- Conference
- 2024 Police, Probation and CAFCASS Conference
- Date
- 1 October 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Those in attendance this year’s National Delegates Conference will have witnessed, first hand, the unwelcoming and inappropriate behaviour being displayed towards our delegates and members from within the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector.
From the very start of the conference, it was made clear by the President that a controversial phrase, deemed by the Home Office to be an offense, was not to be used as it would put delegates from the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector at risk with their employers or vetting status as the conference was a workplace for everyone in attendance that was using facility time.
Despite the precautionary guidance and explanation at the start of conference, on the afternoon of Thursday 21 June and Friday 22 June some delegates ignored the instruction resulting in many delegates from the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector leaving the conference hall as a precaution to avoid putting themselves in a situation that could adversely impact their employment status.
The situation was made more perilous as the vast majority of Police, Probation and CAFCASS delegates were attending conference in paid work time; employers may reconsider paid facility time in the future if they feel there are risks associated.
It was further explained that the use of the controversial phrase was forcing members of the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector to be excluded from the conference floor and that concerns had been raised regarding behaviours and language towards our sector delegates. Despite this, and in direct defiance to this, the behaviour continued with much of the rhetoric being directed in an accusatory manner towards delegates from the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector, seemingly blaming them for the Home Office decision.
The attacks towards members of the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector escalated when a motion calling for greater support and investment in the police service seemingly opened the doors for more delegates to use the prohibited phrase and many insensitive and disparaging comments were directed at members of the Police, Probation and CAFCASS service group. The motion was not anticipated to be controversial in any way as the objective of the motion was to seek greater investment and the ability to improve the service provision to the public, yet a number of speakers chose to debate against the proposals of this motion in an offensive and disrespectful manner with much of the vitriol being aimed directly at our members.
There was astounding ignorance shown when the examples used to oppose were related to police officers who are not part of our service group, the Metropolitan Police where UNISON doesn’t organise, and terrible abuses of power that occurred on another continent: all delivered with accusatory venomous intent towards Police, Probation and CAFCASS service group delegates in the conference hall.
Listening to delegates attack the police and make references to Met police officers or George Floyd had a hostile impact on many reps and made them question whether they can continue to be UNISON reps – this has a direct impact on the ability of UNISON to organise in PPC workplaces and to serve our members.
The inappropriate actions of some delegates and the inability of the conference organisers to control the situation resulted in some members of the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector being reduced to tears clearly displaying the emotional response from a demanding week which became too much, some stating their intention to resign from UNISON because they don’t feel welcome or wanted.
Members within the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector of UNISON stand side by side with our comrades across all public services whenever support is needed. We are comrades in arms in the face of cuts and austerity and find it a bitter pill to swallow when members from other sectors make great effort to openly attack our members in what should be a safe space.
This behaviour cannot be permitted to continue, how can we as a union, state we support, challenge and fight for ‘all’ our members when some of our own members are being treated this way?
UNISON’s webpage states: “One of UNISON’s main aims is to help workers fight for fairness and equality in the workplace and beyond. Challenging discrimination and winning equality is at the heart of everything UNISON does”. Yet this is not how it feels to those in the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector who have experienced unwelcome conduct, pig noises being made, being frozen out of conversations, or being told that they are part of the ‘Police and Injustice sector’ and aren’t welcome.
We therefore call on the SGE to:
– Seek to work with the NEC in an effort to address the concerns raised in this motion in attempt to avoid a reoccurrence of the behaviours at next year’s NDC;
– Request that the NEC reviews the guidance on the expected behaviours of those attending UNISON conferences;
– Consider how best to educate all branches about the vital work of members in the Police, Probation and CAFCASS sector.