- Conference
- 2006 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 23 February 2006
- Decision
- Carried
In 2007 elections will take place for the Scottish Parliament, Scottish local authorities, the Welsh Assembly, Welsh local authorities and many local authorities in England.
Conference notes that these bodies are responsible for spending billions of pounds on public services and employing either directly or indirectly the majority of UNISON members in those areas.
Conference is alarmed at the falling turnout in elections for these authorities and notes that last Scottish Parliament elections had a turnout below 50 per cent whilst the Welsh Assembly was below 40 per cent.
Elections between general elections are often portrayed as unimportant or an opportunity to ‘kick’ the government whilst having little or no consequences. UNISON members know this not to be true having suffered as more authorities have come under the control of the Tories and Liberal Democrats in England.
In Scotland, the 2007 Local Government elections will be conducted under a proportional representation voting system which may involve a change in the control of several local authorities. At present the elections for the Scottish Parliament and Scottish local authorities are due to take place on the same day. In an attempt to raise the profile of local government, UNISON Scotland is supporting a Private Members’ Bill in the Scottish Parliament which seeks to ensure that these are held on separate days and this principle has recently been supported by the independent Arbuthnott Commission report.
Conference recognises the good progress made in Scotland and Wales since devolution on many issues that UNISON supports. It is therefore important that these gains are not lost in the 2007 elections with parties hostile to public service workers gaining control.
Conference therefore calls on the National Executive Council to launch a ‘vote for public services’ campaign for the 2007 elections and beyond.
This must include briefings for members and activists in U magazine and InFocus and Scotland in UNISON to persuade UNISON members to turn out and vote and explain the importance of the services delivered by these levels of government.
Conference calls on both parts of the Political Fund to use their resources to promote increased turn out in such elections.
This should include work with the National Young Members’ Forum and the Self Organised Groups to promote voting amongst groups that traditionally have the lowest level of turn out.