5 things we learned from Labour’s conference

 1 UNISON made sure Palestine was at the heart of the conference

“On the news every night, we see the Palestinians of Gaza suffering famine, death and destruction. And yes, genocide too. We can’t continue to watch from the sidelines in horror,” said general secretary Christina McAnea as she moved an emergency debate at the start of the conference (pictured above).

2 A major UNISON win even before conference started

A UNISON motion on insourcing and public sector subsidiary companies – also known as subcos – forced NHS England to announce the end to the NHS subco expansion. Who said conferences were just a lot of hot air…

3 We made sure a National Care Service wasn’t forgotten – and got namechecked by Wes Streeting

We have always said that we cannot build a national care service unless we value and protect the people who will make it possible.

The fair pay agreement that UNISON has campaigned for would be a ‘game changer’ said the union’s Pam Sian moving a motion on staffing adult social care.

And in his speech to conference, secretary of state for health Wes Streeting said: “Let’s also be clear about how this change [a fair pay agreement in care] has come about. UNISON and GMB, who stood up for care workers when no one else would. Friends, you can go back to your members and tell them with pride that this is the difference that Labour unions make in government.”

4 Talk of a wealth tax won’t go away

The chancellor’s speech to conference got a mixed response from UNISON with praise for Rachel Reeves reassuring words on the package of employment rights that’s about to transform the lives of at least a million working people. But a lack of a wealth tax got a decidedly more lukewarm response.

5 Taking the fight to Reform went down well

The Prime Minister’s speech to conference was widely covered in the media, mainly for how Keir Starmer called out Nigel Farage, Reform and the far right. But general secretary Christina McAnea also wants to see his government put the same effort into rebuilding public services.

The article 5 things we learned from Labour’s conference first appeared on the UNISON National site.