"I am seeking your support for my re-election as Regional Convenor and also Regional Delegate to NDC.
As the Regional Convenor, I am so proud to be part of this diverse lay leadership team which is representative of our membership and our considerable success in recent years of strengthening the region by bringing greater unity and democracy, building participation across differing service and self organised groups, and building a union to be proud of.
Our union and our members have faced many challenges this year but the region has seen many successes such as a sustained increase in recruitment, increase in activists attending training, winning equal pay claims, campaigns to protect jobs and conditions through cuts and restructuring and our work on equalities which goes from strength to strength.
I want to see London UNISON continue to campaign on real issues for real members - defending the NHS and directly provided services; strengthening our influence in Education and in Private Contractors; promoting equalities; Pensions, affordable housing, London Living Wage, opposing and defeating the far right and raising UNISON’s profile as the lead trade union in London.
Never has it been a more important time for public service workers to be a member of a trade union, which gives us an opportunity to continue to build and strengthen our union, by recruiting, organising and maximising participation. By getting our members active we can only become stronger and more representative. We must take every opportunity to look at how we make the union more relevant to all and encourage participation at all levels. I will continue to send a message out to our members that this is OUR union, and each member has a role to play and a contribution to make.
As an experienced black activist I know only too well the challenges our members and activists face. I will work to strengthen support for branches and activists in undertaking the difficult task of supporting members at work, as well as to encourage new activists to come forward from sections of the union where there is a long-established under-representation.
In the coming year our union and our members will face many changes and challenges for which we must be ready to act and adapt. If re-elected as Convenor, with Conroy Lawrence as Deputy, we will ensure that the voice of the membership – your voice –continues to be listened to and heard, and that we champion these voices. We will continue to work tirelessly in the fight for equality and fairness for our members, to give London UNISON a louder and effective voice that is listened to by all.
I am also standing as Regional Delegate for NDC. In recent years we have seen more branches and delegates attending and participating in NDC than ever before and I want to support, encourage and assist the London delegation to ensure a successful and productive conference.
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