Mark Ferguson (UNISON Scotland) moved Amendment 5.1, which highlights the significant progress UNISON has made in recent years in taking effective strike action — despite restrictive anti-trade union legislation.
He gave several examples from Scotland:
Scottish Water Branch has been taking action for a full year, led by Tricia McArthur, in pursuit of fair pay.
Enable (Community Sector) members took strike action for the first time.
The threat of a local government strike ballot helped force employers to improve their pay offer — now out for consultation with a recommendation to accept.
Perth & Kinross school members, further education, and higher education workers have also undertaken strike action.
In Renfrewshire, the mere threat of strike action led to social care members having their posts re-evaluated and pay increased to £15 an hour, backdated to 2020 — with no strike required.
Mark stressed the importance of learning from these disputes — understanding what worked well, what didn’t, and how resources were used — so UNISON can keep improving its industrial strength.
He praised the success of Scotland’s regional industrial strategy, which has delivered strong results through:
- Using modern organising tools
- Strengthening activist capacity in social care,
- Campaigning on violence in schools,
- Improving NHS pay grades.
Mark thanked General Secretary Christina McAnea for her leadership and visible support during disputes, including visits to picket lines and campaign videos.
Finally, he noted the importance of Labour’s forthcoming Employment Rights legislation, which must deliver real rights for workers.
Mark urged delegates to support the amendment.