At both the 2011 Local Government and the National Delegate Conferences, delegate after delegate came to the rostrum to denounce the record and policy of the ruling Coalition Government.

At Local Government, delegates from the Eastern Region Branches, including some of our disabled members attacked the Government for their uncaring attitude towards working people and the denigration of Local Government services as well as the threats to terms and conditions of employment.

Disabled Members were represented at both conferences by Margi Hill and Peter Stafford , both elected at the 2010 Disabled Members Conference.  The NDMC motion “The Green Book – A Basic Safety Net for Disabled Workers” was moved by Peter Stafford and he highlighted how it worked for a disabled worker inasmuch as their sick pay and leave arrangements were nationally agreed and served to protect their rights.  He also said that a small number of Local Government Branches had left the Green Book for various reasons and how important it was that no more branches followed for short term gain.  The motion also sought to get the Branches on local agreements back onto National Joint Council terms.  The motion was supported by the NEC and Niki Young, and carried unanimously.

The Local Government Pension Scheme was the other major debate and conference expressed its disgust at the intention of the Government to make us pay more, for longer and for less.  There is likely to be an industrial action ballot in the near future.

The National Delegate Conference carried on in the same mood.  Delegates from the Community Services, Education, Energy, Health, Local Government, Police & Justice and Water Environment & Transport sectors lined up to tell conference how they were all under attack and that their members stood to lose their jobs.  Those lucky enough to stay in employment faced deterioration of their pensions as well as being forced into unacceptable and in some cases dangerous working practices.

There was a proposal to amend the Rules and establish a bar against Regional Chairs becoming members of any national committees.  As it did not get debated, the amendment fell.

Peter Stafford NDMC Delegate

and Co-chair Eastern Regional Disabled Members Committee

THANKS FOR THE KIND THOUGHTS

I would just like to thank all my UNISON colleagues, members and staff for all their get-well messages during my recent period of illness.  I had been off sick since 16 March spending a month in total in hospital. 

I am returning to work in mid-July, and at the same time resuming my UNISON commitments.

Your kind thoughts were very welcome and much appreciated.

Peter Stafford