Retired Members

Agenda Item - Unison Retired Members Conference 2017This year’s conference took place between 10-11 October at the Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Prior to conference 32 resolutions had been admitted to the agenda, 14 rejected as well as 5 rejected amendments. There were four emergency resolutions submitted but only one accepted. Despite being armed with the recently amended copy of the rule book and having attended this conference on 3 previous occasions, I am still at a loss as to why some resolutions fail to be accepted by the Standing Orders Committee. I am, however not alone. There are many delegates with far more union experience than me who are also completely confused!Tuesday’s proceedings comprised SOG meetings. Alice Udeze (delegate) and Mohammed Idrish (visitor) attended the Black members meeting.I attended the Panel Debate. This dealt with how the right to remain for 3 million EU citizens working in the UK would affect the provision of public services that older people rely on.Alison Roche (Unison’s policy Officer ) kicked off the debate saying that 68% of our members voted to remain. This was still a very important issue for our members and wasn’t a simple process. Effectively from the date of the referendum (22 June 2016) and October 2017, nothing happened. Except for the withdrawal bill that comprised of 4 paragraphs (Article 50). There were 400 amendments and it is still at the committee stage. It’s also hardly surprising that no agreement has been reached between negotiators from the UK and EU when they only meet for 2 days a month. Any agreement has to be signed off by all 27 other EU members.The big question is whether there will be a final vote in Parliament given that the government has given itself ministerial powers. The big issues are: the Irish border, European Court of Justice, freedom of movement and protection of workers. There are also big issues involving science & technology joint undertakings, crime and the status of London as a finance centre.How much will the divorce cost? Our TUs are concerned that the UK government only wants to apply Settled Status for EU citizens. This does not give enough protection as it does not cover pensions. It’s a fact that workers rights are better under the EU (H & S, Equal Pay, redundancy and migrant workers). Unison will organise Road Shows for EU workers of which there are 55, 000 in the NHS and 90,000 in Social Care .Unison alone has 80,000 EU members in these sectors. Unison wants to protect public services by making them exempt from TTIP, CETA, TISA trade deals.Jane Thomas is the Repeal Bill Co-ordinator for the Repeal Deal Alliance (see repealbill.org). The Alliance is working to ensure that democracy is maintained and is supported by 200 organisations (including FOE, Greens). We need to ensure that law making, constitutional safeguards are maximised and delegated (to ministers) legislation minimised There are 100 pages of amendments to the Repeal Deal aimed at a better bill, legislation and governance.Carol Burnett represented the British in Europe, a pressure group organising 10 groups of people living in the other 27 EU states. They have 35,000 members. There are 1.2 million Brits living in the 27 states of which 20% are pensioners, however most of them are working or self-employed. Their rights are under threat. 60% of them didn’t have a vote as they are covered by the 15 (abroad) year rule. Currently pensions are index-linked and they qualify for disability payments. It is essential to maintain reciprocal health arrangements and index linking, which the UK government has intimated that it wishes to keep. There is no agreement however on people who work and move between several EU states. This could seriously affect Brits who return for more than 2 years to look after a relative as they might be classed as new settlers on their return. All in all a very complicated set of questions. The aims are free movement and ability to live, work and ......love!There was a meeting for West Midlands delegates afterwards with report backs from the SOGs. Alice talked about many Black members not attending that group, no induction to conference and the fact that some branches (in London) were paying the £15 retired member fee.Christina McAnea , our new Assistant General Secretary spoke on Wednesday morning. She now had responsibility for bargaining and negotiation. She talked about declining membership in unionised employment despite these workers enjoying better conditions. (n.b. could it be that 7 years of no pay increases for PS employees have something to do with it?). She highlighted that 75% of kids in poverty live in families where at least 1 person works. If the government can find the money to renovate the Palace of Westminster, Buck House and HS2? Her message was keep fighting.Wednesday ConferenceThis year the Standing Orders Committee re-arranged resolutions to ensure that topics that ‘fell off’ last year’s conference were prioritised. The number of similar themes motions also dictated priority. Prioritised themes comprised, Social Care, protecting Universal Benefits, Dignity in Social care, Retaining retired members, Funeral Poverty( how many people know that US holding companies have been ‘hoovering’ up local funeral companies and putting up prices?) , Housing for Older People, Triple Lock on state pensions, potential to recognise experience of retired members by creating a “Human Library”, advocacy support services for residents in residential homes, and bus passes.I’m pleased to say that our amendments to 2 resolutions (extending triple lock to state pensions paid anywhere in the world and introducing a cash payment to Bus Pass holders where public transport was either sparse or non-existent were supported). I introduced myself to the movers of the original motions and asked them whether they had any problems with our amendments. They didn’t and they supported these amendments from the rostrum. This is a good tactic for delegates attending any of our conferences.There were also some good debates on Equal Pensions, rights for co-habitees, combating loneliness in old age, and winter fuel.I’d like to thank the branch for again supporting me to attend this conference. Just one point of criticism which I have already alluded to. Why are some resolutions and amendments barred from the agenda on specious grounds? Why are similar resolutions (e.g. concessionary travel, pensions) not grouped? Should we ,in future, aim to increase our influence from the branch?Andrew Wood- retired members officer