LOCAL GOVERMENT AND NATIONAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE 2010
CONFERENCE PICTURE OF THE DAY
Pictured above, North Lanarkshire Service and Condition Officer and Library worker Jane Carmichael sporting her new bag and asks YOU to LOVE your Libraries!
______________________________________
North Lanarkshire Branch Delegates 2010:
John Stark, Sean Hanlon, Jan McKay, Jane Carmichael, Helen Madden, Kath Lipton, Marie Quigley
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Look out here for our Conference Delegation's diary at the Unison National Local Government and National Delegate Conference 2010, being held in Bournemouth,,stay in touch with the delegates as they provide their reactions and experiences to the business of Conference.
Also below you can find live TWITTER updates from Delegates. Any feedback, please get in contact via the branch office.
BLOG
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAY 1 of Local Goverment Conference - Report by Marie Quigley
After an early start on Saturday, North Lanarkshire delegates have settled in well to the conference routine. On Saturday evening delegates attended a meeting for all Scottish Delegates.
Sunday morning and the conference proper has begun. The first motions concerned personalisation of social care and conference backed motions recognising the importance of retaining social care in the public sector.
We were also treated to a film about social care workers in Norwich which highlighted the problems that privatisation of an essential service can bring. Also, the film looked at the campaign that the local branch undertook to ask these companies to review pitiful mileage rates and to introduce payment for travel time to and from clients – something which we are well aware of in our branch.
It looks set to be a great conference with lots of references already to the threat that the new government poses to keeping our public services public.
If anything is clear from this conference already, it is that activists from across the UK will challenge cuts, challenge inequalities and challenge privatisation for the sake our members and service users!
.... More quotes to follow
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAY 2 of Local Goverment Conference - Report by Sean Hanlon
UNISON Local Government conference is in full swing with the issues of concern being debated. Up today has been chat about how we as a UNION mobalise the community sector and can work on joint projects.
Also, today we heard about pensions and how the new “Cami Knickers” government as one delegate described it seem to have their eyes on the Local Government Pension Scheme! These are not the golden plated pensions that the media and government are making out and conference spoke about the average pension from this scheme being around 2,000 PA. – Hardly anywhere near what Clegg or Cameron would get??
This morning we also looked at the LOVE YOUR LIBRARY campaign that UNISON has been heavily involved in, hearing some of the fantastic ways that branches have been involved in moving this work forward and looking ahead to the challenges ahead.
Yesterday a very interesting fringe meeting took place on the LOVE YOUR LIBRARY campaign and more about that later in the week.
You can keep up to date by the minute of what is happening during conference by looking at our “tweets” from the UNISON NORTH LANARKSHIRE twitter account and our pictures of the day.
DAY 3 BLOG BY JAN MACKAY
Jan McKay 3rd time delegate at National Conference. North Lanarkshire H&S REP - Service Conditions Depute with a special interest in tackling bullying and harrassment in the workplace.
Today, Tues 15th June 2010 I attended a fringe meeting to discuss tackling Bullying in the workplace. In 1997/98 UNISON conducted the biggest UK survey on bulling which led to a programme of work to help branches tackle the issues in the workplace.
A second survey was conducted in 2009 and it showed that the situation, far from improving has worsened.
- Bullying in the workplace does not get people to work harder
- Bullying in the workplace causes our members to experience ill health
- Bullying in the workplace costs our members and our employers money
The discussion highlighted the need for specific reps to deal with supporting our members through the traumatic experience of being bullied in the workplace. The need to ensure that training courses are develpoed to ensure our members are supported from REPS who are adequattely trained to deal with the complex issues of bullying in the workplace, campaigning for H&S executive to take enforcement action against employers who do not adequately risk assess bullying.
Campaign for specific legislation which would outlaw workplace bullying and ensure that employers develop effective anti-bullying policies with dignity and respect for all.
WE HAVE MUCH TO DO!
DAY 4 BLOG BY HELEN MADDEN
Helen Madden first time at conference. I didn't know what to expect, but so far so good. I have been fully supported by my fellow delegates.
Before leaving for conference I attended a meeting with NLC regarding administration of medicines and medical procedures that are carried out in our schools.
Our members in North Lanarkshire are under incresing pressure to carry out an exhaustive list of medical procedures. There is a growing expectation from the Local Authority and Teachers that it is the responsibiltiy of ASNA's to carry out these tasks.
A number of delegates attended the lunchtime fringe meeting in relation to Motion 34 'Medical procedures in our schools, colleges & nurseries.
It gave us an opportunity to hear from other branches from Scotland, England, Ireland & Wales in relation to the above motion.
I raised the point that although the adminisration of medicines and medical procedures is strictly on a voluntary basis (unless specifically stated in your contract) it causes a great divide between our members. Some members think it is their job to administer while others see it as a task which should be carried out by an appropriate trained medical professional.
Some of the NL delegation cool off with an ice cream after another hard session at conference .
DAY 5 BLOG BY SEAN HANLON Conference is now drawing to a close. With one more day to go, so much motions, debates and more importantly stories have been shared between colleagues about the devastating impact cuts are having and that privitisation are having in OUR PUBLIC services.
Billy Bragg addressed conference and thanked UNISON members for the part they played in ousting the BNP from his home town, of Barking, in the general election. UNISON made it clear that no matter what name parties and individuals who spout racist and fascist hatred are not welcome as part of this union.
  |
Campaigner and Singer - Billy Brag It's time to vote!
This afternoon focused on UNISON rules – some may say not as important that policy, however, it is vital that in this time of uncertainty, that UNISON has strong governance structures in place and that outdated rules are refreshed.
We also discussed the Tobin Tax (also known as the Robin Hood Tax) – UNISON flung its full weight behind this idea and the possible extra funding it could give our public services. It is estimated that a global tax of less than 1% on such transactions as currency trading, and the selling of stocks and shares and derivative products, could raise £250bn a year internationally.
This money could be used to protect and promote public services, combat poverty at home and abroad, and tackle climate change.
One of the biggest debates today was around PAY! - Conference today condemned the government's pay freeze for public sector employees for 2010/11 - which, with inflation, effectively means a pay cut for millions of workers.
The UNISON conference also agreed to support the Living Wage campaign, and to support broadening UNISON's bargaining agenda on local government pay, to include:
• a minimum wage for council workers;
• access to affordable childcare;
• developing career pathways; and
• investing in workplace learning and development.
North Lanarkshire delegates have been inspired about the contributions from other regions and branches, self organised groups and self defined groups. The networking opportunity and the ideas have been noted and delegates will be making a report to the branch committee with some recommendations and suggestions that have been picked up from conference.