Labour national policy forum agrees way ahead

(28/07/08) UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has welcomed agreements reached on key issues, such as public services, equalities and workforce protections, at the Labour party national policy forum in Warwick.Unions, constituency parties and ministers spent the weekend in joint discussions to move the union's agenda forward.Mr Prentis said: "We have moved forward on a package that covers a wide range of areas that the British electorate wants to see addressed."These include health and the public services, equal pay and equalities, tackling poverty, improving skills training and fairness at work."It provides a sound basis for rebuilding support for Labour's core values."Importantly for us, it affirms the central role of the public sector in delivering public services. It makes clear that direct provision should be the preferred option - and that privatisation is not the way ahead. It supports public service workers in the essential jobs they do in our communities - workers who I am proud to represent."On public services, the agreement states: "Excellent public services lie at the heart of any civilised society, essential to delivering fairness and opportunity for all. Investment in public services also supports our future economic development and can also play an essential role in regenerating local economies and maintaining stable growth and high levels of employments."

It opposes any attempts to create a single EU market for healthcare which could undermine the NHS.

It commits to maintaining and developing a central role for public provision and a directly employed workforce.

Central to improvement are public service staff - two-tier workforce protections will be strengthened.

Councils will be supported to implement terms and conditions consistent with the principles of equal pay for work of equal value.

All hospitals are to give full consideration to in-house options for cleaning contracts - to develop critical public sector capacity.

Skills training will be improved - skills sector forums will look at setting minimum standards for social care workers.

Term-time only contracts will be tackled.