The sad demise of Liverpool Trades Council

In a city where the Labour Party was uniquely weak in municipal politics for most of the 20th century (Liverpool City Council was Conservative controlled as late as the mid 1960's), it was from Liverpool Trades Council where the organised working class received its political leadership.

Call to combat misinformation on Venezuela - Kirby

TUC: "There is a continuing campaign of misinformation by the Chavez led Government’s opponents, aimed at isolating Venezuela", UNISON Scottish Convenor, Mike Kirby, reports to TUC Fringe on Venezuela visit.

TUC Fringe report - Public Service Reform - But not as we know it!"

In an excellent scene setter for Monday's debates on public services, last night a fringe meeting jointly organised by UNISON and Red Pepper, drew a range of speakers on how trade unions can and should shape the future of public services.

Rena Wood calls on TUC to oppose BNP

TUC: Rena Wood, deputy convenor North West region, gave a rousing speech to congress in moving composite 6 on opposing the BNP.

Rena deplored the election of BNP leader Nick Griffin in the June European Parliament election and pointed out that the BNP vote in the North West had gone down in 2009 but the widespread alienation from politics and refusal to vote of many working people had enabled the fascists to secure a parliamentary seat.

Rena called on delegates to inundate the BBC with protests at the invitation of Griffin to appear on Question Time. http://www.stopthebnp.org.uk/index.php?location=news&art=1332

UNISON leads on the NHS at TUC

TUC: In the first debate of Congress Lilian Macer, chair of UNISON's Health service group and Scottish deputy regional convenor, moved composite 16 on defending the NHS. The motion called for services to remain in the NHS and be delivered by NHS staff. Lilian condemned the acceleration of marketisation in Labour's third term

“Make no mistake: the Co-operation and Competition Panel is there to enforce opportunities for private companies to make further inroads into healthcare provision."
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1569

In a later intervention on NHS waiting lists, Clare Williams, UNISON NEC and convenor in Northern region, condemned the target driven culture which in services such as A&E has had negative consequence on NHS patients including queuing in ambulances in order to delay admissions.

All composites can be read on line: http://www.tuc.org.uk/congress/tuc-16963-f0.pdf

Pre-Congress delegation meeting‏ - respecting UNION policy

TUC: On Sunday morning UNISON's policy committee presents its recommendations to the delegation as to how it should be voting. The delegation can then debate the recommendations. On a TUC agenda very little is opposed. But obviously there are those who always know better……

TUC fears risk of riots as jobless total rises‏

TUC: In today's Financial Times Brendan Barber gives a dire warning that public spending cuts would have a catastrophic effect on working people in Britain. Dave Prentis reiterates UNISON's commitment to take action to oppose job cuts and compulsory redundancies.http://m.ft.com/cms/s/0/5b3fd11c-a097-11de-b9ef-00144feabdc0.html?catid=2&SID=3b1034cba26ed43fe17361666b207c54

Can we trust the 2020 public services trust?

2020 public services trust, a new cross-party, self styled 'think tank' has been launched ahead of the political conference season. Public service trade unions are conspicuously absent from the trustees but not the 'business leaders' (see below) and consulting firms who have profited handsomely from 30 years of privatisation.

Killer fact - £6bn pensions tax relief for richest 1%

TUC: Taxpayers contribute 10 times more in pension tax relief to the richest 1% of earners than the state pays to all retired public servants. Brendan Barber slams subsidy.

Pensions: we must halt this race to the bottom

TUC: “The problem isn’t public sector pensions. The real problem is the devastation of private sector provision and the abject failure of the three main political parties and the industry to offer any meaningful solution.” The OTHER Taxpayers' Alliance looks at the TUC's "Decent Pensions For All" report.