TUC 2020 – Napo makes its mark
For the first time in its history, the Trades Union Congress met on a remote basis on Monday and Tuesday of this week, and the online ‘Zoom’ audience surpassed all expectations.
Napo had submitted two motions to this year’s Congress, one on Probation Reform and another on the future governance arrangements for CAFCASS. These were formally carried by the General Council without the usual Congress debates which this year were replaced by a series of policy statements by the General Council which were the subject of contributions from the ‘online’ delegates from the TUC affiliated unions.
The proceedings of Congress 2020 can be viewed here and the contributions from National Chair Katie Lomas and General Secretary Ian Lawrence can be seen in the day 2 section. Katie (see 21:41 onwards in the stream) took part in the debate on economic recovery beyond the C-19 Pandemic and was able to ask Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer a question on the future of the Probation Service (1:14 onwards). Following this, Ian spoke in the ‘Tackling Racism at work’ debate (2:04:56 onwards) where he gave practical examples of Napo’s work in this field.
The Napo General Secretary was also successful in the contested election for the General Council seat representing Black Workers in unions of less than 200k members.
TUCG debate on the International Response against Racism and Facism
The previous evening saw a keynote online event organised by the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group which was Chaired by Ian Lawrence and featured a range of speakers including guests from the USA and Anguille.
The link to the proceedings is available here. The TUCG event also saw the launch of a high quality publication on uniting against racism to which Napo has made a contribution on Racism in Sport .
CRC members ballot underway - please ensure that you have your say
Last week all Napo members working in a CRC and NPS members in Wales formerly employed by SEETEC CRC, were sent a ballot pack explaining the process for the transfer of staff to either the NPS or a provider of Dynamic Framework services in June next year.
We are strongly urging our CRC members to take part in the ballot and vote ‘Yes’ to the Staff Transfer and Protections Agreement that will support the process.
More information will be sent out in the form of frequently asked Questions and members may contact their local Napo CRC rep for advice who will liaise with their Napo Link HQ Officials.
This is an important ballot on the outcome of the negotiations where Napo has worked hard to negotiate the best protections available for our members.
If you have not received a ballot paper please e-mail kwaldron@napo.org.uk with your name and membership number please.
Coming up
Two other events that may be of interest to our members are shown below
This Sunday – Stepping up the Opposition - Organising for the Future of Jobs and Services
To be Chaired by Tania Bassett Napo National Official
If you are tweeting to promote the event please ask people to register via eventbrite:
Or register at: bit.ly/stepupoppo
Justice for Columbia
Justice for Colombia invites Napo members to our upcoming online event and would be grateful if you shared the flyer and email with your members, colleagues and friends. The event is open to everybody.
‘Peace and Human Rights in Colombia’
Thursday 24 September, 6.30pm BST
Colombia’s peace process brought hope to millions of people. Its implementation is taking place in a human rights crisis that is seeing social and community leaders and former FARC guerrillas murdered at an alarming rate.
The event will be translated in English and Spanish.
The event will feature some of Colombia’s best-known figures from politics and the peace process: Iván Cepeda is a leading opposition senator and an outspoken human rights defender; Victoria Sandino is a former FARC commander, one of the main peace negotiators and a senator for the FARC political party; Raul Rosende is part of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.
Also joining us is Mariela Kohon, who was advisor to the peace negotiations and currently Senior International Officer at the TUC; and Emily Thornberry MP, the Shadow Secretary for International Trade
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