Public sector pension reform: Unison call to support strike action: Prentis speech

Public sector pension reform: Unison call to support strike action: Prentis speech; - And like our president, I’m proud to welcome our international guests. Our comrades in arms. The trade union leaders facing the same battle as us. Austerity across Europe, from Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Denmark. Unions we are linked with.Friends we march with. And together we will fight, shoulder to shoulder for our values and for people across Europe. And to our friends from South Africa and Swaziland. It is an honour to have you with us – a reminder of true international solidarity. We welcome you all to our conference. Together, part of a joint struggle for a better, fairer world and the cause of peace. And I would like to pay our condolences to Brian Haw, the peace campaigner, who lived opposite Westminster. Brian was a unique, determined man. Fighting to show self-serving politicians the horrors of war, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. And in his name, and from this conference, we send a message of solidarity to our brothers and sisters in Palestine, fighting for their freedom. To those in Libya and the Middle East, fighting for a fairer world. Conference, A year ago, we could have been beaten, lost our way. But in this past year we’ve grown our membership for the 17th year running. We’ve strengthened organising, a new army of organisers. Our branches, fighting back where they can.Mike Tucker, in Southampton, John Burgess, in Barnet - their necks on the line. 40 branches in dispute, 34,000 members, balloted or taking action. Conference, this union salutes them all and what they are doing to save our members jobs and services. And activists like Anne McCormack and Kenny Bell, with personal battles, yet still battling for their members. Our branches in Stoke and the North East fighting the BNP and seeing them off. 700 welfare reps, there when our members need them most. And learning reps, like Carol Keddie, transforming lives and flying our flag.