TUC Regional Annual Conference - Report on Proceedings
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TUC IN THE NORTH WEST REPORT ON PROCEEDINGS |
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10 March 2012, TUC Regional Annual Conference |
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NW TUC Annual Conference
Report on Proceedings
Devonshire House Hotel, Liverpool, 10 March 2012
Delegates
123 delegates were appointed from 21 unions and 4 CATUS. 109 delegates attended on the day.
Conference Opening
Steve Farley, Chair of the NW TUC welcomed delegates to the Conference and spoke o0fhte challenges faced by the Movement. He also referred to colleagues who had passed away in the last year, particularly Marge Carey who had be a chair of the NW TUC and national president of USDAW. Members then stood in silence to remember all those members from the movement who had sadly died in the past year.
Conference Arrangements
Alan Manning, Regional Secretary reported that there would be ballots for Chair and the two Vice Chairs and explained the procedures. Tellers were needed and Katya Lawder PCS, Anne Morrison Unite, Sue Bennett MATUC and Rod Traynor RMT were appointed.
He reported receipt of Emergency Motions, MATUC had submitted one on the Liverpool Mayor and GMATUC on AGMA Grant cuts. These had been circulated by post on Thursday and copies had been available at registration. The Chair had ruled that they are emergencies and in accordance with the rules the conference voted, without debate, to decide if you want to put them on the agenda to day. To be successful a 2/3 majority of those present and able to vote is required.
On being put to the vote the MATUC motion received 58 votes for and 20 against it's inclusion on the agenda and there fore failed to meet the 2/3 majority required. It was agreed unanimously to place the motion from GMATUC on the agenda.
It was also reported that an Emergency motion had been received yesterday from Unite on Remploy and as this was only distributed at registration then consideration of inclusion on the agenda would be taken after lunch. When it was considered it was unanimously agreed to place it on the agenda.
It was also reported that a request had been received from Unite to invite Phil Potter to address the conference on behalf of locked out members at MMP printers at Bootle, it was agreed to invite Phil to speak immediately after lunch.
Finally it was reported that a composite motion has been agreed between Unite and Unison to replace Motion 5 and the amendment, and that had been distributed at registration.
Executive Report
The Regional Secretary moved the Executive Report that reviewed progress over the last year and sets out draft priorities for the year ahead. It also contained a Statement on Finance and he reported that the accounts had been examined by the Auditors.
He thanked officers and delegates for their support and he particularly thanked Kara Stevens, NW TUC Administrator, for her work over the year.
The Report was received and the draft priorities endorsed.
Speakers
During the morning Brendan Barber TUC General Secretary address on the Conference and was thanked for his contribution.
At the beginning of the afternoon session Phil Potter from Unite spoke of the dispute with MMP Printers, the conference agreed a message of support and to take a collection for the strike fund.
Motions
1 UNISON: Campaigning Against Austerity and in Defence of Public Services in the North West
As the Con Dem Coalition Government approaches its second anniversary, NWTUC condemns the disastrous impact of its economic policies, privatisation and public spending cuts on the working people of the north west of England.
The Chancellor's 2011 Autumn Statement, published in November, confirmed the failure of austerity policies being promoted in the UK and elsewhere. Belated measures to increase spending on infrastructure and regional assistance programmes were dwarfed by the announcement that public sector job losses will rise to 710,000 by 2017.
It has been estimated that the earlier Comprehensive Spending Review for 2010-15 will remove over £5 billion from the north west economy and lead to 140,000 FTE job losses in the region (in both the public and private sector) - equivalent to 5% of the regional workforce - representing the largest proportion of cuts suffered by any region.
NWTUC applauds the mass mobilisations in Manchester against the Tories on 2 October 2011 and throughout the North West in defence of pensions on 30 November 2011 and pledges to continue to be at the forefront of regional and local opposition to Con Dem austerity measures.
This will require the NWTUC to:
Highlight the impact of Government spending cuts on public services, the wider economy and social well being.
Support affiliates resisting cuts in services, job losses and attacks on conditions.
Promote alternative policies for the regional economy and public services.
This Annual Conference of NWTUC resolves to step up our opposition to cuts in public spending and privatisation by improving co-ordination of, and joint action by, all public service unions.
Therefore, the incoming NWTUC Executive is instructed to:
1. Convene a meeting of public service unions to review progress of the 'Proud to Serve the Public' campaign with a view to revitalising joint union campaigning in the region.
2. Re-launch the campaign no later than May 2012 and develop NWTUC led sub-regional campaign coalitions in all of the main centres of the region.
3. Campaign for public bodies to bring back in house those services externalised to private or voluntary sector contractors.
4. Work with Unionlearn and affiliated unions to develop high quality training and resources to assist in opposing privatisation.
Amendment PCS:
Additional bullet point after bullet point four:
5. Link the campaign defending public services and against privatisation with the public sector pensions campaign recognising that Hutton's Terms of Reference included a reference to '...pensions as a barrier to greater plurality of provision of public services'.
The amendment and then the substantive motion were carried unanimously.
2 PCS: Local Pay
This conference notes the intention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced in the autumn (2011) statement, to introduce a system of local pay for public servants.
As has been demonstrated in large organisations such as the Ministry of Justice, experiments with the economically incoherent philosophy of Local Pay have
Depressed pay rates in areas of high unemployment or low economic activity
Undermined investment and regeneration
Institutionalised inequalities of wealth
Accordingly, the North West TUC is resolved to campaign against the introduction of local pay and in favour of fair, equality-proofed reward systems which are implemented through negotiation and agreement with trade unions.
In pursuit of this, the Executive Group is instructed to:
Produce an early paper for affiliates which contains a critique of the Chancellors proposals
Contribute to any public consultation on the same
Highlight the likely affects of local pay and the governments 'pay cap' on economies to local business communities
Co-ordinate affiliates campaigns to resist the implementation of local pay, including industrial action where appropriate
Develop a media strategy around the above principles
This motion was carried unanimously.
3 UNISON: Regional Pay/Local Bargaining
On 29th November, the day before 3 million workers took action against attacks on their pensions, George Osborne announced a further Tory/Lib Dem attack on public service.
Government proposed their intention to dictate there will be a one per cent cap on public sector pay rises for two years after the current freeze ends. Local Government will already by then have endured three years of pay freezes. During those three years, inflation has stood at around 5%. This means those workers and their families will have already suffered a 15% cut in their real income. But the cut to their disposable income has been even greater, given the hike in living costs, such as heating and fuel which have risen by 20% in some cases over the last year alone. And there is no guarantee of workers even getting a 1% pay increase in either year as it is a cap. This could well mean millions of workers having a continuous pay freeze for up to 5 years. On current figures, they would suffer a massive 25% cut in their incomes. This is additional to cuts to their pensions, their deferred pay, to which they have contributed through their pension contributions and taxes. And Government's assault on the public sector is going further, with their review into regional pay adjustments.
As well as aiming to break national sector pay bargaining, the Tory/Lib Dem Government want to try and introduce lower wage settlements and possibly actual wage cuts below existing levels in some Regions. Government want to make public sector pay 'more responsive' to local labour markets. What that means in practice is they want lower rates of pay in regions with higher levels of unemployment.
Our North West Region has seen the way the Government treated regions differently in the Comprehensive Spending Review. Manchester and Liverpool Councils both suffered budget cuts of over 20% in just one year, whilst Tory areas in wealthier regions had cuts of approximately 3%. Regional pay in national services will be part of a vicious race to the bottom. Imposed cuts in regional pay will accelerate economic decline in regions such as the North West. It will increase inequality within communities and across the country. If this proposal is carried out it will also lead to regional pay cuts in national private companies who will see a green light to go down the same road, and who all too often also refuse to offer their workers access to decent pensions. Unfairness is the core Government principle at work here. Government is seeking to punish public sector workers, and those regions where electoral support for the coalition is weakest, yet they do nothing to restrain the financial sector. For whom the Government has emptied the nation's coffers.
In attacking public sector workers, the Government are also attacking public services, which in an era of recession are needed more than ever to keep our society decent.
This Regional TUC:
Pledges to support all trade unions in a campaign against any further pay freezes by Government as well as any attempts at the imposition of regional pay.
Agrees to work with affiliated trade unions to ensure the Labour Party has a policy of vigorous opposition to any such proposals.
This Regional TUC calls on the Regional Executive:
To commission research into the impact on the north west of regional pay bargaining/determination.
Highlight the negative implications of the ending of national pay structures such as undermining collective bargaining and the worsening of inequality in the UK.
Campaign for North West public authorities to pay a Living Wage and incorporate a Living Wage in procurement processes.
This motion was carried unanimously.
4 NASUWT: Regional Pay
Conference rejects any moves to deviate from national pay and conditions agreements that have been achieved through many years of meaningful consultation between employers and recognised Trade Union bodies. Conference notes that national negotiation frameworks are being dismantled by this Coalition Government and this can only be to the detriment of workers and service users in the North West region.
Conference specifically rejects all moves to introduce regionalised/localised pay and conditions of service for whatever reason. We would urge all constituent Unions to be aware of the threat of such moves and campaign to oppose them.
This motion was carried unanimously.
Composite Motion 5 Unite and Unison: Pensions
This Conference congratulates the two million trade unionists, from 23 TUC affiliated unions and others, who struck on November 30th in defence of their pensions and our public services. We also welcome and extend a huge thank you to the general public that supported in their millions and made the day a tremendous success, proving not only that we have public support but that government attempts to divide our communities will fail.
This Conference understands that this government is stepping up its fight against all working people with its threat to further attack trade union democracy, introduce more anti-trade union legislation and remove and/or further weaken employment protections for all.
Conference recognises that a number of unions are conducting consultative ballots with a view to a further day of industrial action on the 28 March, we offer our full support to those efforts and will seek to assist with practical solidarity.
We also recognise that negotiations are still taking place in some sectors and stand ready to support action taken by those unions.
We note that private sector workers have seen attacks on their schemes in recent years. There have been a number of strikes and threat of strikes with unions fighting back and winning concessions, despite the law being stacked against them and little legal protection for private sector schemes.
This Conference:
Condemns the government and their media mogul friends who have tried to divide public and private sector workers with the claim that public sector workers have pensions far better than those enjoyed by their colleagues in the private sector. It's time to level up not down!
Gives full support to all unions in the public and private sectors who take industrial action to defend their members pensions.
Continue to support the campaign by all unions for Pensions Justice.
This motion was carried unanimously.
6 Women's Committee: Pensions
'We believe it is the right of all women to have:
an affordable and sustainable pension
dignity in our old age and not to live in poverty and not rely on benefits
retirement at a reasonable age to enable a quality of life.
We call on the NW TUC to campaign and produce materials to highlight and emphasise the detrimental effects of the current pensions changes proposed by the government and employers on women particularly those in the private and public sectors, on low incomes, agency workers, young people and divorcees.'
Amendment NUT:
Insert a new second paragraph:
'We further condemn the comments of David Cameron at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he declared to the world that the European Pregnant Workers Directive was unnecessary and imposed burdens on businesses and Governments. This is yet a further indication of this Government's belief that we should return to the working conditions of the Victorians. Women have already taken the brunt of the cuts - being in the front line for job losses, reduced benefits and the rollback of public services.'
Insert at the end:
'Conference therefore instructs the NW TUC to put the issues of the attack on women at the forefront of the campaign against cuts and pensions by producing publicity material and information highlighting the issues, and to encourage all affiliates to do likewise.'
The amendment and then the substantive motion were carried unanimously
7 NUT: Local Authorities and Education
Conference notes and values the role played by local authorities in the strategic planning of education within their boundaries and the specialist support they provide for individual institutions within the local authority family of schools. Conference applauds the democratic accountability in place when local authorities had oversight of education. Conference also notes the gains made by the most disadvantaged in society through a comprehensive education system.
Conference deplores the systematic dismantling of comprehensive education and the loss of democratic accountability implicit in the breakup of local authorities and believes this constitutes wholesale privatisation of state education.
Conference instructs the North West TUC to:
- Organise regular meetings to bring together all local government and education unions.
- Co-ordinate publicity and campaign materials from all local government and education unions to fight the breakup of local authorities
- Provide co-ordinated support to local government and education unions in campaigning against the breakup of local authorities and in fighting for decent pay and conditions for members still employed by councils in the North West.
This motion was carried unanimously.
8 UCATT: Housing
The North West TUC condemns the Con/Dem coalition Government on their handling of the housing crisis in the UK.
The North West TUC calls for a campaign for a vigorous programme of new-build Council Housing, to make a meaningful contribution to solving the crisis and to build our country out of recession - towards full employment, with direct employment at the hub.
This motion was carried unanimously.
9 Composite Motion RMT and MATUC: Defending Public Transport
This annual Conference of the North West TUC believes public transport is essential to tackling social exclusion, linking communities, reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable growth.
The McNulty report supported by the Con Dem government proposes the loss of tens of thousands of frontline and safety critical infrastructure jobs, greater commercial freedom for train operators as well as the breakup of Network Rail and the end of its 'not-for-dividend status'.
Those policies are harmful for the environment as prices needs to be cheaper to encourage people to use public transport and tackle climate change. Those policies are also damaging for the economy as private companies are cutting back on jobs to make more profits. In addition, those policies are dangerous for workers and passengers themselves as savings are also made on health & safety conditions causing deadly accidents.
Conference condemns the fact that despite the campaigning of the maritime unions, seafarers are still excluded from the full protections of the national minimum wage and equality legislation and conference commits to continue to campaign for full employment rights for seafarers working on UK ships and in UK waters, regardless of their nationality. Conference also believes that the tragic sinking of the Swanland in the Irish Sea in November 2011 raises serious concerns of a tolerance of sub standard shipping standards in UK waters.
This Conference notes that if implemented, the Con Dem Government's McNulty review into the railways will mean:
- The loss of tens of thousands of frontline workers such as train guards, station and ticket office staff and also safety critical infrastructure and operational workers. The attack on ticket offices already undertaken by London Midland for example will be rolled out across the railway.
- Even greater commercial freedom for train operators to introduce ever higher fares, cuts in services, cuts in provision of service levels such as catering, and more crowded trains.
- The McNulty report ignores the lessons from railways in Europe that have achieved lower costs and fares through a more unified publicly owned structure than Britain's fragmented structure.
- The uncoordinated short termism of our railways has put the UK's last train manufacturer in Derby on the brink of closure and conference condemns the Governments betrayal of rail workers and the abject failure of Gov to protect jobs and act in the national interest.
Therefore, this conference agrees to:
- Condemn the railway price increases as an effective 'rail tax' implemented by the Con Dem government which will only drive people back to using their cars damaging the environment further.
- Condemn the McNulty report and its proposals and actively support regional activities of the 'Save our railway' campaign led by ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and UNITE.
- Condemn the alliances being drawn up between Train Operating Companies and Network Rail, which seeks to support McNulty and re-introduce the profit motive into track, which will cut safety and lead to further rail disasters.
- Campaign for high quality safety regulations for both workers and passengers on the railways.
- Support the return to public ownership of the railway industry and encourage unions to support local demonstrations and campaigns towards that aim.
- Support a publically owned and publically accountable rail network with investment in both existing lines and creation of new lines for both passenger and freight, which will create jobs in the rail and construction industries.
- Agrees to work with affiliates, Unions, Trade Unions Councils, passenger transport and community groups to hold public rallies as soon as practicable in defence of railways and public transport.
- Organise a regional conference dedicated to public ownership of transport systems and climate change bringing together unions, local communities and climate change campaigners.
This motion was carried unanimously.
10 Composite Motion PCS, MATUC and NUT: Supporting Unemployed Workers
This conference deplores the government's economic strategy which has led to more than 1 million 16 to 24 year olds being unemployed - the worst figures since records began. We condemn the insensitivity of Work and Pensions Minister, Chris Grayling who described the figures, published by the Office of National Statistics in December 2011, as evidence that 'the labour market is stabilising'.
Conference also condemns the cuts to further education and sixth form college funding, which in conjunction with rising youth unemployment, has resulted in many young people having no prospects when they leave school and welcomes the NUT action in sixth form college to fight the funding cuts.'
Conference recognises that in the current climate, defence of the Welfare State is essential both economically and politically.
The employment rights of employed workers are presently under attacks by the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government; they are however defended by their unions. Unemployed workers, by contrast, have no such protection and their rights and benefits are under continual attacks by both the government and the media. The TUC Unemployed Workers Centres are playing a unique role in providing benefit, debt and employment law advice and representation to unemployed workers as the large numbers of current users demonstrates.
In the North West, a special TUC conference was called in April 2011 to examine the decline of the TUC Unemployed Workers Centres and what support could regional unions provide. Considerations were also given to the role of the One Fund for All (OFFA) schemes to assist the independent funding of the TUC Unemployed Workers Centres. This Annual Conference calls for urgent meaningful action by the Trade Unions Councils and Trade Unions under the umbrella of the NWTUC to ensure the survival of the existing NW TUC UWC and the possible establishment of new centres in areas of needs, such as Liverpool and Manchester.
In order to meet our obligations to unemployed workers, especially younger workers, this conference instructs the NW TUC Executive Group to:
Lobby government, local authorities and local business communities to invest in meaningful and sustainable apprenticeship schemes
Actively oppose sham apprenticeships, the so-called 'Youth Contract' (nothing more than a modern-day example of 'Youth Training Scheme'-style exploitation), and other compulsory workfare schemes
Step-up the campaign for job creation based on public investment in new energy, transport, housing infrastructure and public services
Work with Unemployed Centres and DWP staff unions to demand greater access to advice and assistance on benefits, training and support
To request the four County TUCs to liaise with their UWCs within their geographical areas, support their activities and organise a county conference of unemployed workers, UWC and Unions
Redouble its efforts to unite employed and unemployed workers in the region
To work closely with PCS on the development of an alternative Welfare State strategy as the continuity of the excellent PCS pamphlet 'Welfare - An alternative Vision' produced in 2011
To support the urgent establishment of a NW regional fund to support TUC unemployed workers centres
Campaign for DWP services to be delivered by well motivated, publically accountable, in-house staff rather than profiteers and C-list TV celebrities with a right-wing axe to grind
Monitor and publically challenge misleading rhetoric about 'dependency culture' whenever it appears in the regional media
Continue to campaign to defend - and where possible improve - employment and trade union legislation; as part of the fight against the growing 'hire and fire' culture
Campaign for further education and sixth form college funding to be increased to levels equal to school sixth form funding rather than school sixth form funding being leveled down, and for college places to be available for the young unemployed without loss of benefits.
This motion was carried unanimously.
11 CWU: Workers Rights
'This North West Regional TUC Conference is extremely concerned that the Government have announced giving Companies greater freedom to sack workers as part of an overhaul of Employment laws, to boost the economic recovery. Conference questions David Cameron's claims that "relaxed" employment laws will help boost the private sector, and encourage firms to take on thousands of new workers.
This attack on workers will have a devastating effect on many thousands of workers in the North West region. The new "employers' charter" will allow companies to sack workers during the first two years of their employment without the threat of being taken to a tribunal for unfair dismissal.
Conference is also concerned that the current employment legislation is already amongst the worst in Europe giving UK workers less protection.
The TUC has said that doubling the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims would affect nearly three million workers in the UK, many thousands of who work in the North West. Currently, an employee can bring an unfair dismissal claim after ONE year. To reduce the number of "vexatious allegations", Conference is concerned that workers will also face a fee when lodging an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, which will only be refunded if the claim is successful. This will ensure that thousands of North West workers will not be able to even consider submitting a claim, as they literally cannot afford the fee.
This Conference believes that it is typical of this government to claim the only way to bring unemployment down is to make it easier to sack people. This Conference therefore instructs the North West Regional TUC to resist, by all means possible, measures to further erode the already unsatisfactory Employment legislation in the UK and to support campaigns calling for a future Labour Government to give full employment rights from day one. "
This motion was carried unanimously.
12 NASUWT: Crisis facing young people
Conference deplores the current social and economic crisis facing the current generation of 16-25 year olds.
NASUWT members are proud to have played their part in raising aspirations and educational achievement for young people through schools in recent years. However, we are appalled that the present Coalition Government is content to pursue policies that consign this high achieving youthful section of our communities to the scrapheap.
Conference urges the North West TUC and all affiliate Unions to adopt policies and actively campaign for:
Meaningful training opportunities and apprenticeship schemes for all school leavers.
Following successful completion, all trainees/apprentices should be guaranteed a minimum of a full year of genuine non-exploitative employment on terms and conditions commensurate with the relevant sector.
Continued opposition to the plethora of Government policies that militate against our young generation and prevent their full engagement in the labour market, thus denying our beleaguered economy an essential and valuable resource.
This motion was carried with none against and 3 abstentions.
13 NUT: Early Years
Conference notes the drastic reduction in funding for early years and Sure Start provision, therefore reducing early educational provision for some of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Conference also notes the decrease in young people studying beyond the age of 16 since the removal of the Education Maintenance Allowance, the increase in tuition fees from September 2012 and the likelihood that this will reduce the number of young people going into further and higher education.
Conference believes that all these measures constitute an attack by the government on the life chances of the vast majority of young people, both now and for future generations. Conference further believes that these attacks are contributing to the highest levels of youth unemployment ever seen.
Conference instructs the North West TUC to:
Co-ordinate the work of TUC affiliates and other groups to campaign to improve the life chances of young people.
Produce publicity materials in conjunction with other appropriate campaigning groups.
To publicise the issues to MPs and local councillors across the region, convening meetings where possible.
Amendment: GMATUC
After second paragraph: 'highest levels of youth unemployment ever seen.' add:
Conference congratulates parents and Sure Start campaigners in Liverpool for winning a victory against plans to shut four Sure Start children's centre's.
Further congratulates GMATUC's and Unite the union branches in Greater Manchester in their support for the first Sure Start National Conference held 7 January 2012 in Manchester.
The establishment of a National Forum which will be open and inclusive to trade unions, charities, voluntary organisations, community based campaigns, student organisations to share information, ideas and resources to ensure that campaigns can be organised/co-ordinated from local to national level.
Insert bullet points after:
'Conference instructs the North West TUC to':
Campaign to re-instate the ring fencing of the Early Intervention Grant which funds Sure Start services.
Campaign to make resources available for universally available, affordable high quality childcare and youth services for all who require it.
Campaign for the capping of fees for child care services.
Campaign to remove the relevant clauses from the Child Care Act 2006 which makes the private sector the preferred provider over publicly provided child care services.
Campaign for the introduction of legislation that will ensure that parents, carers and users have a democratic right to be involved in the decision making process concerning services that are provided for young people and children under their guardianship at local, regional or national level.
The amendment and then the substantive motion were carried unanimously.
14 Disabled Workers Forum: Disability Benefits
'This conference notes that the process of deciding whether someone is fit for work (the Work Capability Assessment - WCA) is deeply flawed, as shown by the high success rate (40% - rising to 70% when the claimant was represented) of appeals against the assessments made by ATOS Healthcare. The consequence of a wrong decision is a loss of income as well as the stress of the process. There are distressing reports of people with terminal cancer found fit for work, medical evidence being ignored, and some committing suicide as a result of the process.
Even if every single person found fit for work by the WCA were able to start work, the government's ignores the reality of the economic situation in that there are not enough job vacancies available and the repeated evidence that employers discriminate against disabled applicants.
The NW TUC is urged to campaign for the abandonment of this flawed privatised assessment programme and a return to a system of assessment by NHS staff and GPs.'
Amendment PCS:
Amend first paragraph by inserting the following words after:
'...of appeals against the' and before 'the assessments made by ATOS Healthcare':
'...decisions of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) based on...'
Insert new paragraph after second paragraph:
Conference recognises the role of Atos Healthcare currently as that of a cynical, opportunist profiteer which pockets £100m per year of taxpayers money to give a veneer of legitimacy to a system which is manifestly unfair to disabled people and which abrogates the responsibility of the DWP.
Insert new fifth paragraph:
Accordingly, the incoming NW TUC Executive are instructed to:
Work with Disabled peoples representative groups and charities to lobby for a review of the criteria upon which Work Capability Assessments are carried out
Write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and to the Secretary of State for Justice (if necessary under Freedom of Information) to establish the cumulative costs borne by the taxpayer in respect of successful Tribunal appeals against Work Capability Assessment decisions by Atos Healthcare
Work with politicians and the media to expose the Governments duplicity in relation to Disabled people and work as evidenced by the attacks on welfare benefits coinciding with their plans to systematically run down of 54 Remploy factories which threatens to throw 2,500 Disabled workers out of work
The amendment and then the substantive motion was carried unanimously.
15 LATUC: Shale Gas Drilling ('Fracking')
We believe there are serious environmental concerns around shale gas drilling including threats to groundwater quality and water resource needs. Until these issues are resolved, there should be a moratorium on shale gas exploration and drilling in the UK. Moratoriums of some form on shale gas extraction or exploration are already in place in New York State, Pennsylvania, France, North-Rhine Westphalia, Quebec and South Africa.
The main concerns arising from shale gas extraction are groundwater pollution, air pollution, demand for water, and the impact on climate change. There are also other local concerns such as noise, additional traffic and the potential link with earth tremors.
Lancashire is the only place in the UK where shale gas test drilling has taken place so far. A report by the company responsible, Cuadrilla Resources, concluded that two earthquake tremors in Blackpool last year were probably caused by its operations to extract gas nearby. Hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking', involves injecting water, sand and chemicals under high pressure into shale rock or coal beds to release trapped gas. Cuadrilla Resources has stopped "fracking" operations at its Preese Hall-1 Well near Blackpool since the tremors.
For these reasons we will campaign for a UK-wide moratorium on further shale gas extraction and exploration until the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on drinking water is investigated.
Amendment MATUC:
Delete last paragraph and insert:
'This annual conference therefore agrees to;
1 Organise a NWTUC environmental conference within the next 12 months, if possible to take place in Blackpool
2 Encourage the development of a NWTUC environmental and green reps network
3 Agree full support for campaigns against Fracking in Blackpool and across the NW
4 To campaign for a UK wide moratorium on further shale gas extraction and exploration until the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on drinking water are fully independently investigated and the finding publically printed.
The amendment and then the substantive motion were carried, with none against but some abstentions.
Emergency Motions
UNITE: REMPLOY
This conference is disgusted at the Governments decision to close 36 of the 54 Remploy factories putting more than 1700 jobs at risk, more than 1500 of those workers are disabled.
There are 9 Remploy factories across the North West and 7 of those are proposed for closure affecting 278 disabled people in our region.
These factories are based in Barrow, Birkenhead, Bolton, Manchester, Oldham, Preston and Wigan.
The decision of this Government to cut these jobs only a few days after it passed the Welfare Bill is proof it has no intention of helping the most vulnerable in society, instead this Coalition is only making life worse.
In the worst economic crisis since the 1930's, these workers proposals of finding work are almost zero.
This Conference calls on the North West Regional Council to:
Work with the unions Unite, GMB and Community to fight this decision and campaign against these closures.
To condemn the Coalition Government and especially the Disability Minister Maria Miller's decision to put disabled people out of work at a time when they are removing disability benefits for many and trying to get people back into work.
This motion was carried unanimously.
GMATUCs: Emergency Motion
The Greater Manchester Association of Trades Union Councils condemns the withdrawal of section 48 grants by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to 55 organisations through out Greater Manchester including GM Hazards and GM Pay and Employment advice service.
The withdrawal of the grants will cause financial hardship to some and to others may mean they have to close with the loss of jobs and services.
The Greater Manchester Association of Trades Union Councils calls on the North West TUC to support campaigns by trade union members in the 55 organisations that have had cuts to protect jobs and services.
This motion was carried unanimously.
Other motions not for debate
The following motions were received but are not included for debate, but the Executive propose to take the action noted after each one.
16 LATUC: Elected Police Commissioners
We are concerned at the possible effects of the Police and Crime Commissioners who are to be elected in November 2012 in 41 police force areas in the UK. We agree with Liberty which commissioned a survey which found little public appetite for the Government proposals for Police and Crime Commissioners. The Government's legislation abolishes police authorities, replacing them with directly elected individuals who would oversee local police forces and hold Chief Constables to account. We believe this could compromise the police's political independence.
Only 15% of those polled said they would trust an elected Police and Crime Commissioner more than the present system to protect their family from crime. In addition to undermining independence, elected Commissioners could put more pressure on police to use powers in a way which meets a political agenda rather than serving the community as a whole.
The Commissioners will be elected by the public for a four year term, with a maximum of two terms, starting in 2012. They will be responsible for hiring and firing the Chief Constable as well as securing the maintenance of the police force - ensuring the force is efficient and effective. They will also set the area policing plan and budget.
Commissioners in the biggest force areas will receive salaries of more than £100,000.
If the police are watched over by a politically-motivated individual, it would be impossible to maintain autonomy. The BNP has previously said it has a number of former police officers who might stand for election as Police Commissioners. It is very likely that other racist and fascist groups and individuals will stand for election. These changes run the very real risk of politicising police accountability and compromising political independence.
We commit ourselves to monitor the elections and campaign against any racists and fascists who stand for election as Police Commissioners.
Action: In the same way that we campaign against racist and fascists candidates in local, Parliamentary and European elections we would similarly oppose any such candidates in all other elections.
17 GMATUC:
Conference believes that the NWTUC should consider educational and commemorative events for the coming anniversaries:
(i) Peterloo 1819 - 2019 (200 years)
(ii) Founding of the TUC in Manchester 1868 - 2018 (150 Years)
Conference further believes that long term planning is important with the need to involve and encourage of as many rank and file trade unionists to participate in event planning etc.
This conference suggests events such as:
(i) a pop concert for young people
(ii) media projects young people
(ii) a call for suggestions and events to commemorate the history of the working class in the NW region.
Action: The Executive will establish a broad based working group to prepare for these anniversaries.
18 GMATUC:
This conference calls on the NWTUC to organise a conference on work place surveillance and the future technological challenges that may constitute be a threat to workers rights.
The NWTUC should consider organising courses on surveillance and awareness raising of workers subject to technological monitoring.
Action: in the first instance to liaise with unionlearn to see what courses are currently run.
Report on ballots
It was reported that the following votes had been cast:
Chair:
Steve Farley 89 votes
Kevin Flanagan 13 votes
Steve Farley was declared elected.
Vice Chairs:
Paul Finegan 82 votes
Lynne Morrris 77 votes
Cath Sutton 32 votes
Paul Finegan and Lynne Morris were declared elected.
Closure
The Chair closed the conference and thanked delegates and officers for their support.
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