We have three motions submitted for our AGM, one on amending national rules and two on political issues.

Download Motions for Lambeth UNISON 2018 AGM

 

Motion One

A proposed amendment to rule for National Delegate Conference:

Rule D7.8

After ‘send two representatives’ delete ‘of’ and substitute ‘elected by and from among’

 

Motion Two

Finally freeing our trade unions

Notes
1. That the September 2017 Labour Party conference passed policy on repealing the anti-trade union laws and introducing strong legal rights to organise, collectively bargain and strike – but this policy has so far not been widely reported or noticed. There is a danger that, under pressure from employers, the Tories, the right-wing press and more conservative elements in Labour, it will be not carried out.

Believes
1. That this is a crucial issue for the whole labour movement. With the possibility of a Corbyn government soon, we need to build the strongest possible support to ensure these demands are implemented.

Resolves
1. To ask our branch committee to circulate the following statement (giving them permission to make minor amendments as necessary), asking other union branches, regions, national unions, etc, to add their endorsement; and create a section on our website to be regularly updated with organisations that have signed.
2. To send the statement to all members with a note explaining its importance.

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We need the right to organise and strike – free our unions

We are campaigning to abolish the anti-trade union laws which hamstring workers organising and taking industrial action, and replace them with strong legal rights.

We applaud the unanimous decision by the 2017 Labour Party conference to call for repeal of not just the 2016 Trade Union Act but also the “anti-union laws introduced in the 1980s and 90s” by the Thatcher and Major Tory governments and kept in place after 1997; and for a “strong legal charter of workers’ rights”. “For unions to be effective workers need an effective right to strike”. This builds on the 2015 conference decision, also unanimous, that the next Labour government should “legislate for strong rights to unionise, win recognition and collective bargaining, strike, picket and take solidarity action”.

We will campaign to ensure:

• Complete repeal of all the anti-union laws introduced after 1979.
• Strong legal rights for workers to join, belong to and recruit others to a union; strike by a process, at a time and for demands of their own choosing, including in solidarity with other workers and for broader social and political goals; and picket freely.
• Strong legal rights for unions to access workplaces, win recognition and engage in collective bargaining, including sector-wide bargaining.
• The right of unions to determine their own structures, rules and processes, decide their own policies and activities, and spend their funds as they choose, free from state and employer interference, in line with ILO Conventions and the European Convention on Human Rights.

 

Motion Three

Stand up to Racism – Trade Union Conference

This branch notes:

The growth in the racist, and sometimes fascist, right from Trump’s election in the US to the electoral successes for the Front National in France, the AfD (Alternative for Germany) and the Freedom Party in Austria.

That thousands of refugees still face death fleeing war and poverty, while the Tories continue to scapegoat refugees and migrants. They are blamed for overstretched public services instead of the real culprit – austerity.

We believe:

That we need to build a mass antiracist movement to stop the growth of the right.

That Trade Unions need to support those stuck in desperate need across the channel in Calais and Dunkirk and reassert our demand to open the borders.

That the Stand Up To Racism national demonstrations in London and across Europe on Saturday 17 March 2018 (UN Anti-Racism Day), can play an important part in strengthening our movement.

We resolve

• To publicise and support the collection of goods and money and send a donation of £50 to Care4Calais
• To support the Stand Up To racism trade union conference on Saturday 10 February. To pay for a delegation of 4 members and to send the branch banner.
• To support the Stand Up To Racism protests in London on Saturday 17 March, to send our banner and delegation.