UNISON National Delegate Conference 2023: Day 4

 

Final Day of Conference (Friday). It started with an informal meeting with shadow minister for mental health, Rosena Allin-Khan MP with Greater London UNISON delegates. Who shared with Rosena unison issues and successes in health, LAS, Police & Justice and Housing Associations. Rosena spoke later to conference on Labour's vision to deal with the mental health crisis. I then had to leave conference to attend a family funeral in North Wales. 

So the pictures in college above are taken from the Greater London UNISON twitter account and National UNISON webpage of the day. So I missed the awarding of honorary life membership to Dr Neville  Lawrence, my fellow Regional Rep, Yvonne Green, moving the composite on the Cost of Living Crisis and our regional Black delegates (and 2 from my branch) speaking on motion 52 celebrating the "Year of Black Worker 2023".  

I came back to conference just as it closed. This meant that I my 2 year term of office as a elected member of the UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) for Community (Housing Associations & Voluntary sector) had begun. I had served previously in this role 2011-2021.

We had our first meeting at 4.30pm to elect the lay Presidential 2023/24 team and although the candidates I preferred were not selected on this occasion, congratulations to Libby, Steve and Julia. It was very, very close, 35 votes to 32 (and 34 to 33 for the junior Vice President position).  

I echo the very wise words of our General Secretary, Christina MAnea at the close of the meeting that the NEC must put aside its differences and move on together in the interests of the Union and to represent all those who elected us. Let us see what happens next.