UNISON “needs to act now” to support industrial action across the union, its NEC told conference yesterday.

The union set out plans to roll out training across its 12 regions on organising and winning industrial action ballots, and to examine the different organising methods that can be used to help the union to win and to come up with recommendations on how to hold successful ballots.

Conference supported the motion but an earlier composite was defeated.

The motion called for a full review about what has worked to win industrial action ballots across the union and to develop the necessary campaign tools.

John Gray, from Greater London, said the review “must involve all the key players in the union and not just the NEC.”

Mr Gray added: “Our union must learn the lessons of how we can beat the thresholds. The NEC shouldn’t just go off and be a lone ranger.”

Steve North, opposing the motion from the NEC, said: “Our members need action now.

“Our union is winning now and we need to learn from those examples.

“We can’t kick this tin down the road. We are already learning the lessons.”

Cath Owen from the NEC said the Tories were busy passing laws “that would knock out the right of swathes of workers to take strike action.”

Ms Owen said the union did not have the time to conduct long reviews.

She said everyone across the union “needs to recognise the need to act now” so Unison can win industrial action ballots and disputes.

Supporting the motion, Eddie Brand from the London Ambulance Service said: “Yes, we can take lessons from other unions, but what works for the [Royal College of Nursing] won’t work for the [London Ambulance Service].

“We shouldn’t be afraid to do a review. We need to come together and take this opportunity to nail it.”