Vicky was on the conference floor for the final day of conference.
One of the most urgent and important motions for our branch was discussed today – Higher Education in Crisis. Save our Universities! (pg 62) This was debated towards the end of the day – best til last!
The day started out with Composite E – Climate Change in UNISON 2025, Turning Commitments into Actions (pg 20-22). This was carried.
We then return to the remaining order of business the first of which was Composite I- English Devolution, Democracy and Public Services (pg 36-39). This was also carried.
The word “motion” has lost all meaning now (ha!), but here are those debated on the final day:
- Motion 60 (pg 90) – Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. This was carried.
- Motion 8 (pg 11) – Support for Young Single Mothers. This motion was put forward by the Young Members forum. There was a lot of debate regarding this motion as those in the Against seats wanted the motion to expand to include any parents or guardians (not just young mothers). Unfortunately none of these points were brought up in amendments to the motion and really highlighted how important amendments are at conference. The young members are not allowed to put forward motions that encompass anything other than young members, so they are reliant on branches to add those amendments to the motion in order to be included. This motion was carried.
- Motion 17 (pg 21) – Universal Credit, but no member of the moving body was in conference, therefore we could not pursue it and moved on to the next motion.
- Motion 39 (pg 58) – Respecting our Police Staff Members – this was very similar to the previous motion that we heard. This was carried.
- Motion 6 (pg 8) – Lasting Legacy for Self Organised Groups – this motion was carried.
During lunch Vicky attended a fringe event which was a discussion surrounding the removal of Julia Mwaluke from her position on NEC (see poster below for more info). It was made clear that this removal didn’t follow a process and we’re extremely concerned this was able to happen. All debates and discussions around this issue where shut down during the main conference.
After lunch we moved on to the reprioritised motions. On Wednesday all branches submit a list of 6 motions that they wish to be re prioritised. These are all collated and put into a new order based on this reprioritisation to be debated on Friday afternoon. Vicky and Nathan along with other higher education branches did a lot of campaigning to try and get motion #42 on the top of everyone’s lists throughout the week! (Higher Education in Crisis – Save Our Universities! (pg 62))
- The first motion was motion 32 – Public Services, Living Standards and the Economy after the 2024 General Election (pg 46). This was carried.
- Motion 49 and amendment 49.1 – Artificial Intelligence in Public Services (pg 72). This was carried.
- Motion 42 – Higher Education in Crisis. Save our Universities! (pg 62) This motion was put forward by Brighton University, and we had a long list of supporters for the motion, and no one spoke against it. As time was short we only got to hear a few speakers, however it really did highlight the plight of the Higher Education sector to conference. It was disappointing to see that our General Secretary left the platform during this motion, and we don’t think heard the delegates who were speaking on this. However the speeches made clear the branches in higher education sector feel let down by UNISON and have had a real lack of support. Vicky did line up to speak but as time was short and she was at the back of the queue, she didn’t get to.
- The final motion was motion 21 (pg 27) – Gender Pensions Gap. This was carried.
We then reached the end of our time, so we sadly couldn’t get to debate all of the other motions on the reprioritisation list. Conference was called to a close and all delegates were thanked for their time.
