NEC Report, meeting held on 16 April 2025
1. General Secretary report
The Spring statement had occurred – should Rachel Reeves, Chancellor reconsider the tight fiscal rules given the Trump tariff chaos?
Christina McAnea had been to New York for an event organised by PSI (Public Services International).
Benefit cuts of UK government – UNISON strongly opposed these. Many disabled people could be pushed more into poverty.
Ongoing Industrial Action was referred to including the Livv Housing and Lancashire County Council disputes. Livv Housing dispute had been raised at Government level.
At Health Conference, Wes Streeting was received ‘not without controversy’.
The murder of 15 Palestinian paramedics by the Israeli Defence Force – ‘If that is not a war crime, I don’t know what is.’
On welfare reform, the proposals were described as ‘a major attack on disabled people’.
National Black Members Conference is rescheduled for May in Brighton.
Employment Rights Bill had promised sick pay from day one and Maternity and Paternity leave.
2. Presidential Team report
Steve North, President referred to a draft statement on Palestine that had been circulated for the NEC to consider. This was circulated and amendments taken after the lunch break and the statement was agreed.
An NEC member referred to the Trump deportation of a Trade Unionist to El Salvador. Trump says he is a ‘terrorist’.
Unite workers’ bin strike – agreed to send a message of solidarity. Strikers had voted 97% to Reject. The wider attacks on our members in Birmingham were also discussed. For example, Adult’s Services is making £43 million cuts. Angela Rayner’s role in the strike was discussed.
The Presidential team had attended Women’s conference, Community conference and Health conference.
National Delegate Conference (NDC) 2025
The remainder of the meeting was taken up almost entirely with business relating to NDC 2025, to establish the NEC’s policy positions on the record number of motions submitted.
The NEC agreed it should appeal the Motion and Rule Change it had submitted but were ruled out of order by the Standing Orders Committee.
The NEC agreed its policy positions on Motions and Rule Amendments as discussed within the relevant Committees and with their Recommendations provided as guidance.
The NEC also agreed a number of amendments to Motions, some of which had been discussed within Committees and others which were taken on the day.
The NEC agreed its priority motions and rule amendment priorities. Motions were proposed as priorities: 1, 69, 30, 34, 54, 9, 64, 78, 23, 11, 59, 22.
The Conference plan was explained by a Vice-President. Zane’s family would receive Honorary Life membership. On Monday 12th May the final agenda will be published. NDC would showcase organising and industrial action, as had happened successfully in 2024. There will be 20 campaign groups present with solidarity stalls. The fringes as usual will have a wide variety of themes.
Welfare reform
The great majority of the Bill’s proposals would be devastating for disabled members. The vast majority of members would lose their PIP (Personal independence Payment). If members lose PIP, they could lose their job. This affects directly a large number of UNISON members who are disabled.
The proposals were considered by the NEC to be outrageous. To say this legislation from a Labour government is ‘a disappointment’ is a severe understatement.
There are 127 MPs in the ‘UNISON group’ in Parliament, including one who was previously a representative of disabled members on the NEC. We hope they will choose to oppose the legislation.
An NEC member referred to the People’s Assembly demonstration titled ‘Welfare not Warfare’ on 7th June 2025 – could UNISON seek to co organise or sponsor it? This would be looked into.
The meeting overran so at the close of the meeting at the scheduled time of 4.00pm it was agreed that all remaining reports for discussion were carried over to the next meeting.