How do we work with other trade unions?

I received the following email the other days. Despite being an elected member of UNISON's Health SGE I didn't receive it from the national office directly, but via a member in another region who forwarded it on to the excellent and useful healthactivists email list.

The email raises a couple of questions. Firstly the fact that the email, the meeting it refers to, and the draft statement presented to that meeting in UNISON's name all seems to have gone on without any oversight or control by the elected lay leadership of the union. I think members of the union will quite reasonably ask why the SGE weren't in control of this process of negotiations with the other NHS unions.

Even more serious is the suggestion that UNISON and the other unions that have decided to accept the three year deal might ask the Government to impose the deal on those who have decided to reject it. Asking the bosses to impose a pay deal is simply not the way we should resolve disputes with our fellow trade unionists, and I am hugely uncomfortable with that idea being presented as UNISON's position, again with no contribution from the lay leadership

With inflation continuing to spiral this week, there is at least a case for saying that it is UNISON, not Unite, who should change our position on the deal. Whether we do or not, we should not be asking our bosses to impose a pay deal on those who have a democratic mandate to reject it - that sets a very dngerous precedent.

From: Jackson, MikeTo: Regional Heads of HealthCc: Health Staff - National; Macer, Lilian; Moses, Ann; NorthumbriaHealthcareSent: Fri Jun 13 16:46:23 2008Subject: NHS PAY UPDATE
THIS CAN BE CASCADED
The Trade Union leads of 14 unions met today.There was a frank discussion but there were positives.UNISON and the RCN tabled a draft statement for consideration.The statement reflects the diversity of outcome from trade unionconsultation but recognises that unions representing the majority ofstaff have accepted the agreement. It has a robust statement oninflation and re-opening. Two of rejectionist unions welcomed the draftstatement.The unions took the statement away for internal consultation to reply byCoP on Tuesday. If the statement is agreed it will provide for the pay circular to beissued later next week which will allow for payment of the new rates inJuly and for the issuing of the new Trade Union Time Off and Facilitiesagreement (Section 25)If it is not agreed, the unions that have voted to accept (UNISON, RCN,SOR, CDNA, BAOT) will ask the DH/Employers to issue the circular.
Mike JacksonSenior National Officer (Health)Lead Negotiator NHS Terms & Conditions