UNISON Labour Link
REPORT 2006
Success in influencing policies
UNISON has worked hard to influence the policies of the Scottish
Labour Party and this year saw some substantial successes at
the Oban conference in November. For example it was agreed that,
in the Scottish NHS, there should be a presumption that in-house
cleaning services would be the norm on the expiry of existing
contracts.
Although PFI remains in place, there should be a level playing
field created for conventional financing; and 'soft facilities
management services' (that is support staff) will be excluded
from future PPP contracts. Scottish Water should remain public;
and direct elections to health boards should be piloted.
The policy documents also propose the re-regulation of buses
along main corridor routes; a power to charge a training levy
on employers; a full employment agency built on partnership
with the unions and employers; and they confirm the comprehensive
principle must remain the foundation of Scottish schooling.
For union members dealing with problems of job evaluation,
equal pay and single status it is obvious that there are significant
problems with the Executive and local authorities, though these
are shared amongst the parties. However there is plenty here
worth voting for, achieved through UNISON and other unions acting
together.
Another case where the benefit of the union's influence was
seen in negotiations on the Scottish Pension Scheme which allows
for a separate and better agreement than in England.
Locally, in the selection process for the new Labour Group
leader we questioned all candidates and the new Leader Ewan
Aitken pledged to improve relations with the trade union movement.
We also contributed to the process in Edinburgh East which saw
Norman Murray selected as Labour candidate for the Scottish
Parliament, again with expressions of support for the trade
unions, based on his own union experience.
We contributed to debate inside UNISON Labour Link with two
motions to the annual Forum. One called for Labour to show a
vision of a party of peace, social justice and the environment.
The other said that Labour in Scotland could suffer because
voters associate it with the policies on NHS and education followed
by Blair in England, whereas Scottish Labour has a distinct
and better approach to public services, and should make this
clear. It also called on local government administrations to
step back from confrontational approaches to service conditions
issues and to negotiate acceptable resolutions with trade unions.
Matthew Creighton
LabourLink Officer
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