UNISON: 25 years strong

Our union is strong as we approach our 25th anniversary, general secretary Dave Prentis told UNISON’s national executive council at its meeting in London. “The Trade Union Act was designed to break us, but we haven’t allowed that to happen,” he said. The union has now largely secured its income by agreeing new arrangements covering some 8000 employers to allow continued deduction of union subscriptions directly from salaries, as required by the new Act. “Originally the plan was to end check-off altogether and that would have been a massive attack on our union. We fought that off, and now we have put the work in to make sure our union is strong and viable for the future.” Conference motions calling for a review to reshape the union to fit the next 25 years are a sign of our strength, Mr Prentis said. “If we can get this right and keep a positive focus on the future, our union can thrive.” He called for a mass mobilisation in branches to support the TUC demonstration on 12 May in London. UNISON will march under the banner, Step up for Public Services. “Protest is important,” Mr Prentis said. “It is vital that it is seen as a huge protest against austerity, against cuts to public services, against job losses and pay cuts.” The general secretary’s report also included the following statement about the rise of anti-semitism, which was endorsed by the NEC: “We have not intervened in the current debate in the Labour Party on anti-semitism, but instead we ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Article NEC Source Type: news