The highlight of the second day of UNISON conference has undoubtedly been the NHS debate. There was an excellent fringe meeting at lunchtime organised by the cross-union activist bulletin health worker. Several of the newly-elected members of the health SGE were there, and they joined in an excellent discussion about learning the lessons from the pay ballot. There was a determined mood to the meeting and positive suggestions for rebuilding our relationships with other NHS unions in support of efforts to get the pay deal re-opened, in line with Dave Prentis' speech and his comments in this morning's papers.

This afternoon there have been some excellent speeches in the NHS debate, most notably from Karen Reissmann speaking in support of an amendment from my own branch, Leicestershire Health. The amendment wasn't popular when it was discussed on the NEC but they didn't oppose it. So UNISON is now committed to "step up our campaign against the government's damaging and divisive policies of PFI, payment by results, independent sector treatment centres, purchaser/provider splits, the patient choice agenda, and any and all other moves to push privatisation into the health service."

So let's get to it!