Unison Herts

Dave Prentis said "With fuel and living costs rising fast and public sector pay settlements in recent years well below inflation, many public service workers are finding it incredibly hard to make ends meet and morale is at rock bottom.  "I warn the government, do not misjudge the mood of UNISON members.

"Abandon the idea of enforcing a below inflation pay limit.  There is growing anger amongst the membership over pensions, over attacks on the public services and any attempt to force pay limits on health, local government and other public sector workers will end in a big backlash.  "We will work with other public service unions, through the TUC to make sure that our members are not short-changed".

 Mr Pentis added "After 10 years of a Labour government, they don't deserve to be facing pay cuts" while seeing "multinationals bleeding our public services dry".

The NEC also recieved a report on the latest position in negotiations over the Local Government Pension Scheme.  It heard that, while there is still room to negotiate improvements, the government's draft regulations for a new final salary scheme with an improved accrual rate represent a victory over original plans.

"Two years ago, the intent of the government was to end good pension schemes for public services, arguing that "the country cannot afford to continue with final salary schemes", said Dave Prentis.

Hard work and negotiations, and members  willingness to take industrial action have now led to proposals which for many will provice a better pension than the current scheme and without a two-tier system.

"We have one pensions scheme which is better than the scheme it replaces" noted the general secretary adding that defending good pension provision will be a legacy which will still be benefiting members 40 years from now.

Speaking to a report on recruitment whch noted a 2% increase in membership during 2006, Mr Prentis called for a campaign across the union in the spring and summer to recruit members and raise the union's profile, focusing on the union's achievements for members.  The meeting also heard a report on the current situation around equal pay and agreed not to proceed with proposals for a 5% administration fee where the union undertook mass litigation on behlf of members.

The NEC also

• agreed a report on branch and service group structures which will be submitted to conference
• received a report on the latest developments in the project to build a new head office for the union
• urged members to support action across the country as part of the NHS Together campaign for the NHS on 3rd March
• agreed to send a message of support to five careworker members in Southhampton who were sacked this week after refusing to accept new contracts with worse pay
• agreed to review all bookingd with the Hilton hotel group and seek a meeting with the company after it refused to accommodate Cuban citizens at one of its hotels in Norway.
• heard that a UNISON funded anti racist DVD on the Holocaust sent to every school in the country as a teaching resource had been very well received by pupils and teachers.