PCS National Conference - Day 1
Following yesterday's late finish the business today got off to an early start and the Annual Delegate's Conference (ADC) started on time with the Branch almost immediately in action with a "reference back" designed to remove the general debate tag but leave the felling tags on the first motions in the Pay section (A627, 21, and 22).
The Branch delegation believed that the proposing, seconding and then debate on all these motions together would take half of the entire pay section and that by simply leaving the tag that meant A21 and A22 would fall if A627 were carried then time would be saved and more motions would be debated. However despite the branch's efforts and Chris Wade's speech, the reference back was unsuccessful and the Conference moved to the sections to debate.
In the Social & Economic section the recession was debated in Motions A601 and subsequent motions. The section largely centred on the excesses of recent years in the banking and business sector and the negative impact on the public, not surprisingly many of the motions were carried.
Then the debate shifted to Protecting Public Services where Grant McClure was to move motion A17 discussing the closure of sites such as Lytham St Anne's, unfortunately this debate was guillotined before being reached, but not before several motions on opposing privatisation were passed, re-affirming the Union's commitment to protecting Public Services.
After lunch in the Pay section we were surprised by the speed of debate and our motion A29 on pay progression was heard even though it was a long way down the section. Martin Jones, now part of the delegation after Group Conference concluded (he sits on the GEC) moved the motion and it was accepted by conference without dissent and finally becomes policy.
Our motion on Annual Leave (calling for 35 days a year for everyone) was guillotined and will have to be brought back to the conference another year.
In the Health and Safety section Emma and Martin both spoke to motions.
Emma, in her National Conference debut spoke supporting motion A33 on acoustic shock the motion was passed and Emma later received praise from the DWP group president for her efforts.
Martin seconded the motion on lighting A34 and this motion was also passed.
After two guest speakers from Palestinian trade unionists the Conference went on to debate Motion A39 on the situation in Gaza and Israel, but not before the Conference was moved upon hearing the words of one of the speakers who described her joy at seeing the sea in Brighton having been unable to see the see since she was 15.
She told of her sadness that her children had never seen the sea because of the troubles in Israel and her hope that one day they too would be able to. The debate, as expected, was a long and emotional one but was conducted with respect for the contributors on both sides of the arguments.
Motion A39 was carried and followed by a debate on the practice of extraordinary rendition which was condemned in motion A40, also carried.
Conference ended at 5.30 p.m. and the delegates were able to retire to the beach to make sandcastles....Now where's my bucket and spade....hang on...where's the sand, and has anyone got some cement to stick these pebbles together?
Call this a beach?.....
The Branch delegation believed that the proposing, seconding and then debate on all these motions together would take half of the entire pay section and that by simply leaving the tag that meant A21 and A22 would fall if A627 were carried then time would be saved and more motions would be debated. However despite the branch's efforts and Chris Wade's speech, the reference back was unsuccessful and the Conference moved to the sections to debate.
In the Social & Economic section the recession was debated in Motions A601 and subsequent motions. The section largely centred on the excesses of recent years in the banking and business sector and the negative impact on the public, not surprisingly many of the motions were carried.
Then the debate shifted to Protecting Public Services where Grant McClure was to move motion A17 discussing the closure of sites such as Lytham St Anne's, unfortunately this debate was guillotined before being reached, but not before several motions on opposing privatisation were passed, re-affirming the Union's commitment to protecting Public Services.
After lunch in the Pay section we were surprised by the speed of debate and our motion A29 on pay progression was heard even though it was a long way down the section. Martin Jones, now part of the delegation after Group Conference concluded (he sits on the GEC) moved the motion and it was accepted by conference without dissent and finally becomes policy.
Our motion on Annual Leave (calling for 35 days a year for everyone) was guillotined and will have to be brought back to the conference another year.
In the Health and Safety section Emma and Martin both spoke to motions.
Emma, in her National Conference debut spoke supporting motion A33 on acoustic shock the motion was passed and Emma later received praise from the DWP group president for her efforts.
Martin seconded the motion on lighting A34 and this motion was also passed.
After two guest speakers from Palestinian trade unionists the Conference went on to debate Motion A39 on the situation in Gaza and Israel, but not before the Conference was moved upon hearing the words of one of the speakers who described her joy at seeing the sea in Brighton having been unable to see the see since she was 15.
She told of her sadness that her children had never seen the sea because of the troubles in Israel and her hope that one day they too would be able to. The debate, as expected, was a long and emotional one but was conducted with respect for the contributors on both sides of the arguments.
Motion A39 was carried and followed by a debate on the practice of extraordinary rendition which was condemned in motion A40, also carried.
Conference ended at 5.30 p.m. and the delegates were able to retire to the beach to make sandcastles....Now where's my bucket and spade....hang on...where's the sand, and has anyone got some cement to stick these pebbles together?
Call this a beach?.....
Chris Wade
