NEC Report – Meeting of 15th March 2022
By Karen Reissmann and Julia Mwaluke. North West NEC reps.
The NEC meeting covered four items. The General Secretary’s Report which covered a number of the union’s campaigns and industrial action we are involved in. Presentation of the UNISON Draft Management Accounts, the Disciplinary Report and Motions submitted for discussion on the War in Ukraine.
General Secretary Report
a) The war in Ukraine is a terrible tragedy displacing some 3 million refugees. This is on a huge scale. equivalent to whole population of Greater Manchester. UNISON is working with the International and communications team re this. Work closely with the International TUC, PSI and PSU. All we do is done through collaboratively all working together. Officers said Unison have dealt with Ukrainian Trade Unions. This determine our policy, we do not decide our own. The Ukrainian Trade Unions prefer money not donations as they get too much of one thing e.g. lots baby toys, no baby milk. Money easier to deal with for humanitarian effort with Poland, Slovakia, Moldova.
Three statements have been produced on Ukraine. Unison NEC International committee had not agreed any of them.
b) Industrial action – still encouraging as many disputes as possible. For example nine Higher Education institutions who came out alongside the UCU. Well done Glasgow City: won Yes result beating 50% threshold on outstanding Equal Pay issues. Up to 14,000 members Unison and GMB will be out on strike. The first day of action is 29th March. Re-balloting Glasgow Life, who were close to threshold. Lots of campaigns supported in regions eg by the Disputes Team in the North West.
c) Cost of Living. We need to do more protests and demos, and to be mo0re visible on the streets. UNISON is looking at events in May across the country. Levelling up comes partly from investment in public services. Christina McAnea said she was disappointed with the cancellation of Blackpool demo on 19th March. Only Unison had done any mobilising. 1,000 expected from NW Unison. Excuses – “no interest in membership”. Hence the cancellation of the event.
d) Right to campaign - Still arguing with government. Good result re Sarah Everard protest court case which police lost.
e) Unison There for You - Fuel grants: The money the union had put aside ran out in 2 days. Considering how to boost the fund. We are asking branches to make contributions.
f) Stand Up To Racism - Hope to have strong Unison presence at demos part of International Day of Action, which is core part of what Unison does. One member spoke of how pleased she was that Unison and Christina McAnea had participated, especially when we see the racism at the Ukrainian border.
g) Victory on mandatory vaccinations - Comment from one NEC member that we could have done more to publicly campaign against it than just wait. Christina McAnea said media was not interested in our campaigns but our negotiators.
h) Barts Serco now won in house. Unison have claimed victory, yet it was Unite workers who went on strike, lobbied the Trust Board which decided and were due to do more until Trust gave in. Christina McAnea replied that Unison Barts did not vote for strike but was involved in negotiations with the Trust and deserve credit for Trust change in view, even though Unite were on strike and negotiating too (maybe from a stronger position?).
i) Care workers campaign for real living wage and charter - In North West Care workers demand a pay rise, five Greater Manchester councils have now signed up.
j) 2022 is Unison year of Disabled Worker and events are planned.
Draft Management accounts presented
As these were presented as draft, figures, they may change once finalised and approved. Subscription income was higher than expected (we had predicted lower due to difficulties in the pandemic). Many joined due to anxieties due to Covid and this experience may not be replicated this year, as membership is dropping back. UNISON underspent as well, due to Covid, so significant surplus is expected. A question was asked as to whether any of this can be put into the Industrial Action Fund? This will be discussed at FRMC. Christina said no request for funds has ever been refused. We have always managed to find what people ask for.
Disciplinary report
The report was received. It now has a new format, which was welcomed. New format arose from subcommittee of D+O committee which is reviewing all Unison internal disciplinary processes. The NEC dealt with the disciplinary report.
Ukraine
a) Three motions were proposed. One was subsequently withdrawn. Both other motions passed with small additions.
b) UNISON National Executive Council statement on Ukraine
Carried 30 for, 12 against, 1 abstention
UNISON National Executive Council statement on Ukraine
We oppose and condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We call for an immediate ceasefire and for all Russian armed forces to immediately withdraw from Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine is an extremely dangerous development. Implicit in the situation is the risk that it may spread and escalate, drawing other countries into a growing international conflict.
The working class has nothing to gain from war and will pay the biggest price, both in Russia and Ukraine.
We particularly note the danger of escalation into nuclear conflict and the threat to human existence this would entail. We reiterate our opposition to use and maintenance of all nuclear weapons.
Despite the terrible situation, we support the building of unity among workers across national boundaries. The workers of Ukraine and Russia have common interests.
We stand in solidarity with those in Russia who have protested against the invasion, despite police repression. We support the building of a mass anti-war movement, including among Russian troops.
We support workers in Ukraine acting independently of the Zelensky regime and building their own organisations and taking independent action. This should include attempts to build dialogue and links with rank-and-file troops in the invading Russian forces.
We condemn any far right or fascist group, on either side of this conflict, seeking to take advantage of the war to build their own organisation and activity by further provoking national and ethnic tensions
We send our solidarity to Ukrainian public service workers, delivering humanitarian service in the most appalling conditions. We will seek to build support and send practical solidarity where possible, including through the relevant trade union where appropriate.
This war is also a proxy conflict between Russia and NATO prompted by NATO expansion into central and Eastern Europe. We oppose this expansion and any intervention in this conflict by NATO forces.
We note that economic sanctions will disproportionately hit working people, and will be seen as an aggressive measure by the west and may well strengthen support for Putin.
We have no trust or confidence in the Johnson government on this or any other matter. They have demonstrated for more than two years their utter disregard for human life through the deliberate mishandling of the pandemic, leading to the loss of more than 150,000 lives in the UK.
We note the hypocrisy of those in the UK government criticising the state repression of protest in Russia, whilst the police, crime and sentencing bill will serve to create authoritarian restrictions on protest and democracy in the UK.
We oppose the UK government’s disgraceful racist restriction on the right of refugees fleeing the war to enter the UK. We call for refugees from this and other conflicts to be welcomed. We are also horrified by the scenes at some of the borders where Black people have been prevented from leaving Ukraine. Racism will only divide us and weaken our opposition to war.
This shows how important it is to oppose the Nationality and Borders Bill.
In wartime, as in peace time, we defend the democratic right to speak out, discuss, debate and protest. We condemn any attempts to shut down discussion within the Labour movement and to bully and threaten those with different views. We continue to support Stop the War Coalition and CND, and urge our members to join anti-war protests called by them.
Workers in Ukraine and Russia - and across the world - have common interests. Even in this appalling situation, we stand for workers’ unity and internationalism.
In Britain, we demand that workers do not pay the price for this and other crises such as Covid. Workers should receive pay rises above RPI inflation. We oppose the massive rises in energy prices and call for the re-nationalisation of the gas and electricity companies. We support refuge be given to those fleeing from Ukraine and other war-torn areas. The wealth of the oligarchs and super-rich should be expropriated to help provide the resources needed for working-class communities.
c) UNISON NEC Statement on Ukraine
Also carried For 16, against 8, abs 22
15 March is the international trade union day of action called by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in solidarity with Ukraine and against the war.
UNISON unreservedly condemns Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and stands in full solidarity with the millions of victims of the attack. UNISON calls for an immediate cease-fire and a withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine.
UNISON supports the call of the global trade union movement for:
- world leaders to take urgent and definitive steps to initiate dialogue and find a peaceful solution to this crisis in line with the Charter of the United Nations.
- sanctions which focus particularly on oligarchs and the entourage of President Putin and not the working people of Russia. UNISON notes that the UK has a particular responsibility in this area given the large-scale money laundering by Russian oligarchs using the City of London and the UK property market.
- governments to provide safe-haven for all refugees fleeing the conflict – Ukrainians and foreign workers and students. The UK government has a shameful record of creating a hostile environment for refugees, which is now impacting those fleeing the conflict in the Ukraine and must do everything in its powers to welcome and support all refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere as determined under international law. UNISON condemns the widely documented racist treatment faced by Black refugees seeking to get out of Ukraine.
Governments to provide additional support to disabled refugees fleeing the conflict both during the application process and when they arrive in their host country. We have already witnessed disabled people struggling to access the visa application process with little or no support available for those wishing to come to the UK. UNISON recognises neurodiverse people, people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions or communication difficulties could experience significant and differential long-term trauma from the conflict and calls on governments to ensure funding is made available to provide appropriate and ongoing professional support for everyone who needs it.
- the protection of civilians and safe humanitarian access. UNISON wholeheartedly condemns attacks on civilians seeking to flee cities such as Mariupol which has been subjected to a brutal siege by Russian forces.
Workers – in Ukraine, in Russia and throughout the world where people’s freedom, living standards and jobs will be affected – must not bear the brunt of war. UNISON supports those Russians who have bravely protested Putin’s war at personal risk of assault and arrest.
UNISON supports a comprehensive programme of support for UK workers, their families and companies impacted by such actions above, including wage protection and company support while alternate supply chains are established as set out by the TUC, UNISON, and other UK unions in a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak last week.
UNISON’s NEC welcomes the speedy donation by the union to the ITUC Ukraine appeal and salutes the response by UNISON branches and members both in supporting the ITUC appeal but also the Ukrainian people, which represent the best traditions of international trade union solidarity.