Without a shadow of doubt, the two highlights of conference for me were the address by the General Secretary, Dave Prentis and Eleanor Smith’s historic address to conference as the first elected Black Vice President of UNISON.
Dave’s speech, his first since confirming he would seek a third term of office, was exactly what was required and positively received. It was also very informative in terms of how UNISON had listened to the concerns of Black members and how the issues previously identified had been taken forward, not least his commitment to raise the concerns regarding stop and search at the very highest level of Government. He then set out the unions agenda over the next 12 months.
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1712
Dave was forthright about the action required of Labour if they are to get our support pre, during and post general election and although there are small factions in UNISON who would have you believe that UNISON is not critical of Labour, they need to listen to the speech with an open mind as opposed to simply focussing on their own divisive agendas.
There was of course a continued commitment to fight the BNP and Motion 13 as amended, brought the fight closer to home, and although a delegate from the Greater London region did get up to oppose the motion, it was overwhelmingly carried, with only 2 or 3 delegates voting against it. Some of us did have to ask if these people are for real?
Other motions on the agenda covered subjects such as the union's Million Voices Campaign, Stop and Search, Young Black Workers and Apprenticeship Schemes, The Single Equality Bill, National Slavery Memorial Day and Labour and the Black Community.
One decision conference made, which I am sure will be subject to further debate in the union, was to be persuaded to carry Motion 18; “Black NEC seats should be elected by Black members” submitted by the South East Regional Black members Group. The motion states that Black Members should only vote in elections for the NEC Black Members Seats and whilst this may be a commendable principle, the reality is that it simply cannot be achieved as self declaration is voluntary and would exclude many Black members who have not identified themselves as Black on application forms. At least the current process ensures all Black members receive a ballot paper. This will also require a rule change at NDC and if such an amendment can satisfy the Standing orders committee, it still may never receive the necessary two thirds majority!
An emergency motion regarding Haiti was submitted which in its original draft called upon conference to hold a minutes silence, have a bucket collection and to say a prayer for the victims! The National committee amended the draft motion and listened to concerns that recognition should be included in the body of the motion which makes reference to Haiti’s role in the first Black slave uprising and that an action point should be included which addresses the issue of long term sustainability for the country.
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=5862
Rena Wood, from the Manchester LG Branch drew attention to the work of the doctors from Cuba who have been providing free health care across the whole country sine the Hurricanes devastated it in 1998. The Cubans have remained there ever since those disasters and were the first emergency teams who were able to respond immediately after the earthquake. Cuba has trained for free many young Haitians as doctors and it is this long term practical solidarity that Haiti needs and not pity. Will any of the super powers such as America and the UK provide this kind of long term sustainable support or will they even be there long after the media circus has moved on?
Regrettably Saturday morning saw two members of the National Black Members Committee leave the platform and make personal attacks on the Chair of the NBMC. It is high time that the principles of ‘collective responsibility’ on which this great union was founded and have been recently reaffirmed by the NEC, were embraced by all those who attain positions within UNISON’s structures. Clearly the individuals did not accept such principles and their gesture politics received no support from the conference floor.
Many delegates made comments to me about how disappointed they were with the behaviour of these two national committee members. Conference should be the forum for comradely debate and discussion, and respect should be shown to all. It is not an arena in which you make personal attacks or pursue your own political agendas. We are all there to set our national policy in the best interests of our members and the wider union.
Overall though, conference was successful in setting out a clear agenda for the next 12 months and most delegates left with renewed enthusiasm and hope for the future. Our elected national committee will now begin work on the motions carried at the Policy weekend in March and I look forward to all of us working together to advance the interests of black members in UNISON
Mark Clifford
