Delegates to Unison's APF (affiliated political fund) national conference called for 'regime change' in the Labour Party.
The calls came from delegates at the Glasgow conference following a combative speech by general secretary Dave Prentis. Visibly angry, Dave criticised the government for failing to carry out a review of PFI, in blatant disregard of a resolution carried at last year's party conference. He bitterly condemned the government's failure to respect any form of democracy, pointing out that the proposal to create 'foundation hospitals' had not been included in the last election manifesto, and that a senior post to oversee the new hospitals had been advertised in the national press before the bill had even gone through its formal parliamentary stages. The government had been completely wrong to interfere in the FBU's negotiations with their employers, he continued, and the threat to impose a deal had implications for all workers.
He called on Unison members not only to become active in the APF, but also to take up their delegations on the GCs. It was time for the unions to reclaim the party, he said. There was no need for any new party - the unions already had a party, but it had been hijacked. He cited Amicus's drive to encourage members into the party as an example to other unions.
A number of good resolutions were passed on issues such as pensions, the anti-union laws, the Middle East, and the firefighters' dispute. It is clear that members' patience has been pushed to the limit. They are fed up with Tory policies from a party they finance and support. The time really has come for a 'regime change'.
Pam Woods
Delegate, London Region
(personal capacity)