, I will continue to report regularly and transparently to Judea UNISON branches about what happens at meetings of our NEC. I regularly circulate full reports by email, which supplement the brief official reports made available on the website. I also publish my reports online on a blog.....

To be valid, nominations need to be made at a quorate meeting of your branch or branch committee during the nomination period. The nomination period will open on 11 January 2011 and close at 5pm on Friday 18 February 2011. Copies of the nomination forms will be available on UNISON's website from 4 January.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this message and, I hope, to pass it on to your Branch Committee.

Yours in solidarity,

Not a raving Trot

(honest, cross my heart, I'm not xxx but I am, really, honest, a proper working class warrior against the ruling class and all their stooges in the workers movement - and born and bred in Brighton)

Labour Party Conference 2009 Sunday 27th September

It must be true that the sun shines on the righteous since the 2009 Labour Party conference opened this afternoon amidst glorious blue skies and bright warm sunshine.

Due to massive traffic jams I was late and by the time I checked into my hotel and made my way to the conference I had missed the beginning. Luckily my two fellow West Ham CLP delegates Rachel Tripp and Charlene McLean were far more organised than me and had attended the London Labour regional briefing and voted on the contemporary priorities ballot (we voted for Beating the BNP, Housing, Royal Mail post office and School meals).

I am in row A on the far left (of course) of the floor. If you are a delegate come over and say hello.

I hope to post on the main debates, exhibitions and fringe events. If I can work out how to do it I will twitter live from the conference floor.