Police and Justice branch delegates gathered to debate pay, job security, displacement of support staff workers by police officers, the welcome insourcing of a majority of probation staff and other key issues.
Notably an emergency motion condemning last week's unconstitutional, unprincipled and unviable decisions by the NEC was carried overwhelmingly. Full text below.
NOT IN OUR NAME
Conference, there is great concern following a meeting of our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday 6th October 2021.
At this meeting resolutions were put forward on the agenda for this meeting and our own legal department made representations suggesting that four of these resolutions were a breach of UNISON rules, unlawful and could possibly bring our union into disrepute.
Despite both written advice and then verbal advice at the meeting from our legal department a majority of the NEC passed these resolutions. There is a concern that this now put members of the Police and Justice Sector in a difficult position as the nature of our employment does not allow us to be associated with anything that can be deemed unlawful. This is therefore potentially of particular detriment to UNISON’s Police and Justice members.
These resolutions appear to aim to remove powers delegated to our General Secretary, bypass UNISON’s legal department, give the NEC powers over disciplinary and suspension matters and allow members dismissed from their employment to remain a member and hold any office no matter if they have committed a serious offence or gross misconduct.
Conference can’t support these resolutions and it is noted the some NEC members have come forward and made a statement condemning these actions. Conference upholds the procedures around our rules established over many years and also supports the status of our democratically elected General Secretary.
Conference calls upon the Police and Justice Service group executive to:
1. Make UNISON NEC aware this conference on behalf of the Police and Justice Sector members condemns these resolutions as they do not represent the values or views of the Police and Justice Sector membership.
2. Communicate with other UNISON sectors and national committees to request their support in condemning these resolutions.
3. Reassure by appropriate communication to members of our sector that we are opposed to any action that breaches our rules, makes UNISON act in an unlawful way and may bring Unison into disrepute.
Leicestershire Police
See also https://unisonactive.blogspot.com/2021/10/perceived-wrongs-dont-justify.html