UNISON must ‘lead the fightback’ against threats to democracy

This is a government that is “a genuine and serious threat to our society,” said Clare Williams of the Northern region, as she launched a debate on attacks on democracy as national delegate conference reconvened this afternoon. Citing the government’s offensive against trade unions via the Trade Union Bill, she lauded the union, and general secretary Dave Prentis specifically, for leading the fight back against that planned legislation, as well as against the divisive racism of UKIP’s anti-EU campaigning. Ms Williams said that, in her region, the union was also campaigning against so-called devolution, as this was simply being used as a new way of further cutting funding to the area. “There is no economic strategy for our region – and we refer to it as the Northern Poorhouse, which is more accurate,” she told conference. And urging them to fight back against the democratic deficit and the onslaught of global neo-liberalism, she finished by saying that “UNISON is democratic – we should lead that fight,” to loud cheers and applause. Glenn Williams from the North West observed that there are “some things in life over which we have no control” and pointed out that the devolution plans for Manchester and Liverpool were created without any consultation with people in those cities. Where such devolution is currently being pursued, he noted, the union has the opportunity to win commitments from the local politicians – commitments that they would be unlike...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article democracy democracy and elections national delegate conference 2016 NDC NDC16 Source Type: news