Conference Document Containing Motions and Amendments and Amendments to Rule UNISON National Delegate Conference
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UNISON National Delegate Conference 18–21 June 2019 ACC Liverpool Conference document containing Motions and Amendments and Amendments to Rule UNISON National Delegate Conference Contents 1. Standing Orders Committee First Report 4 2. Conference Timetable 5 3. Conference Business 6 4. Guide to Conference Procedures 109 5. National Conference Rules and Standing Orders 115 Checklist Please remember to bring the following documents with you when you come to Liverpool. ü This conference guide Annual report Voting card (one per delegate) Credential card with photograph Confirmation of childcare arrangements Confirmation of accommodation details 2 Conference Document 2019 Welcome to UNISON National Delegate Conference 2019 A very warm welcome to everyone attending UNISON’s National Delegate Conference, especially those for whom this is the first time. The guide and the delegates information booklet is intended to help with information about how conference is run, debates are conducted and so on, as well as containing the motions and amendments. I hope you find the guide helpful. Dave Prentis General Secretary 3 UNISON National Delegate Conference 1. Standing Orders Committee First Report 1.1 Membership 1.2 Recommendations The Standing Orders Committee is responsible for To assist the smooth running of Conference the the business of Conference. It consists of 15 members, Standing Orders Committee recommends: 12 elected from the regions, who are not delegates to .1 the timetable should be as set out in Section Conference, and 3 from the National Executive Council. 2 – ‘Conference Timetable’. The members of the Committee this year are: .2 the Order of Business, constructed based on priorities received from regions, the National Executive Council, self-organised groups, Regions the National Young Members’ Forum, Private Contractors’ National Forum and the Retired Eastern Liz Davidson Members Organisation, will be contained in East Midlands Jeanette Lloyd Standing Orders Committee Report Number Greater London Jim Mansfield 2. Northern Rachel Shepherd (Chairperson) .3 Any proposed alterations to the programme of Northern Ireland Denis Keatings business will be reported to Conference. North West Pat McDonagh .4 If a delegate is not present in the conference Scotland Alison Mitchell hall when her or his motion is called, that South East Paul Couchman motion will fall. South West Kevin Judd (Vice Chairperson) .5 The Standing Orders Committee proposes Cymru/Wales Richard Tanswell that speakers’ time limits should remain at West Midlands Mike Maley a maximum of 5 minutes for movers and 3 Yorkshire & Humberside Wendy Nichols minutes for subsequent speakers, rather than reducing speaking times from the first day of Conference. This is because the Order of National Executive Council Business reflects the priorities indicated by the union, and therefore sufficient time should Abiola Kusoro be allowed for movers of motions at the start. Nicole Berrisford Should the Standing Orders Committee Chris Hanrahan decide to propose a reduction in speaking times, it will give advance notice of this intention to Conference. Secretary .6 Amendments to Rule, if approved by Conference, come into effect at the end of Lynne Robson Conference, unless there is a specified date in the Amendment to Rule. 4 Conference Document 2019 2. Conference Timetable Tuesday 18 June Thursday 20 June Morning Session: 10:00 – 12:30 Morning Session: 09.30 – 12:30 Welcome to Conference Motions First and Second Report of Afternoon Session: 14:00 – 17:00 Standing Orders Committee Amendments to Rule Annual Report UNISON Accounts Friday 21 June Motions Morning Session: 09:30 – 12.30 Afternoon Session: 14:00 – 17:00 Motions Motions Afternoon Session: 14:00 – 16:00 (Closing ceremony starting at 15:45) Wednesday 19 June Business outstanding prioritised by the Morning Session: 09:30 – 12:30 Standing Orders Committee. Motions Afternoon Session: 14:00 – 17:00 Motions Doors to the conference hall will be open each day half an hour before each session commences During lunchtime doors will be shut. NO SMOKING IN THE CONFERENCE HALL 5 UNISON National Delegate Conference 3. Conference Business Organising and Recruitment 2. Growing the union UNISON as the biggest trade union should be congratulated on achieving growth in 2018. The whole Organisation and Development union recruitment campaign demonstrated what can be achieved when all parts of the union work together. The Northern region believes the union should commit to this type of organising approach as a regular event. A core 1. Developing organising resources in branches part of our strength as a trade union is our commitment and regions to equality which is central to UNISON’s aims and objectives. UNISON is clear that equality can never be Conference recognises the major organising an afterthought and we must always keep equality on all challenges facing branches and regions. Austerity, the agendas by employing different organising strategies to continuing fragmentation of public service delivery as well counter the myth that equality is no longer an issue. as the loss of experienced activists through cutbacks, Conference also needs to recognise that amongst other things, have contributed towards making outsourced members working in hospitals, schools the job of a UNISON activist ever more difficult. and universities, women, Black, disabled, LGBT and Conference believes that to meet these challenges, migrant workers predominately experience prejudice and the union needs to promote improved cooperation discrimination and inequality sometimes on a daily basis. between branches and between regions to ensure Continuous and effective organising of those that UNISON is more visible to the members and non members is crucial to identify and find solutions that members. collectively resolve problems. Conference congratulates those branches and Conference welcomes and congratulates the work regions that have pioneered initiatives to foster closer of the UNISON National Strategic Organising Unit on working and to increase the visibility of the union through organising and supporting outsourced workers facing resource centres, shop fronts, organising centres and inequality in the workplace. mobile units. Conference therefore calls on the National Executive Conference calls on the National Executive Council Council to: to: 1) Ensure that whole union recruitment and organising 1) Continue to support branch and regional initiatives initiatives such as Grovember become regular to develop resource centres, shop fronts, organising events and that good practice is shared; centres, mobile units and similar initiatives; 2) Continue to strengthen the Joint Branch 2) Work with branches and regions to promote and Assessments demonstrating partnership with develop more of such initiatives; branch and union staff also ensuring that adequate 3) Consult with branches and regions on setting clear resources are available for organising around targets for the development of these initiatives on equality; the basis of what will work best in each locality; 3) Continue to strengthen and develop strategies 4) Continue to ensure that support is provided from for reaching out and supporting workers facing the centre for the development and ongoing work of inequality; these initiatives; 4) Ensure that the National Organising Equality 5) Share best practice from regions and branches. Strategy is imbedded in all aspects of Branch National Executive Council structures; NEC POLICY: SUPPORT 5) Explore the setting up of a UNISON Organising Academy to train and support new and existing activists. Northern Region NEC POLICY: SUPPORT 6 Conference Document 2019 2.1 a) By National Delegate Conference 2020, National Executive Council to create and present a recruitment Insert new fourth paragraph before “Conference strategy to actively attract casualised workers; welcomes....”. b) National Executive Council to ensure membership and “Furthermore, Conference notes that sectors of support are available to casualised workers; public services with future growth projections such as c) National Executive Council to create and distribute social care and under five’s education are predominantly literature and posters that can be personalised by any female with endemic worker exploitation, low pay and branch, with the following information: insecure employment.” i) Why casualisation matters; At end add new point 6): ii) How casualised workers can organise “6) Carry out research into future growth in public themselves; services employment including social care and under five’s iii) What their rights are; education; followed up by adoption and roll out of whole iv) How to fight against casualisation and union organising strategies for those sectors.” outsourcing; North West Region v) How officers and reps can best support casualised workers; 6) The training and learning team to offer training on 2.2 casualisation as an organising and workplace issue; 7) To encourage UNISON branches in all sectors to elect Add new point 4): anti-casualisation officers; “4) Proactively recruit and organise staff on private 8) To put casualisation on the national agenda by making contracts with a view to getting union recognition and to it a priority in national bargaining talks. campaign for improved pay and conditions.” Birmingham University Renumber remaining points accordingly. NEC POLICY: SUPPORT AND AMEND Camden 3.1 3. Protection and membership for casualised workers At the end of action point a) after “workers”