Retired members conference 2017 report

Rosie MacGregor, chair of the national retired members committee, writes the UNISON retired members conference 2017 report

The conference was held on 10-11 October 2017 in Llandudno.

The first day of  conference was taken up with a mix of self-organised group meetings, workshops and a panel debate on Brexit. All of which were well attended.

This is one of UNISON’s largest conferences with 450 present.

The motion based conference on the second day began with an inspirational speech from our President Margaret McKee and the Mayor of Llandudno, a carpet fitter, said that ‘today’s workers are tomorrow’s pensioners’.

I moved the Annual Report and we the settled down to hear Motions, the first of which was about the broken social care system.

The afternoon session began with a speech from Assistant General Secretary Christina McAnea who focused on UNISON’s successful campaigns and the current Pay up Now Campaign.  She spoke of the harm to children and members living in poverty at a time when the government can afford to pay for the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace and find millions for Trident.

Section ONE – Prioritised Motions

Motion 3  – SOCIAL CARE

This highlighted the growing crisis of the underfunding of care.  NHS spending was predicted to drop alarmingly from 8.8% of GDP in 2008 to 6.6% in 2020.  The crisis is no doubt set to continue.   The motion called for the formulation of an Action Plan from the Care Workers for Change Group to halt that decline.

Amendment 3.1 just strengthened the wording.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

Composite D (incorporating Motions 21 & 30) – HANDS OFF UNIVERSAL BENEFITS

This motion drew attention to the fact that the Tory manifesto had threatened to review these benefits but in the light of the Election result had shelved the threat.  It highlighted that any reduction in these benefits (such as bus passes, free prescriptions and winter fuel allowance) would adversely affect poorer pensioners.  It sought to refute the myth that pensioners are a burden on society and called for the RM Committee together with all relevant organisations to oppose all present and future attacks on Universal Benefits.

CARRIED

Motion 4  – DIGNITY IN SOCIAL CARE – PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT

A familiar motion that sought to utilise the pension Asset Pooling scheme to encourage further investment by the public sector to enhance the funding of ethical care such as in building of Respite and Elderly People’s Care Homes.  It instructed UNISON representation on Pension Committees and Pools to work towards this aim.

Amendment 4.1 just strengthened the wording.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

Motion 11 – RETAINING MEMBERS WHEN THEY RETIRE

This extremely lengthy and over-detailed motion called for strategy and resources to ensure that an apparent decline in Retired membership of UNISON is halted.  It called for a replacement of the UNISON Charter for Older People, funding for training opportunities and the collection and sharing of good practice.  It was explained that an apparent drop in numbers had been affected by a ‘data cleansing’ exercise.

CARRIED

Motion 23 – FUNERAL POVERTY

The alarming increases in the cost of funerals had prompted this motion.   Eye watering increases had seen the average cost of funerals in Scotland rise to in excess of £3,550 and much higher elsewhere.   It sought the production of a guide and the exploration of a package of member benefits for this area and regulation of the funeral industry.

CARRIED WITHOUT AMENDMENT

Motion 23.1 sought to amend the wording was LOST.

Motion 6 – HOUSING FOR OLDER PEOPLE

This motion with slightly different wording was on the agenda for the third time in four years.  It called for a revised and updated strategy to have the preferences of older people at its heart.  It called for the existing UNISON campaign on housing to have regard to older peoples’ issues.

Amendment 6.1 added ‘extra care housing’ to the motion.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

Motion 27 – TRIPLE LOCK ON STATE PENSIONS

Another favourite for the Conference prompted by the recent abandoned Tory manifesto proposal to drop the practice.  That would not now happen immediately because of the DUP deal to prop up the lame Government following the Election outcome.  However, it now becomes a real possibility in the longer term and the motion called for pressure for its retention.

Amendment 27.1 sought for its extension to overseas recipients

CARRIED AS AMENDED

Motion 10 – RETIRED MEMBERS ‘HUMAN LIBRARY’

This motion, moved with great passion by our own Peter Cooper from Poole, called for the setting up of a mapping system to recognise the experience and potential of Retired Members to assist Branches and membership to take advantage of the mentoring skills in specific roles within UNISON. It was Peter’s first experience of a Retired Members Conference!  He spoke with great passion and we need to encourage younger retired members such at him.

Amendment 10.1 extolled the involvement of this in the lay tutoring arrangements currently in place and its inclusion in training resources.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

Motion 2 – ADVOCACY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR RETIREMENT HOME RESIDENTS

The motion called for the establishment of a National Advocacy Support Service to assist frail, elderly people who may feel too intimidated to defend or speak for themselves and called for a report back to the 2019 Conference.

Amendment 2.1 called for inclusion in the plan to involve all groups.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

Motion 31 – BUS PASSES

Another favourite that engendered a lively debate.   The variations across the United Kingdom were again outlined and the motion called for such anomalies to be resolved to achieve a UK universal bus pass.

Amendment 31.1 called for the qualification age to be set at the time when the female State Pension Age was reached regardless of gender. This was carried.

Amendment 31.2 (from Scotland) wished to cut out the all-UK inclusive approach but was lost.

Amendment 31.3 complicated the wording and was lost.

Amendment 31.4 highlighted the plight of many dwellers in rural area where services are poor or non-existent and requesting acknowledgement. This was carried.

The substantive motion was then CARRIED AS AMENDED by nos. 31.1 & 31.4

Section TWO – Pensions

Motion 13 – EQUAL PENSIONS

The Marriage Act 2013 relating to same-sex couples had introduced a new dimension to Equal Pensions.   However, the lack of retrospection in its implementation was divisive.  The motion called for a broad-based sustained campaign for greater equality.

Amendment 13.1 related the recent case of Walker v Innospec which within European law appeared to have resolved the situation but this is still subject to the Court of Appeal so it asked for continuing pressure to ensure its implementation. This was carried.

CARRIED

Amendment 13.2 welcomed a recent Supreme Court ruling which strengthened the case.  CARRIED

The motion was then CARRIED AS AMENDED

Composite A (incorporating Motions 7,9 & 32) – PENSIONS FOR OVERSEAS RESIDENTS POST BREXIT

This composite motion which incorporated out South West Motion 9 and Motion 7 from Devon County related to overseas residents who presently receive automatic uprating if they reside in the European Economic Area (EAA) but not outside that area and it asked for protection for all overseas residents post BREXIT.  A campaign was requested to achieve this.

CARRIED

Section THREE – Other Campaigns and Issues

Motion 8 – EQUAL RIGHTS FOR CO-HABITEES – “DEMENTIA TAX”

According to recently published statistics more than 50% of couples’ co-habit.  For unmarried partners the so-called Dementia Tax could leave a surviving partner homeless.  The motion from South West Region called for a campaign to obtain equal right for partners who choose not to marry or enter civil partnerships in the case of joint ownership of property.

This was moved by our own Liz Payne-Ahmadi and in doing so paid special appreciation of Angela Harrington from Bath University Branch who should have been at the conference and whose partner had sadly died in the preceding week.  The wording of the motion had been formulated by Angela who following his death had also drawn our attention to the high cost of funerals and the appalling situation in which there is no tick box for ’partner’ when registering a death – they are simply classed as ‘causing the disposal of the body’. This is something we must campaign on in the future.

CARRIED

Composite B (incorporating Motions 17,28 & Amendment 17.1) – THE IMPACT OF SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSFORMATION PLANS ON OLDER PEOPLE

NHS England are drawing up Sustainability and Transformation Plans but with an increasing number of excess deaths concern was expressed about the growing number of the elderly dependant on health and social care.  The motion called for the plans to encompass adequately resourced social care services.

CARRIED

Motion 1 – COMBATING LONELINESS IN OLD AGE

The motion noted that loneliness is becoming a major contributory factor in serious health issues and called for appropriate resources to be made available to combat loneliness.

CARRIED

Motion 18 – OLDER PEOPLES COMMISSION

The Labour Party will set up an Older Peoples Commission and this move was welcomed by the motion which also called upon Government to reverse the policy of the means testing of Universal Benefits.

CARRIED

Motion 12 – CELEBRATE THE BUS!  DEFEND UNIVERSAL BENEFITS

Many of the arguments set out in an earlier motion (motion 31) were repeated in this debate which called for a further promotion of Public Transport.

Amendments 12.1 and 12.2 further strengthened the debate.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

Motion 24 – THE MISTAKEN PERCEPTION OF RICH PENSIONERS

This motion sought to dispel the perception that the majority of pensioners are rich enjoying gold plated pensions.   Pensions have been earned and paid for and the truth of the actual position of the majority of pensioners must be advertised.

CARRIED

Motion 29 – FERMENTING DISCORD BETWEEN YOUNG AND OLD

Another well-rehearsed and misleading conception that is far from reality. Balanced and accurate information must be publicised.

CARRIED

Composite C (incorporating Motions 19, 20 & Amendment 19.1) – WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE

The reduced Winter Fuel Allowance introduced by the Tory Government in 2011 had added to poverty amongst less well-off elderly people.  The motion called for the reinstatement of the allowances at original level and concerted opposition against proposal to further means test the allowance.

CARRIED

Section FOUR – Communication and Internal Issues

Motion 5 – WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ACTION ON A RESOLUTION TAKES MORE THAN 12 MONTHS

Rather tongue in cheek it called for swifter resolution of instructions!

CARRIED

Section FIVE – Non-Prioritised Motions

Emergency Motion 1 – “RUSSIAN ROULETTE”

This National Committee sponsored motion outlined a recent CQC report which revealed that one in four elderly Care Homes were deemed to be ‘unsafe’ because the care was ‘inadequate’ or ‘in need of improvement’.

The motion called for the report to be highlighted and widely publicised and a UNISON campaign undertaken to defend good quality residential care, properly funded and fully accountable. This motion was moved by me. So named because Age UK had stated that finding a good or poor care home was like playing Russian Roulette – the dictionary definition I explained was an activity that is potentially very dangerous and can lead to death!

CARRIED

Motion 14 – RM CONFERENCE – FAIR REPRESENTATION

The motion called upon the NRMC to consult RM sections with a view to develop a proposed Amendment to the Scheme of Branch Representation to ensure Fair Representation.   At the request of the National Committee this motion was

CARRIED WITH QUALIFICATION

Motion 15 – TRADES UNION CONGRESS

This motion sought to add Retired Members representation to the TUC Congress by the addition of a definition that includes total UNISON membership rather than at present which sees Retired Members excluded.

CARRIED

Motion 16 – SCHEDULE B

Paragraph 2.2 of Schedule B of UNISON National Rules excludes Retire Members from benefits under paragraphs 2.7 and 2.8 of the Schedule.   This relates to benefits where accident or fatal accident occurs whilst on union business.   The motion asked for this anomaly to be raised with the Nation Executive Council to process.

CARRIED

Motion 22 – UNISON’S LINKS TO THE CGT UNION

After a great deal of campaigning and negotiation the South East Region of UNISON has set up a twinning arrangement with Nord Pas de Calais/Picardie region of the French Public Services Union La CGT.   The motion called for similar initiatives to be pursued to develop mutually beneficial relationships with retired union members with their corresponding regions in France.   It instructed for this to be pursued by the International Relations Committee of UNISON with a request to promote the idea that international solidarity is as beneficial to Retired Members as has proved for our working colleagues.

Amendment 22.1 asked for UNISON’s support to work with the campaign for a United Nations Convention on the rights of older persons through the NEC International Committee pursuant to Standing Order 10 of the NRMC guide.

This was my opportunity to make a final speech to highlight the importance of building solidarity not simply with French Trades Unions but other countries too.

CARRIED AS AMENDED

At that point Conference ran out of time as a result of which:

Motion 25 FOOT CARE FOR OLDER PEOPLE and

MOTION 26 ROAR – REGENERATE OUR AILING RESORTS CAMPAIGN

were unable to be heard and will therefore be referred to the National Retired Members Committee for consideration.

VOTE OF THANKS

All that remained was my Vote of Thanks to everyone with a special thanks to UNISON staff member Gary Williams who is retiring in April. We’ll miss him.

POST CONFERENCE INFORMATION

The National Retired Members Committee met immediately after the end of conference.

The outcome of the voting on which 2 Motions to take forward to National Delegate Conference was:

Motion 4 – DIGNITY IN SOCIAL CARE – PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT

Motion 27 – TRIPLE LOCK ON STATE PENSIONS

We selected 2 representatives of retired members to attend the next two Self Organised Group Conferences.

Norma Thompson from South West Region together with Mirza N Hamie from North West Region have been elected to represent Retired Black Members at the Black Members SOG Conference in January.

I have been elected to represent Retired Women Members at the Women’s SOG Conference in February together with Sue Salzedo from East Midlands.  Having only attended Women’s Conference once before as a working member, I’m really looking forward to the experience.

2018 NATIONAL RETIRED MEMBERS CONFERENCE

This will be held at the Bournemouth International Conference Centre on 9 – 10 October 2018.  Concerns were expressed about the hills in Bournemouth with hotels at the top of cliffs not being ideal for older or disabled retired members and branches will need to be aware that taxi fares if necessary should be paid.

There had been a very disappointing response to a questionnaire about possible revised rearrangements for Conference. It was concluded that there were too few to be conclusive so the current conference arrangements will be retained for the 2018 Conference.

It will be down to us to organise the social event on 9 October.

Rosie MacGregor – Chair National Retired Members Committee