'Cuts are wrong and nothing will be gained by saying there's any merit in them' said Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd in a keynote address to UNISON's North West Regional Council meeting in Liverpool yesterday.
The widely respected Chair of the Trade Union Group of Labour MP's spoke on the challenges facing the labour movement and answered questions from delegates on pay, public services and the NHS. Delegates received a hard hitting report from the regional Labour Link committee opposing statements from the Labour front bench reversing party opposition to austerity cuts and supporting pay restraint. North West branches will be encouraged to engage at constituency level to build the union's political influence.
Margaret Fulham from Bury branch reported on UNISON's equal pay victory for over 900 low paid women members. Ray McHale from West Cheshire branch updated delegates on the dispute at West Cheshire & Chester Council where members have just overwhelmingly voted for industrial action in response to employer attacks on pay allowances.
Delegates heard of three new regional organising projects targeting key employers and were urged to step up campaigning against the NHS & Social Care Bill as it reaches a crucial phase in Parliament.
