TUC: View from a New Delegate: TUC afternoon session 15 September: An extremely well attended Fringe meeting on the Future of Public Services, addressed by our General Secretary as well as Ed Balls, raised, in no uncertain terms the UNISON concerns of the future funding of Public Services. The threat to Children, Schools and Families left the Secretary of State appreciate he was amongst ‘very critical friends’.
It was refreshing and uplifting to see first hand, senior figureheads of our union laying out very plainly the implications for the current government should public services be attacked. It was also a unique experience hearing a Senior Politician speaking and seeming to understand the extremely difficult tasks that Social Workers undertake.
On a general note, the quality of Fringe Meetings attended since Sunday inevitably vary, but the TUC are to be congratulated for the advance notification of the events and the speakers that they attract – this may well be a lesson for UNISON Conference!
On a different, but general note I have been struck, as a new delegate, what a difference having a table to sit at makes to the general comfort of the delegates – whilst the size of the TUC does not match that of UNISON in numbers, it certainly made a difference to taking notes on the debates as they took place. This leads to my final general point as a TUC virgin – my view is that the TUC is not the place for contentious debate and few opposing amendments or speeches were present.
Whilst hardened UNISON Conference attendees may actually see this as a positive, it did actually make for an unusual atmosphere to the Congress. The range of subjects also was fascinating – we debated the pros and cons of High Heels shoes and indeed this motion was one of the few that actually had a speaker against as well as the only point of order being raised!
PM Session (Prime Minister)
Before the much anticipated address by the Prime Minister, the TUC paid tribute to its Award winners from across the unions. This included a massive round of applause for Nicola Njie, our own UNISON delegate from EON Branch who was commended for her fantastic recruitment work in that Branch.
The media circus (apologies to members from their respective unions) that follows the Prime Minister was in full evidence with the full range of telescopic lenses in full abundance. The key issue delegates were waiting fro Gordon Brown to present was on the Labour Government’s plans for Public Services and Public Spending. The PM spoke for 30 minutes and in his address he recognised that ‘every redundancy is a personal tragedy’, he outlined the tough decisions his government had been forced to make and the contrasting decisions the Tory party would have made to increase the depth of the recession.
Trying to pick out single quotes from a detailed, almost budget-like speech is difficult but those below will be judged in the passage of time:
‘Growth is the best antidote to debt’
‘Dignity and security for all elderly people in retirement ‘ was a pledge given to the much missed Jack Jones.
‘There will be limits on City Bonuses’ and he assured the NHS that
‘there will never be the need to check the wallet before checking the pulse.’
The speech and the Q and A for 30 minutes that followed did not in my view raise any further concerns, but neither did they allay fears over investment in public services.
With the departure of the PM and his massive entourage, with respect to the motions on Reforming the Financial Systems, Steel Workers and the Arts and Media issues of Copyright Piracy, the mood was reflected in a diminished presence in the Congress hall and a feeling of anti-climax.
My view so far of the TUC is that UNISON is an extremely well-organised and respected union; that as a TUC there is much that unites us and we play a valuable part as trade unionists in issues many UNISON members (like me before attending here) may well not be aware of.
Ah well, I am now going off to find an argument or a debate with some opposition to anything – but would recommend the TUC as an invaluable recharge of the union battery!
