UNISON win at St George's and Epsom & St Helier Hospital

 

UNISON WIN

Healthcare assistants at St George’s Hospital, Epsom Hospital and St Helier Hospital, have secured a significant pay victory after voting to accept an offer from their employers

For more information about the campaign visit london.unison.org.uk

#healthcareassistants #strike

Disability Information Day: Thursday 23 November 2023, 11:00-15:00

 

Sent on behalf of the Greater London Regional Disabled Members Committee

Dear Colleagues

 

RE: Disability Information Day: Thursday 23 November 2023, 11:00-15:00

 

The Regional Disabled Members Committee hope you will join us for the annual Disability Information Day event as we mark Disability History Month (16 Nov - 16 Dec).

The event is open to all UNISON staff, members, and activists and will be hosted at UNISON Centre, with hybrid option available.

 

We will be joined by Shadow Minister for Disabled People, Vicky Foxcroft MP, and other speakers to be confirmed.

Refreshments will be provided on arrival and there will also be a lunch - please make sure you let us know if you have any dietary requirements via the form below.

 

Please let us know if you have any access requirements (i.e., BSL interpreter, palantypist, specific seating etc) when registering via the form below.

 

You can register for the event here: https://forms.office.com/e/Mgn0SVYAze

 

Please note registration closes at midday on Monday 20 November. If you have any queries regarding this event, please contact Joy Pearce (cc'd).

Regards

Nick

UNISON Regional Black Members Committee: Passing The Torch Event

Date: 13 September 2023* *Time: 2:30pm-6pm* *Address: City Hall (Newham) Kamal Chunchie Way, London E16 1ZE* The Greater London Regional Black Members Committee is hosting an event at City Hall (Newham). 
This inter-generational event is an opportunity for UNISON members of varying ages to come together to share ideas and learn from each other.

Please register via the link below. Thank you! https://london.unison.org.uk/events/regional-black-members-committee-passing-the-torch/
 

Elected to UNISON Labour Link National Committee (& Vote for Anu in regional elections)

 

On Monday I was really pleased to find out that I had been re-elected (after 2 year gap of course) to the UNISON National Labour Link Committee by NEC (National Executive Council) colleagues to the 12 seats that the NEC hold on that committee (the others by regional and self-organised groups).

Labour Link is the UNISON political fund that in principle supports the Labour Party (but not on everything if they get things wrong in our view) but wants a Labour Government to be elected asap.

Only NEC Labour Party Political fund levy payers "supporters" can vote in these elections and only Labour Party members can stand for Committee positions. 

I will be bringing up at this committee issues of grave concerns to my members such as fire & rehire, cuts to pay and terms of conditions (such as defined benefit pensions!!!!)

Of course, some hard left extremists who hate the Labour Party and only pretend to support them in order to vote or stand took part but but I think most of their candidates got nowhere.

Regional elections for delegates to National Labour Link Committee by all levy members will take place soon. My branch nominated  the excellent candidate, Anu Prashar,  for the Greater London seat. 

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2023: Tuesday - Day 1

 

This morning I went for a early morning run (aka slow jog) west of the Mersey then was in the Conference centre for the first day of National Delegate Conference, as one of the two London regional delegates with Yvonne Green.

There was a bit of confusion with where our delegates had to sit since one row of seats had been double booked with East Midland region so we had to move everyone back one row which caused some confusion and upset but was taken in general in good grace. These things happen. 

We had the informal Greater London lunch for new and/or lone delegates which I thought went really well. UNISON conferences are a bit weird for new activists (and to be honest - old and new!) so this is a great opportunity to chat with new/sole members about conference. 

I had a dreadful waste of time trying to get my printer to work with my phone to enable delegates to print their speeches. Hopefully this will be sorted due to my HAB delegate colleague (and IT expert) Joseph Ogundemuren.

After close of conference I went to chemist for Covid  test kit since felt pretty rough but it was negative, so just an early case of the normal "Conference flu" I think.  Spent the evening writing my speech for composite D on industrial action ballots. 

UNISON National Delegates Conference 2023: Regional Delegates Briefing

Today I went to Liverpool in advance of our UNISON National Delegate Conference (NDC) for a briefing as a regional delegate. Yvonne Green and I were elected at our AGM to be the Greater London regional delegates at conference, supporting our delegates at NDC and representing the region. 

UNISON is the largest union in the UK with 1.3 million members. At the briefing today we were told that there will be some 600 plus branches represented at NDC and 1277 delegates (as well as several hundred visitors and exhibitors). 905 delegates are female (as fitting a union made up of predominantly female members), 149 low paid and 132 define themselves as black. 

There will be 30 fringes during NDC. You can find your regional delegates on the side of the main conference debating hall. Our Greater London regional briefing will be tomorrow evening where Jo, the Regional Secretary,  Yvonne and I will brief delegates and answer any questions or queries. 

Not In Our Name: Emergency motion to UNISON Greater London Regional Council on TRFC faction attempted Coup

On Tuesday 2 November there will be a virtual meeting of the UNISON London Regional Council. All branches can send delegates to this meeting. 

At this meeting we will debate the following Emergency Motion 1 Received from the Greenwich Local Government Branch 

NOT IN OUR NAME 

We note with extreme concern the actions taken by the NEC at their meeting of the 6th October 2021 to vote to amend UNISON rules in breach of Rule N1 which states “Rules shall not be amended except by a resolution passed at a National Delegate Conference by two thirds majority of those delegates voting in favour or in the case of a card vote, at least two-thirds of the votes cast.”

Therefore exceeding their authority and breaching UNISON rules. Furthermore the NEC has no mandate to make these decisions which potentially puts UNISON in legal jeopardy. 

The actions of the NEC in voting for rule changes and thereby bypassing the sole power invested in National Delegate Conference to change rules as set out in Rule N1 brings our union into disrepute and likely to discourage our membership. 

One of the aims of UNISON as set out in Rule B2.5 “To promote and safeguard the rights of members to have an adequate opportunity to participate in the initiation and development of policy making, through meetings, conferences,, delegations and ballots, and to encourage the maximum democratic debate, together with the right to campaign to change policy, while at all times acting within the rules and agreed policy.” 

The actions of the NEC to try and amend rules without any consultation with the wider union also seems to breach this rule as well, at least in spirit. 

Celebrating their majority in the NEC, “Time for Real Change” candidates stated #TimeForRealChange has a collective vision for change. UNISON members are at the heart of that vision. We are determined to make ‘member-led’ more than just a turn of phrase in UNISON.” 

Obviously “member-led” and “members are at the heart of that vision” does not involve consulting any of the Devolved Nations, Regions, Branches or members about any changes. the NEC propose.

We ask Regional Council to agree the following: 

1.To register the disgust of the Greater London Regional Council about the misuse of power by the newly elected NEC members and the flagrant breaching of UNISON rules by trying to amend UNISON Rules and bypassing National Delegate Conference. 

2.To request the roll call of NEC members who attended the meeting and how they voted at the meeting. 

3 To call upon Greater London UNISON branches to pass motions to request that the General Secretary call a Special Delegate Conference in line with UNISON rule D 1.2.2
(D 1.2.2 A Special Delegate Conference shall be convened on receipt by the General
Secretary, within any two-month period, of requisitions to that effect, stating the business to
be transacted, from branches representing not less than 25% of the Union’s membership) 

To debate the breach of rules and to insist that in future the NEC apply the rules of the union in the correct and proper manner and take account of any legal advice they receive from UNISON’s in-house legal team".

London UNISON Celebrating Black History Month 2021 "Breaking the Glass Ceiling"

This year the Regional Black Members Committee will be hosting a virtual event to celebrate Black History Month. 

The theme will be: Breaking the Glass Ceiling. This is an opportunity for the Region to recognise and celebrate Black Lives, which is especially important in the current climate.  

The event is open to all members and activists and will feature music, poetry, and inspirational speakers. It will be hosted via MS Teams on Friday 29th October 2021, starting at 2.00pm.

Please circulate details of this event to all members in your branch. 

If you are a London UNISON member you can register for the event here:

https://forms.office.com/r/1xHXtyqKiw (or scan above) - you need your membership number and if you do not know it ring UNISONdirect to find out on 0800 0 857 857)

Merry Christmas from Greater London UNISON!

 

This is the front of the card sent out on behalf of Greater London UNISON Regional Council Officers and its Senior Management team by Yvonne Green (Regional Convenor) and Maggie Fermcombe (Regional Secretary). 

"It's been an unprecedented and challenging year with public services on the front line, protecting us and keeping London moving, like never before. Despite the pandemic and the impact it has had on you and your families, your activists and branch officers, you have continued to deliver essential public services to London as well as providing unwavering support to our members during these difficult times. 

On behalf of the Regional Council Officers and the Regional Management Team, we thank you for al your have done and continue to do, we are so proud of all we, in UNISON Greater London have achieved in 2020.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Yvonne and Maggie"

Christina McAnea for UNISON General Secretary: Greater London Campaign Rally Wednesday 28 October 7.30-8.30pm

 

Check out "Greater London Campaign Rally with Christina McAnea". Register to join via https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/greater-london-campaign-rally-with-christina-mcanea-tickets-126697657103?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=estw&utm-source=tw&utm-term=listing…

@EventbriteUK