Etholiadau NEC UNSAIN 2023: Datganiad John Gray ar gyfer Sedd Gyffredinol y Gymuned (Papurau pleidleisio yn gollwng 17/4/23)

"Rwy’n gweithio i gymdeithas tai ac yn mynd i’r afael ag ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol cymhleth, cam-drin domestig a thwyll tenantiaeth. Fel gweithiwr tai, rwy’n deall yn uniongyrchol straen ac anawsterau darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Fel stiward a Chynullydd Cenedlaethol, rwy’n gweithio’n galed yn ddyddiol i helpu aelodau pan fo angen help arnynt fwyaf, gan eu cynrychioli gyda materion disgyblaeth, absenoldeb salwch ac achwyniadau yn ogystal â chyd-drafod gyda’m cyflogwr ar gyflog, amodau a thelerau.

Yn rhy aml, cais y sector cymunedol ei danbrisio a’i anwybyddu. Yn aml mae gennym amodau a thelerau gwaeth na’r rheiny sy’n cael eu cyflogi’n uniongyrchol gan ymddiriedolaethau ysbytai neu awdurdod lleol. Mae angen llywodraeth ar weithwyr cymunedol sy’n parchu ein sector a’r gwasanaethau pwysig rydym yn eu darparu.

Fy niddordeb arbennig yw pensiynau ac rwy’n cynrychioli UNSAIN ar ddau fwrdd pensiwn. Dylai fod gan bawb yr hawl i bensiwn teg a da, ac mae ein sector yn aml yn dioddef cyfraniadau cyflogwr is a buddion gwaeth.

Yn ogystal â bod yn weithiwr rheng flaen, rwy’n actifydd profiadol. Fi yw Cynullydd UNSAIN Cenedlaethol dros fy nghyflogwr ac rwy’n Aelod Gweithredol y Grŵp Gwasanaethau Cymunedol, ac yn gyn-aelod NEC. Rwyf wedi bod yn aelod gweithredol ar gyfer canghennau llywodraeth leol a chymunedol ers dros 29 o flynyddoedd, ac yn flaenorol rwyf wedi bod yn ysgrifennydd, yn drysorydd ac yn swyddog iechyd a diogelwch cangen.

Fel eich aelod NEC, rwy’n addo mynd i’r afael â’r materion sy’n bwysig a rhoi ein haelodau wrth wraidd popeth – fel yr wyf wedi’i wneud bob tro.

Pleidleisiwch dros Denise Thomas (Sedd Gymunedol Fenywaidd)

Os ydyn ni’n cael ein hethol, rydym yn addo’r canlynol:

Rhoi Aelodau’r Gymuned yn Gyntaf – Byddwn yn cynrychioli pob un o’r 82,000 o aelodau UNSAIN gan godi’r materion sydd bwysicaf i aelodau’r gymuned a changhennau. Byddwn hefyd yn sicrhau bod aelodau’r gymuned yn derbyn safon cynrychiolaeth, cyngor cyfreithiol a chymorth gan UNSAIN pan fo’u hangen arnynt fwyaf.

Mynd i’r Afael â’r Argyfwng Costau Byw - mae angen codiad cyflog cyfiawn ym mhob cyflogwr trydydd sector a rhagor o adnoddau er mwyn i ganghennau wneud hynny. Mae gennym y cyflogau isaf a’r amodau a thelerau gwaethaf a disgwylir i ni oroesi ar ewyllys da a’n brwdfrydedd dros ein sector. Mae angen ariannu tymor hir gwirioneddol a pharch at y gwasanaethau pwysig rydym yn eu darparu.

Sefyll yn Unedig a Gwrthod Rhaniad - Byddwn yn gweithio gyda, ac yn cefnogi Christina McAnea, yr Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol etholedig i gyflawni ar gyfer yr holl aelodau. Gwnaeth pleidlais o ddiffyg hyder yn yr NEC y llynedd ddangos yr hyn sydd bwysicaf yw gweithio ar gyfer newid cadarnhaol a chynyddol yn ein hundeb - dim bychander a diogelu unigolion.

Sicrhau bod gan bawb lais yn UNSAIN - Mae gan y gymuned dros 80% o aelodau sy’n fenywod a 20% o aelodau du gyda gweithlu amrywiol ar draws yr holl ranbarthau a chenhedloedd. Mae’n rhaid i UNSAIN gynrychioli’r holl aelodau a dylai’r NEC gael ei arwain gan y rheiny sy’n gwneud.

Brwydro yn erbyn gwahaniaethu a’i roi wrth wraidd UNSAIN- Ni ddylai unrhyw un byth brofi hiliaeth, casineb at fenywod, rhywiaeth, trawsffobia, homoffobia, rhagfarn ar sail oedran, anabledd neu unrhyw ffurf arall ar wahaniaethu naill ai yn y gweithlu neu’r undeb. Rydym yn addo gweithio gyda’r holl Grwpiau Hunan-drefnu i gefnogi eu blaenoriaethau".

uCVS19 Conference speech 10. "Alexa did you takes our jobs The rising threat of Automation and computerisation in the Housing Sector"

This was my speech to UNISON Community Conference yesterday on Motion 10.

"John Gray, speaking on behalf of the Service Group Executive in favour of motion 10 as amended.

Conference,

This is all disturbing and challenging but negative changes in employment is nothing new. My first experience of significant industrial action took place 20 years ago this July when I was I was a housing officer working for a London council and was elected chair of a strike committee, we took all out strike for a month against setting up of a repairs call centre and closure of 12 local housing offices with the threat of compulsory redundancies.

It is also not just automation that threatens our jobs but the associated so called “gig or uber economy” employment practices. The rise of bogus self-employment, insecure contracts, no sickness pay, no decent holiday nor pension provision.

Undoubtedly there are threats from automatisation that this motion seeks to begin to address but also there are opportunities to organise. Remember the words of the famous song “Jerusalem” by William Blake? We have new versions of “dark satanic mills” in this 21st century  industrial age, even though there might appear to be shiny computer centres, and UNISON has to be there for workers - fighting, campaigning, persuading, influencing, defending workers by all means possible.

Unison needs to raise its game as well, recently a community member rang our free phone number unisondirect to advise us that she had left her job with a major charity and was now working “freelance” for two charities. As soon as she mentioned “freelance” she was told that she was no longer eligible to be a member! Of course, this is nonsense and Gavin our national officer was horrified when I told him and has taken up with issue with unisondirect, but this shows how we must change our union to reflect the reality of workers, here and now.

This member doesn’t just want traditional representation if things goes wrong she want help with chasing invoices, claiming tax back, basic pension advice and income protection if she is sick.

Finally, conference, 20 years ago we won that dispute against automatisation and managed to save a local housing office service and no one was forced out of a job.

What we must do now is to ensure that our union can adapt to our ever changing world and win future fights for all our members. Conference, please support this motion.

This motion was from the great nation of Cymru/Wales written by my good comrade Mark Jones. Hat tip picture to Mitsy. The motion was passed unanimously.

The Alwen Trail (& The Fairy Freckled Cow)

Picture collage from a lovely walk in North Wales last week. A 7.5 mile circular walk around the Alwen Dam and Denbigh moors. The dam was built in 1911 and flooded an ancient sheep farm  valley in order to provide drinking water for Birkenhead in Merseyside.

The route is well sign posted (but we still got lost for a while by not paying attention to the signs). When we started the walk it was cold but dry and in sunshine but typically for Wales at this time of the year there was sudden snow and hail flurries (see picture of the dam bottom right - before and after).

The trail passed the ruined cottage and birthplace of the Welsh bard (poet) Taliesin Hiraethog who learnt his craft according to the nearby panel from gatherings of his neighbours who "recited poetry, told tales and played the harp". Called "Nosweithiau Llawen" (Merry Nights).

The walk went through forests and moorland with the lake often out of sight.

Just before the end we passed a panel which told the local folklore story of the magical "Fairy Freckled Cow" (which sounds more interesting than it actually is and is now the name of an annual cross country race around the dam).

A nice varied all seasons walk but make sure you have appropriate clothing (there was a few cold, wet and miserable looking people about who hadn't planned for North Walian weather). Final hint - don't trust the car park postcode for the SavNav. Search Alwen Dam instead. 

Angie Roberts UNISON NEC Candidate Female Seat Cymru/Wales

"The stronger UNISON pledge sums up how I feel in my heart.

Our members are amazing individuals who collectively are our great Union and I am determined no matter what happens in these unprecedented times, that I will continue to be a strong voice for our members and together we can be a stronger UNISON".

Angie Roberts Regional candidate for the female seat for Cymru/Wales