UNISON must get strike ready by adapting quickly to the opportunities provided by the new Employment Rights Bill, the union’s conference heard yesterday.

Staffs Community Health branch delegate Oliver Nicholls said: “Under the previous Tory government, organising and industrial action came under attack through restrictions and arbitrary ballot goals.

“The new Employment Rights Bill is set to change that but our work is not done.

“Under the Organising to Win campaign, the West Midlands has been able to secure high membership support at both ballot and strike stages.”

Scotland delegate Mark Ferguson said: “We have forced employers to make new offers” because of the union’s strength of organisation.

He said: “A successful regional plan has helped to win successful outcomes, including more members and more activists.”

Mike Moore from Birmingham called for modern organising tools to help get the job done.

He said: “The university sector has suffered a decade of stagnant pay, but anti-trade union legislation has made it difficult to build solid industrial action.

“We need industrial action to be much quicker and more agile.”

Knowsley delegate James Robinson said: “Participation is key and can radically change the outcome of disputes with employers.”

Mr Robinson explained that to achieve this, “we have to be honest about where the union did well and where we didn’t.”

“We have to recognise where our strengths lay and act accordingly.”

NEC speaker Dave Jones said: “Industrial action should not be seen as just a last resort and should be a tool to use when it’s appropriate.

“We need to be an organisation which is ballot ready.”

Ian Allinson, from Manchester, said: “We have to do the work to stand on our own two feet” rather than relying on legislation.

“We need to be much more systematic about our organising strategy,” he said.

Conroy Lawrence from Greater London said: “The thresholds are there to frustrate action. The system was rigged against us.

“The new legislation gives us a chance to reclaim our power.”