UNISON Labour Link Forum 2012: Day 2

Saturday was the second (and last) day of this year's Forum in Cardiff. Check out the report on day one here. The traditional Labour Link Social had been held the previous night and "a good time had been had

by all" (it also raised money for UNISON welfare).

Forum started off at 9.15 sharp with a speech by our new UNISON President, Chris Tansley (and life long Labour Party member). Then a presentation on the UNISON Labour Link annual report and review of the year by Chair Steve Warwick and National officers Keith Birch and Julian Cooke.

In the feedback on the recent Local elections in May we heard about the computer tele-canvassing software piloted in London and Eastern region. It was such a success that there are plans to roll out the software to all regions and even possibly for Labour Link volunteers to use from home.  We were also shown the video by Southampton UNISON on how they helped get rid of its anti-union Tory Council in May (I will post when I find it).

Followed by motions on "Impact of the cuts on the Black Community"; "LGBT equality - reality not rhetoric"; Labour & Disabled people" and "The Labour Party and detrimental age discrimination".

Next were seminars on "Police and Crime Commissioners" and "Devolution". I chaired the seminar on "Devolution". Delegates from Wales, Scotland and London (who will not be facing Police Commissioners elections in November) came to together with Welsh Assembly Minister for Europe, Alan Davis (right of picture), Welsh Assembly member (and former MP) Julie Morgan and Dave Watson (UNISON Scottish Organiser and top blogger) to discuss the political impact of devolution on the Party and trade unions.

I said at the start that I was perhaps well qualified to chair this meeting since I was born and bred in Wales to a Welsh mother and Scottish father. I have since lived and worked in Scotland but have now spent most of my life in London (and am now a Councillor in the Peoples Republic of Newham where we have a 61-nil Labour majority).

Alan made the valid point that it was sometimes very frustrating being in a Labour Government in Wales since the UK media are completely obsessed about what is going on in the "SW1 bubble" and it's about time that London recognised that trains go down to Cardiff as well as up to London.  Julie made the very interesting point that this was the first ever meeting she had attended of representatives from Wales, Scotland and London discussing this issue.

Dave pointed out that before devolution he would give evidence to the London Parliament 2/3 times per year on Scottish issues. Now with a Scottish Parliament he is in Holyrood 2/3 times a week! London UNISON Labour Link Political officer, Steve Terry, also spoke about the work we are doing with Labour London Assembly members to hold the Tory Mayor, Boris Johnson to account. Difficult to do of course with someone who doesn't do anything.

After this there was Motions on "Renewable Energy" (another London Regional Motion) and a rule amendment on representation in Labour Link of self organised groups.

The Chair Steve Warwick closed the Forum and hoped that we all got home safety (the weather has been atrocious with floods up and down the country). Due to time limits he declined to accept a vote of thanks to the Chair from Bristol delegates (in joke).

On the way home I did feel reflect on Forum and felt very proud of Wales for not only keeping the faith and returning a Labour Government but also demonstrating "Socialism works" and (most importantly) "it can deliver" (Alan Davies).  

UNISON NDC 12: Labour Link fringe

On Wednesday lunchtime there was an informal fringe of UNISON Labour Link branch officers. Labour Link National Committee Chair Steve Warwick (left) and National Officer Keith Birch.

There was a wide range of Q&A's. One point that Steve was clear that the Party is going to have to listen to UNISON about pay in the public sector and end the freeze. 

I made a plug for the London motion on Income Inequality (I'll post on this later) which I think is a natural fit for unions and the Party. National Labour Link forum next month.

UNISON London Labour Link Forum 2012

Yesterday evening I Co-chaired with Gloria Hanson, the 2012 UNISON London Labour Link (APF) forum. Which acts as the Annual Regional Conference of 60,000 (ish) London UNISON members who choose to affiliate to the Labour Party. 

This took place at the UNISON HQ in Euston. Afterwards there was a launch event with Ken Livingstone which I post upon later.

After opening remarks and introductions, we discussed our financial report and the work plan for 2012. This has been dominated this year by the London GLA and Mayoral elections. Next we debated motions.

The first was a motion from my Housing Association Branch on "A New Direction for the Labour Party" which I will also post upon later. This motion was passed overwhelmingly apart from one Toy Town Revolutionary who obviously does not believe in greater equality nor that the Party should move to the left since that would prevent him from braying betrayal politics at every opportunity. While from Waltham Forest Local Government, my good comrade, Alan Griffiths spoke on "Renewable Energy". Unfortunately we were not able see his PowerPoint presentation.

Next was our first guest speaker Keith Birch who gave a report on National Labour Link. Followed by Helen Symons, the Campaigns and Communications Officer for TULO (Trade Union Liaison Organisation" (see picture above). Finally Julian Cooke (who use to be a member of Forest Gate North Labour Party), who is a Labour Link Organising Officer, he spoke about the "Political Education Project" which is is trying to get ordinary members to recognise how important "politics" is and to encourage them to get involved.