UNISON’s delegation to the weekend’s Labour Party’s national policy forum, led by general secretary Dave Prentis, negotiated a series of amendments on key policy issues.
These agreements, and others supported by the union, will now shape Labour’s general election manifesto and programme in government.
A number of policy agreements were made which tie in with the union’s policy and campaign priorities, including:
- the repeal of the Health & Social Care Act, with the NHS to be the preferred provider of services – UNISON’s NHS campaign;
- a commitment to raise the minimum wage and action to increase the number of living wage employers – UNISON’s living wage campaign;
- a commitment to action on zero hours contracts;
- an end to 15-minute visits in home care and payment for travelling time for care staff – UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter;
- reinstatement of the schools negotiating body – UNISON in education;
- positive commitments for police and probation staff – UNISON working for police and justice staff;
- the repeal of Lobbying Act;
- support for trade union education and facility time – For activists: support and training;
- a better framework for local government funding and fair pay – UNISON campaigning on local government pay;
- in-house provision and quality to override cheapest bidder for public services – UNISON campaigning for local services ;
- action in the energy and water sectors – UNISON in the energy and water sectors;
- equalities to be at heart of policy – UNISON organising for equality;
- commitment to defend health and public services in current European trade talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) – UNISON briefing on TTIP.
“I think the UNISON team can be proud of the advances that we achieved in taking our union policies into the Labour Party,” said Dave Prentis.
“Action on the NHS, local government funding, privatisation, education and fair pay are all key issues.
“Instead of the coalition’s race to the bottom we saw commitments about real increases to the minimum wage and action on zero hour contracts.
“We still have much more to do,” he added: “We want a manifesto that can rally our members and the wider public to a radical programme for change with Labour.
“This is a sound first step.”
UNISON Labour Link chair Eleanor Smith commented: “Labour has agreed to repeal the Tory Health and Social Care Act and bring a halt to the fragmentation, waste and competition that it caused.
“The NHS will again be the preferred provider of services. This will bring a halt to the current pressure to contract out that has seen 70% of services going out to private companies.
“That is a huge step forward.
“And Labour will defend health and public services in the current European trade talks.
“There were also positive steps across the field of equalities to build on Labour’s past record, one which the Tories have put in reverse in many areas.”
Labour Link vice chair Merv Butler added: “The party is now travelling in the right direction.
“Instead of pay freezes, we are talking about fair pay, significant increases in the national minimum wage over coming years and a real push to spread the living wage.
“There will also be a change from the view that sees outsourcing as the answer to one where in-house provision and quality come before selling to the cheapest bidder.
“It’s not everything, but it’s a really positive framework in which we can work for our members.”
And joint vice chair Wendy Nichols said: “Action on zero hour contracts, putting a stop to 15-minute care visits and making sure staff get paid for travelling time will see improvements for staff and clients in social care and begin to change the scandal that our social care service has become.
“The important role of education support staff was recognised – as was the importance of the part that local authorities can play in providing school places and improving standards.
“The party positively recognised the key role of trade union representatives at work, with support for trade union education and facility time.”
