A message from the general secretary
Earlier this week senior lay officers and senior managers met
for our Moving Forward in UNISON seminar, to discuss ways to
improve our union.
UNISON is a union that speaks up for public service workers.
We are a union that has a vision of a more just and inclusive
society. And we are the most influential union in the UK. But
we're not always good at celebrating our own successes.
So let's not forget that our website takes three million hits
a month - people are interested in what we have to say. UNISON
direct takes a quarter of a million calls per year. We were the
first trade union to use radio and TV advertising. We'll train
10,000 members this year, and 30,000 over the next three years,
with 400 employer partnerships. UNISON Welfare helps 1,200
members every year, and has set up a new debt counselling
service.
And let's not forget that UNISON started the PFI debate. We
have been the lead union in securing the two-tier workforce
agreement in local government. We've led on the Schools
Remodelling Agreement, to enhance the role of teaching
assistants. We are the union that wants to help health care
assistants train to be nurses. We're spearheading the fight
against the BNP. And we led opposition to foundation hospitals
in our most forceful and co-ordinated campaign to date.
We want to work with the government but, make no mistake, we
will also campaign against it when we feel it's wrong. We
support a positive third term for Labour, and we must get our
act together now to make sure that social policy issues get into
the manifesto.
To do all this, we must continue to be a strong union. We
need 140,000 new members every year just to stand still - but we
also want to grow. Recruitment figures so far have fallen well
below our targets. In the last two years, 200,000 new jobs have
been created in the public service, and we need to recruit the
people in those jobs. We've got to increase membership density
in our traditional strongholds. We've got to adapt to new
working practices, and change our structures to meet the new
realities.
It shouldn't be hard. We've got a good package to sell. It's
up to everybody to sell it well.
Local Government Pay Commission
The LGPC report has now landed and, in line with UNISON's
submission and arguments to the Commission, there are many
positive recommendations in it. UNISON thinks it is a basis for
both significant recruitment and real improvements for many of
our local government members.
A recruitment leaflet is being produced and will be available
soon. More from: www.unison.org.uk/localgov/paycommission
Contact Gill Archer (020 7551 1400 or [email protected])
Foundation hospitals
On Wednesday MPs debate and vote on the Health and Social
Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill - which includes
provision for the creation of foundation hospitals. UNISON has
been campaigning hard against this piece of legislation, which
we believe is tantamount to the privatisation of the NHS.
We urge all branches to lobby their MPs and get them to
follow Labour Party policy and throw out these damaging
proposals. More from www.unison.org.uk/foundation
or contact Mark Rees-Martinez (020 7551 1562 or [email protected])
Constitutional matters
National delegate conference 2003 - reference of
outstanding items to the national executive council under rule
P.18
In accordance with rule P.18, a report is being forwarded to all
branches from the NEC on the action to be taken on motions and
amendments not discussed at national delegate conference 2003.
The report takes into account that the work of the union for
2004 is based on agreed objectives and priorities for the coming
year, and that:
- Absolute priority must be given to motions discussed and
carried at conference;
- No action will be taken where the NEC policy was to
oppose, but where relevant we have indicated where action is
being taken in a particular subject area;
- On items where policy was to support, account has been
taken of whether motions were prioritised and whether the
proposed actions are consistent with existing work
programmes
Future information on action being taken on the union's
priorities will be provided through Focus and News from the
General Secretary, reports to the NEC and its committees and the
NEC's annual report. Information will also be available on UNISON's
website
Contact Christine Durance (020 7551 1400 or [email protected])
Rule Book 2003
The 2003 Rule Book is now available. The rules reflect the
decisions made at the National Delegate Conference in 2003. The
Rule Book is available to download in PDF format from: www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/13793.pdf
If you require a hard copy of the Rule Book, please contact
Pam Okundaye at Regional & Branch Development on (020 7551
1783 or [email protected]).
Accessible formats are also available on request.
Other business
Mesothelioma - funds needed
When Davy Craig suddenly collapsed it took everyone by surprise.
Prior to this he had not shown any signs of ill health but when
the doctor was called out he knew immediately what was wrong.
He diagnosed him as suffering from mesothelioma - a form of
cancer almost always associated with exposure to asbestos. Craig
contracted the disease 30 years before when working on the
shipyards, when he would have been regularly exposed to the
substance. As is always the case with mesothelioma, sufferers
only start becoming ill some 20 to 50 years after exposure.
Sadly, Davy Craig died of mesothelioma. His wife is now
campaigning to ensure that others do not have to suffer like her
husband.
She has joined forces with the Mick Knighton Research Fund,
set up by Chris Knighton in memory of her husband, another
victim of mesothelioma. The key aim of this campaign is to find
a way of stopping the disease. Research into the illness has not
been a priority and to date there have been no formal studies
undertaken. At present, if you develop mesothelioma, you die.
The campaign aims to raise £100,000, to help the British
Lung Foundation launch a research project into the disease.
We want to challenge branches to help raise funds. If every
branch put at least £10 forward we would be a good way there.
UNISON president Dave Anderson is hoping to hand over all
donations in a presentation at a NUM sponsored event in the
north east on 12 December.
Cheques should be made payable to the Mick Knighton
Mesothelioma Research Fund and sent to Dave Anderson, c/o Joan
Walker, UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ. (020 7551
1487 or [email protected]).
More from: www.unison.org.uk/features/features/0310asbestos.asp
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