‘An unstoppable force’: Andrea Egan calls on members to get strike ready

On the first day of this year's UNISON local government conference in Brighton, general secretary Andrea Egan called on union activists to become ballot leaders in the upcoming NJC pay ballot. 

Opening her speech, Andrea said, “As someone who has spent decades sat in this hall as a Bolton UNISON delegate at this conference, I feel very much at home.

“When I look out in front of me in this hall I truly see the people that keep our country moving. The people who make sure our families get the support they need, when they need it, and the people who help our children and our young people.”

“Sometimes I get asked why I think we should have better pay. I say that without our members, there would be no public services - our country would grind to a halt. It's a crucial message, yet it's one that's often ignored by politicians and the media.

"But delegates, as your general secretary, it wouldn't be enough for me to just say 'you don't get paid enough'.

“And it would be too easy for me to stand here and tell you what you already know:
That our local services have been sliced up, sold off, and handed over to companies who put profit before people.

“And it would be too easy for me to criticise the government, however. A government which has failed to fund local government, a government which has consigned the National Care Service to the long-grass, and a government that doesn't believe the people in this room are worth more than a 3.3% pay offer.”

Andrea then moved delegates to action ahead of next month’s NJC pay ballot.

‘Strike action is our leverage’

“We’re doing things differently with next month’s ballot,” she said. “So that we do all we can to break the threshold for strike action and secure the pay rise that you deserve.”

“Because strike action is our leverage. It's a simple, powerful demonstration: it's one that reminds those in power that it's us, the working-class, who keep our country going.

“And it's our way of saying to employers that no, we won't just accept crumbs from the table. That we won't accept lower wages any longer. And that we won't accept real-terms pay cuts. We're worth more than that - each and everyone of you. And don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

“But in order for us to win, and to get the pay rise that you deserve, we all need to work together.”

“Right now, we're identifying leaders, trusted in their workplaces, before the ballot begins next month. And we're training members, even if they haven't been involved in industrial action before. Because we know that when members are encouraged, they'll encourage their work colleagues to fight for better pay and conditions.

"And we're targeting our resources at specific employers; workplaces where we know we can win, using the latest technology to reach members and inform them just how important our ballot is.

"But we can't win this ballot without each and every one of you. So that’s why I’m encouraging all of you here today to sign up to lead the ballot in your workplace.”

Join the NJC pay pledge

“You'll be trained and supported by our team - every step of the way. And encourage your co-workers to sign up too. Including those who've never been involved in the union, but share our anger.”

Local government reorganisation

“Our ballot isn’t the only reason why we need to get organised. I know many of you are anxious about the prospect of local government reorganisation, and I share those concerns.

“Without proper funding, reorganisation isn't reform: it's financial cuts by other means. I've said this to politicians. I've said it to the chancellor herself. And I'll keep saying it, and I'll keep fighting on behalf of all of you.

“But if we want to ensure reorganisation is a positive opportunity, one that puts public services and workers first, then we're going to have to ensure the government takes us seriously. And our ballot is our opportunity to do that.

“If we win, then those in power will think twice about any attempt to undermine us.

Organising against Reform UK 

Andrea then spoke to delegates about the risk posed by Reform to local councils.

“Right now, we have UNISON members in 24 councils which are controlled by Reform. Local authorities, like those in Derbyshire and Lancashire, where Reform attempted to close down care homes for the elderly.

“In Leicestershire, where they tried to close down SEND nurseries. Or in Durham, where they withdrew funding for Durham Pride.

“It's because of local campaigns, supported by our trade union movement, that care homes and nurseries have been saved. And in Durham, trade unions ensured that Pride went ahead.

“But we can't be complacent. We have to be alert; we have to be organised and we have to be watchful to the threat of the far-right. They want to axe our pension schemes, and our trade union rights. And they want to divide-and-rule the working-class, pitting worker against worker.

"It's why UNISON has set up the Responding to Reform UK Network. And we're developing a new education package with Show Racism the Red Card, one that's been taken forward into the ten councils Reform won last year."

Organising to Win

Andrea drew attention to recent victories from UNISON local government branches. 

"In Wales, UNISON Cymru won a major victory when the Welsh government announced that the lowest paid teaching assistants will move to TA level-two, scrapping level-one roles.

"In UNISON Northern Ireland, who - this year- launched their free school meals campaign pledge, calling on elected representatives to support the introduction of free, healthy meals in schools and recognising the importance of investing in the workforce who deliver them.

"In England, school support staff in the Cathedrals Schools Trust, in South West region, who took industrial action and won nine years of backpay.

"SEN workers in Lift schools in the Eastern Region, who were not only back-paid, but will be paid more going forward.

"And UNISON members, who've successfully opposed compulsory redundancies in Our Lady of Lourdes school and Saint Ralph Sherwin school.

"Finally, I want to express our profound solidarity with Tom Barker, UNISON NEC rep in Leicester, who has been victimised by Discovery Schools Academy Trust for taking strike action against staff cuts."

SSSNB

“When it comes to schools, UNISON has fought hard to establish the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, a forum that'll bring the government, employers and trade unions in England to negotiate directly over matters of pay and terms and conditions, and it means all state-funded schools, even academies, must follow national agreements.

“It'll give our support staff members a voice - raising their status and ensuring they're valued and respected. And not only will it protect existing conditions, it'll improve training and career prospects for our members.

“But this new body won't mean our struggles are over. We need the government to give it an ambitious remit, and we need the government to fund it properly. We will still need to campaign and fight for better pay in schools. And of course, we will consult our members in schools before the new body comes in.

“Time and again, we've shown that when we stand together, when we're focused on our goals, when we're prepared to take risks and do things differently, we can win.

And when we support each other, when we stand together in solidarity, we're an unstoppable force. One that can triumph over division, over injustice and over hatred.”

Closing her speech, Andrea said “There’s nothing we can’t achieve when we’re organised and united. That’s why we can win this summer’s ballot, and secure the pay that you deserve.” 

Conference delegates gave Andrea a standing ovation. 

Watch Andrea's full speech on YouTube