We meet in unprecedented circumstances for our members and our brothers and sisters in other trade unions following the vote in favour of leaving the EU after which we face serious uncertainty in a number of areas.
Firstly major political upheaval in both of the largest parties with news this morning that Justice Secretary Michael Gove is intending to run as prime minister and some unedifying developments within the opposition party. And while it is beyond Napo’s purview to make any public comment about this, I am personally saddened to see a decent, principled politician have to go through the things that Jeremy Corbyn has faced over the last few days. And I hope that whatever happens, that this NEC will wish to record its appreciation for the support that he and members of his team have given to Napo members in our campaigning work.
Yesterday’s meeting of the TUC General Council was the first opportunity for the movement to take stock of the situation, and the positive news is that the meeting was free from recrimination but that’s as good as it gets.
For it is clear that whatever the outcome of the Tory Party leadership contest, our members in probation, family court and PBNI face even harsher austerity measures and cuts to departmental spending and you all know the impact of that on jobs and the capacity of our members to deliver services to clients and the wider communities that they serve.
There’s also the issue of the Trade Union Bill as well - for while the General Council welcomed those concessions that have been secured and the fact that there is ongoing work in a number of areas, there is no doubt that this legislation represents a real and present threat to the efforts of trade unions in defending their members' interests.
The General Council also considered the huge task of trying to bring unity amongst working people in a situation where it was recognised that many people voted for the Brexit door for different reasons than the immigration issue.
Finally, the other key issue that featured highly and, is perhaps the most disturbing at the moment, is that of racism and xenophobia which is already manifesting itself in reports of verbal abuse, violence against individuals, damage to property and by the now usual social media route. Equally worrying are the reports that I have picked up from NOMS of instances of racial abuse from staff to colleagues which I believe are being acted upon.
It was a long meeting yesterday and I have tried to give you as concise a summary as possible, but I would especially ask the NEC to endorse Napo’s commitment to maintaining our opposition to the austerity agenda, encouraging maximum unity and solidarity amongst our members in the 24 employers that we cover and that, equally crucially, this union re-affirms its total deprecation of racism and xenophobia in all its forms as we seek to play our part in the wider campaigns to defend the working conditions of trade unionists and their families across the UK, and to stand up for the communities that we serve.