London UNISON AGM - Angela Rayner MP; Nordic model, Ukraine Ambulance aid, General Secretary Christina McAnea & election results (forces of light & reason returned as elected lay Convenor team)

 

This morning we had our first in person Greater London UNISON AGM since 2020. It was marvellous to be meet old friends and comrades (and new people I had only met before on video). While I did not enjoy the travel "experience" on route via the London Central line, I think you cannot beat real human contact and engagement (when safe to do so). 

I was really pleased at the attendance (about 130 delegates I think) since we were worried that people would not travel into central London. 

Our keynote speaker was deputy leader of the Labour Party and former UNISON activist Angela Rayner, who gave a barnstorming speech attacking the Tories and on how much she owed to UNISON and the wider Labour movement, for supporting her from being a 16 year old single mum social  care worker into a union activist then becoming a MP. 

Angela had a fantastic reception from the AGM and she stayed for the following debate on an emergency motion on "Sexism & Misogyny".  There was some brilliant speakers on this motion which was passed unanimously but some breathtakingly hypocritical contributions from hard left extremists, who spoke in favour of the motion, at the same time they support someone sacked from their job for bullying and harassing 14 female UNISON members??? I am so glad that we did not invite anyone from the current UNISON "Presidential" team to speak. 

Our regional secretary, Tracey Dalling, gave her report and answered questions from the floor. She is off at the end of the month to take up her new position as regional secretary for Scotland and will be missed. Our London loss is Scotland's gain. 

I gave my finance convenor report (and the diversity report since the convenor Cynthia was unable to attend). We had a briefing by long standing member, Jackie Lewis on ending the UNISON support for the "Nordic model" for sex workers followed by a motion which was passed. 

There was a fantastic (and at times emotional) report by the secretary of UNION London Ambulance Service, Eddie Brand on their 1200 mile drive to the Polish/Ukraine boarder to deliver 10 ambulances, medical equipment and humanitarian supplies to their fellow trade unionists in Ukraine. I am so proud of this act of solidarity. 

Our final speaker was our general secretary, Christiana McAnea, who told it as it is - why we need to get rid of Boris Johnson, why we need an alternative government and how we can help bring this about by demonstrating at the TUC demo then rally on Saturday June 18. 

The final agenda item was the announcement that Yvonne Green had been re-elected as Regional Convenor. Which meant that Yvonne, Conroy, myself, Cynthia and Clara were all re-elected as London Regional Council officers for the next year. 

Elected unopposed! UNISON Greater London Regional Council officers team

 

I was really pleased today to find out that the existing Regional Council team for Greater London UNISON has been re-elected unopposed.

Yvonne Green as Regional Convenor, Conroy Lawrence as Deputy Convenor, myself as Finance Convenor, Cynthia Adjei as Equalities Convenor and Clara Mason as Publicity Convenor.

UNISON has 130,000 members in Greater London and 215 branches in local authorities, the NHS, Housing Associations, Voluntary sector, colleges and schools, universities, the electricity, gas and water industries, police services and transport and the voluntary sector. We are by far the largest union in London (and the country).

This is the second year in a row we have been elected unopposed as the lay leadership of UNISON in London (last year's election was decided in January so pre Covid).  I have actually held this position since 2007 (winning contested positions). 

Many, many thanks to our members for their vote of confidence in us. We will all work together as a convenor team to earn this trust.

(just to point out that the UNISON NEC elections for our National Executive Council is still on going and separate to the above. I am still standing for re-election for Community NEC and Clara for one of the London seats)

UNISON #UNEC19 Elections - Community & Greater London Region Seats

I have just voted for the following candidates and will post the ballot paper to the independent electoral reform services later today. It took me 5 minutes.

UNISON is the largest trade union in the UK with 1.3 million members covering a wide range of traditional public services such as Local Government and the NHS as well as out sourced private companies and the voluntary sector. So our elections are a "little" complex.

I am standing for one of the two Community (for members who work for Housing Associations and the voluntary sector) national seats and Denise Thomas, for the other seat.

Denise has worked for the Community sector for 26 years, supporting adults with learning difficulties. She is a valued colleague on our Service Group Executive in battling for our sector.

Also I voted for the following 3 candidates standing for Greater London Regional seats.

Sonya Howard is a respected London activist. She is the secretary of the Kensington & Chelsea branch and she has been outstanding in supporting members and campaigning for safety and tenants rights post Grenfell fire.

Cynthia Adjei works for the GLA and is our London UNISON Regional Convenor for Equalities. She is a committed campaigner for greater funding for all public services to tackle homelessness, child poverty, in work poverty and gun/knife crime.

Eddie Brand has been a London Ambulance worker for 32 years and says things as it is. As long as I have known him he puts UNISON members first and foremost while proud to be a NHS paramedic.

Congratulations to Jo (daughter of our dear departed comrade, Irene Stacey) for being elected unopposed.

I will post my ballot paper for Black and Disabled Members seats next. If you don't work in the Community sector or in London, you can see my other recommendations here