Monthly Archives: June 2010
Conference Closes
Conference closed on Friday afternoon with a formal handover to the new union presidential team. Angela Lynes was named president for 2010, supported by Vice Presidents Eleanor Smith and Chris Tansley. During 2009 Chris Tansley was prominent in the structures … Continue reading
Fighting talk
During the 2010 conference, delegates have been treated to fighting talk in the General Secretary’s address, from guest speakers and during the debates on motions. This continued today. The following debates took place on the last day of conference, with … Continue reading
Overworked Branch Secretaries? Surely Not…..
Composite Motion B (Better Support for Overworked Branch Secretaries and Activists) opened the afternoon session. This motion concerned levels of support for branches from UNISON and a demand to update the ACAS Code of Practice on time off for union … Continue reading
Completing the Good Friday Agreement
The last morning of conference opened with an impassioned debate on the need for a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights to complete the Good Friday Agreement. Delegates heard how this is needed to protect the political, social and economic rights … Continue reading
Community Service Group Announcement
Following a joint effort by delegates from the Housing Associations Branch and the Community and Voluntary Organisations Branch, UNISON President Gerry Gallagher, made an announcement to conference about the forthcoming Community Service Group Conference in Telford on 2 November 2010. … Continue reading
That vote
The result of the card vote at the end of Day 3 was declared. This concerned a change in UNISON rules which would have limited NEC powers in suspending union members. The block votes were as follows: For rule amendment … Continue reading
This afternoon it got lively……
Rule changes might sound like a dull, dry part of the agenda. However, it is always important to read the small print….. Changes to UNISON rules require a 2/3 majority vote, and changes to the schedules attached to rules require … Continue reading
From Tobin Tax to Robin Hood Tax
Motion 92 Tobin Tax was initially amended to refer to the “Robin Hood Tax”. This concerns the proposal to levy a tax on all bank transactions as a means to address current deficits and to fund services which would help … Continue reading
Thursday morning session – public ownership, prostitution and domestic abuse
This morning conference concluded its debate on Motion 42 concerning public sector ownership and employment. This motion acknowledged that co-operative and mutual forms of ownership can be beneficial for employees and service users. (An amendment critical of that point and … Continue reading
