General Secretary speaks to UNISON

Dave Prentis moved leftwards, rhetorically at least, in the content of his annual speech to Conference. I see I have been beaten to online analysis by a more diligent blogger.

Dave promised that if rising inflation means that the three year pay deal in health needs to be reopened (which, let’s face it – it will) and if the Government refuse to reopen negotiations (which, let’s face it – they will) we will certainly ballot for industrial action.

He also promised that if local government members vote for strike action, UNISON will seek to coordinate action with other public service unions.

He also attacked the Government for abandoning its friends, and called for redistribution and investment in public services. “It’s time,” he said, “for the Government to raise our people up, or our people will bring Gordon down.” This begs two questions. First, how and why did we fall for the foolishness of backing Gordon Brown last year? Secondly, what will we do next year if he doesn’t listen to us?

Dave says we want political representatives who follow our policies. As I write this we have moved on to debate Motion 57 and leading NEC member Bob Oram has just expressed support for the Trade Union Freedom Bill. Perhaps we should ask UNISON Labour Link to ensure that we do not support the Constituency Labour Parties of Members of Parliament who will not support that Bill?

We – UNISON – will, Dave says, organise a joint campaign for all public services workers. I shall henceforth abandon all cynicism and await further developments with eager anticipation on this front. If we are serious as a trade union then presumably we will contact the Public Services Not Private Profit campaign?

Interestingly, whilst UNITE featured in Dave’s speech primarily as the occasion for a joke about the difficult relations between their Joint General Secretaries, the GMB came in for some serious praise in comments which will be read as hinting at the prospect of closer working in future (although given the contradictory positions adopted by the two unions on pay will make this fairly tricky for the next few months…)