Pay matters at the NEC

(09/04/08) UNISON’s lay leadership sent messages of support to members facing industrial action for fair pay in Birmingham council and Ofsted when it met in London this morning, and heard updates on national pay talks in local government and health.

The national executive council heard that the union’s local government service group is consulting members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and separately in Scotland, over final offers worth around 2.5%.

The recommendation is to reject, bearing in mind that it will take a campaign of sustained and escalating industrial action to get local government employers to improve their final offers.

The health service group will also be consulting members over a three-year pay offer worth 8%, which negotiators are recommending, although the final decision on any recommendation will be made by the lay service group executive when it discusses pay this weekend. Its decision will then be reported to next week’s health conference.

General secretary Dave Prentis, who is also president of the TUC this year, reminded the executive that the TUC is organising a joint public service union lobby of parliament on pay on 9 June as part of its Speak Up for Public Services campaign.

Calling for as many members as possible to attend, Mr Prentis said: “As the public service union, UNISON has to be seen to be at the forefront of this lobby.”

The NEC also heard an update on the union’s campaigning anti-BNP work in the run-up to May’s local elections in England and Wales.

Mr Prentis said the level of work and material produced by the UNISON is unique and “we should be proud of our union”.

The NEC urged branches to make full use of the posters and leaflets, available through the union’s website and InFocus stewards’ magazine, to get members out and using their vote – particularly in London where the fascist party is mounting a serious challenge.

The NEC:

• heard an update on preparations for June’s national delegate conference;
• decided its policy on the various motions and proposed rule changes on the conference agenda;
• agreed the amendments it will be submitting for consideration at conference;
• agreed the draft of the annual report it will submit to conference;
• heard reports of a successful seminar on local government pension scheme governance and a conference to mark 20 years of success in the union's Return to Learn programme.

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