I was particularly asked to talk about the National Minimum Wage and talked about the issues relating to age rates and the exemption for apprentices. They are two major issues of discrimination against young workers which we must continue to challenge and NUS and their affiliated student unions can be an important part of this fight. I was joined by Raj Jethwa from the TUC and Shane Chowen, President at City College Plymouth and the Chair was Beth Walker NUS Vice President (Further Education) (who's name I got wrong to much embarrassment). The fringe was packed full of activists from student unions and gave us a great opportunity to discuss the issues and put across a positive image on UNISON.
UNISON also sponsored a fringe on transgender issues organised by NUS LGBT Campaign. Louise Ashworth, C0-Chair of UNISON's National LGBT Committee spoke to the fringe, which again went very well and was a very full meeting.
Overall it seems that UNISON's involvement in the conference was very positive, engaging with student activists on issues that they clearly cared about.
It was also interesting for me to see NUS Conference again after some absence. and catch up with some old friends, both activists and NUS staff. I have to say a highlight (other than our fringes) was seeing one of my contemporaries and an excellent activist Wes Streeting elected as the next NUS National President. I'm sure he will continue to prioritise working with Trade Unions, including UNISON.
4 comments:
If Wes Streeting is interested in working with UNISON, he might consider as a first step looking to change the NUS position on salaried status for student nurses. I understand NUS position on this issue has historically been informed by the RCN rather than UNISON, but its about time that we sought to get NUS on board with our campaign to win decent working conditions for student nurses. All the more important now, as the nursing profession edges ever closer to all-graduate entry and the NUS has (appallingly!) abandoned its opposition to fees.
If Wes Streeting is interested in working with UNISON, he might consider as a first step looking to change the NUS position on salaried status for student nurses. I understand NUS position on this issue has historically been informed by the RCN rather than UNISON, but its about time that we sought to get NUS on board with our campaign to win decent working conditions for student nurses. All the more important now, as the nursing profession edges ever closer to all-graduate entry and the NUS has (appallingly!) abandoned its opposition to fees.
This is certainly something I talk to my comrades in the NUS about. It seems well meaning student unions in the past have submitted motions with good intentions but a lack of understanding of the issues. Maybe we could do some stuff for student unions on the Pay not Poverty Campaign.
An in fact NUS retains it's position on free education, but decided that in the run up to the 2009 review of HE funding they would look at a range of proposals not necessarily based on free education.
The fringe was brilliant - i learnt alot to take back to my Union, especially the speech that Shane gave.
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