Even with no public transport 100 delegates still made it to sit in an underground bunker and hear the Chair of the Health Service Group Lillian Macer comprehensively outline the challenges facing the NHS both from a procurement agenda and from the structures review perspective. Re-iterating that the NHS is a ‘citizenship’ issue she stressed how important it was for everyone to work to defend the prize jewel in our public services.
In discussing NEC reports Caroline Bedale raised concerns that a ‘Million Voices for change’ might be interpreted as UNISON calling for a change in government, and was reassured that that was not the case and Frank Hont, Regional Secretary welcomed her recognition that a labour government needs to be returned next year.
A number of NEC reports, Regional minutes and management reports were received.
One of the motions agreed called for the Region to liase with other parts of the union to ensure a rule change is agreed at next years NDC ensuring that UNISON is able to deal with members of political organisations which hold far right views.
A further motion on the Governments ‘Future Jobs Fund’ called on the union to ensure, with the TUC, that these jobs did not displace or allow substitution of jobs in local government, that recruits are paid the correct rates for jobs, enjoy full terms and conditions and that every effort is made to recruit and organise these workers into UNISON.