UNISON has negotiated a series of amendments on key policy issues at the Labour Party’s National Policy Forum.
These agreements, and others supported by the union, will now shape Labour’s general election manifesto and programme in government.
Agreements include: repeal of the Health and Social Care Act, the NHS to be the preferred healthcare provider, a commitment to raise the minimum wage and action to increase living wage employers.
There was also agreement to commit to action on zero hours contracts, an end to 15 minute care visits, payment for travelling time for care staff, a better framework for local government funding and fair pay and a commitment to defend health and public services in current European trade talks (TTIP).
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis who led the union’s delegation, said: “I think the UNISON team can be proud of the advances that we achieved in taking our union policies into the Labour Party.
“Action on the NHS, local government funding, privatisation, education and fair pay are all key issues. Instead of the Coalition’s race to the bottom we saw commitments about real increases to the minimum wage and action on zero hour contracts.
“We still have much more to do. We want a manifesto that can rally our members and the wider public to a radical programme for change with Labour. This is a sound first step.”
