| UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch |
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CONFERENCE 2007 Edinburgh's major profile at UNISON Conferences Edinburgh had a key role on many issues at this year's National and Local Government Conferences and these are covered here. More details on all the major debates are on the UNISON Scotland and UNISON UK websites. Conference made fundamental decisions about a co-ordinated fight for pay south of the border - across health and local government - a trade union wide fight against privatisation, with national and regional demonstrations. It also decided key policies on pensions. It called on workers to serve as trustees on occupational pension schemes and is the first union in the country to set up its own training scheme for shareholder activism. Conference also praised the significant role of migrant workers in Britain's public services and called on the government to shift attitudes that criminalise workers rather than those who exploit them. It called on the government to consider windfall taxes on companies making exorbitant profits. The international guests reminded us that trade unionism should mean global solidarity. We have our struggles but when you hear of theirs it makes you feel very humble. The plethora of Scotland speakers did expose one issue we need to address for the future. It is not just in Service Groups that the devolution agenda is becoming obvious, it is national Conference too. Issues like housing, schools, and many health and local democracy issues are specific to Scotland. We need therefore to develop discussion in the union about how we can all fully involve ourselves under UNISON's national policy agenda. Edinburgh contribution There was one speech that underlined Edinburgh branch's contribution to setting UNISON policy. Opposing a move to limit the number of motions the National Executive can submit, Scottish Convenor Mike Kirby pointed out that in 2005 8% of motions were from the NEC whilst the City of Edinburgh alone submitted 5%! |
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