UNISON NEC Elections 2025: Community Service Group Ballot Paper - Vote for Denise and John

 

This morning I received this scan via teams from a workplace UNISON Colleague. The ballot papers for UNISON Community members (Housing Associations and Charities) have finally arrived. My pack was delivered by Royal Mail today as well. 

If you are a UNISON member and work for a Housing Association or Charity then please consider voting for Denise Thomas and John Gray as your NEC candidates. 

Also think about supporting other Members Together candidates and those who genuinely want to put the real interests of members first, work with our General Secretary, Christina McAnea and genuinely want to build and grow our union to deliver for members. 

For other recommendations in other services groups, regions and self organised groups :-

All members will have a vote for their region, service group, black and disabled candidates. Young members will also have a vote for their forum candidates. 

UNISON NEC ELECTIONS 2025
MEMBERS TOGETHER CANDIDATES

REGIONAL SEATS

Eastern General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Glenn Carrington, Debbie Rowden, Sam Hemraj

East Midlands General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

James Minto, Debby Taylor, Leanne Weatherley

Greater London General, Female, Female Low Pay Reserved

Eddie Brand, Sonya Howard, Clara Mason, Ablola Kusoro

Northern General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Linda Hobson, Janet Green, Helen Firman

Northern Ireland General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Alastair-Long Margaret McKee Catherine McKenna 

Scotland General            

Willie Docherty 

SERVICE GROUP SEATS

South East General, Female, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Theo Michael, Kerry Stothart, Fatima Kamara, Sarah Barwick

South West General, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Nell Guild, Alison Evans, Wendy Walker

Cymru/Wales General, Female, Low Paid Reserved

Glerin Pappas, Tess Morris, Michelle Edwards

West Midlands General, Female, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Rob Birch, Julie Lawton, Nicola Moran, Deanne Wheeler

Yorkshire & Humberside General, female, Female, Low Pay Reserved

Rhlan Hawthorn, Kerri Tierney, Julie Marsland, Emma-Lee Baylls

Community General, Female

John Gray, Denise Thomas

Energy General              

Tracey Wainwright

Health General, General, Female, Female

James Anthony, Bryn Webster, Michelle England, Hetty Okonjl,

Higher Education General, Female

Dan Beard Amelia Rout

Local Government General, General, Female, Female

Justin Ashton, Andrew Coughlin, Maxine Young, Jenny Whittaker

Police, Probation and Cafcass General, Female

Phil Williams Karen Poole

Water, Environment & Transport General

Natalie Mladenovlc-Halgh

BLACK MEMBERS SEATS

Black Members Female, Female, Male, Low Pay Reserved 

Manjula Kumari, Tansalm Hussain Gill, Ash Silverstone, Marla Alberts

DISABLED MEMBERS SEATS

Disabled Members Female

Lady Lola Oyewusi

Thank you for UNISON NEC Community Seat nominations

 

Thank you. Hopefully more to follow. Branches have until Feb 14th to nominate. 

Investor briefing on Private Credit and ‘fire and rehire’ - The Oscar Mayer dispute and Pemberton Asset Management (Thursday 16 Jan)

 

Tomorrow (Thursday 16 Jan) I will be moderating an online investor briefing on Private Credit and ‘fire and rehire’ - The Oscar Mayer dispute and Pemberton Asset Management. 

"Oscar Mayer is a food production business that makes ready meals sold in supermarkets across Britain. It is majority owned and controlled by Pemberton Asset Management, a private credit manager which took over the company in 2023.

550 Unite members working in Oscar Mayer’s Wrexham factory are taking strike action against a fire and rehire scheme imposed by management. Oscar Mayer management have already sacked 30 Unite members to force through savage cuts to terms and conditions.
  
Management is forcing through new contracts that reduce workers’ time off the production line to just two short breaks a day. Under the new contacts, workers won’t be paid for this time.  Overtime for working on bank holidays is also being taken away. All told, the changes will cost workers up to £3,000 a year each. 

Given its ownership, it is clear Pemberton has the capacity to intervene. Unite is calling on pension funds and other asset owners to make no further allocations to Pemberton until the dispute is resolved. Already Clwyd Pension Fund has confirmed it will be making no further allocations.

Unite has additionally submitted a complaint against Pemberton under the PRI’s Serious Violations Policy asking that it be removed as a signatory.

Please join us to hear more about the dispute this Thursday at 4pm UK. The meeting will be moderated by John Gray, trade union representative on London CIV, and include a contribution from Councillor Anthony Wedlake from Wrexham who is a member of the Clwyd pension committee".

Topic: Oscar Mayer dispute and Pemberton Asset Management
Time: Jan 16, 2025 04:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting 

https://unitetheunion-org.zoom.us/j/92892080496  

 

Meeting ID: 928 9208 0496 

Password: 798521 

One tap mobile 

+442034815240,,92892080496#,,,,0#,,798521# United Kingdom 

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Out and about in Royal Docks for Labour: West Ham & Beckton

 

This evening I joined my West Ham Ward colleague, John Whitworth in Royal Docks ward to canvass with local Councillors, Caroline Adaja and Steve Brayshaw. 

Our West Ham & Beckton Labour Parliamentary Candidate, James Asser, was out canvassing with activists in our North Woolwich ward. 

I had no "negative" responses during the door knock but I guess that some responses from residents that said they were "undecided" were probably from those who are actually opposed. But I felt (hope?) that while they will not vote Labour it is possible that they will stay at home and not vote. Which in one way is a shame but their choice and a reflection of how dreadful the current Conservative offer is to even their traditional supporters. 

On the plus side, we had plenty of positive responses in a part of the borough that some would think is not great for Labour.  A lady came to the door who was celebrating her birthday but wished us well and ensured us that everyone in her family and her friends would be voting Labour - including those who had changed their minds recently. 

I also came across a number of residents who had either never voted or had not voted for several years who were genuinely interested in the election process and who were pleased to be canvassed and learn more about how to vote. One young mum who was happy to engage, while also trying to ensure her excited toddler and her cat did not run out of the open front door was so pleased to meet Steve, one of her Councillors, who lives nearby and discuss with him local issues. 

Afterwards, John and I joined our colleague Shabs who had just finished his ward canvass at the Canning Town Efes to share their meal platter. A great meal and finish to a long day. 

UNISON Community Annual Seminar & Conference 24 - Day 1 "Supporting organising in Community Hybrid Workplaces"

Belated report from my speech at day one of UNISON National Community Conference earlier this month. I was moving an amendment to motion 1.

"Conference, Vice President, John Gray, moving amendment 1.1 on behalf of the SGE.

May I start by congratulating my London sister branch C&V org for this really important motion and make it clear from the off, that this is intended to be a friendly amendment by your SGE, intended to improve and expand the motion.

Also, to be absolutely clear, while there are real and significant challenges to organising in a hybrid workplace but there are enormous opportunities as well.

Now, community member employers come in all shapes and sizes. Let me tell my story. My employer, a very large housing association, has 4000 employees spread all over England in every single unison region, with 24 different offices and 100s of smaller workplaces such as caretaking lock ups, hostels or warden controlled sheltered housing blocks. A majority of staff are now, to a lesser or greater degree, hybrid workers, including most of our unison reps.

Pre covid pandemic, it was incredibly hard for our stewards to organise across this fragmented and geographical diverse workforce.

As dreadful as the pandemic was, it has resulted in an opportunity for us to organise effectively, to hold regular virtual meetings of reps, with national officers, with members. We are going through our annual pay claim and have had planning and consultation meetings with 90% of reps attending and participating in “real time”. Pre pandemic we really struggled to get reps to meet centrally.

Recently there has been a proposed restructure of our IT department potentially impacted over 150 workers who are based in London, Norwich, Plymouth, and Manchester. We were able to organise 2 virtual well attended open meetings with these workers and undertook a series of collective and collaborative online meetings and teams messaging to put together constructive challenge and counter proposals intended to save jobs and conditions but also improve the service. Again, this would have so difficult to have organised in the past.

It is not all good, especially for younger workers, who may be living in a privately rented HMO and don’t have a spare room but are expected somehow to work from their bedroom with a laptop, literally, on their lap.

The best technology is frankly no real substitute for face-to-face meeting and personal conversations and there will always remain a vital role for in-person meetings and representation.

Conference, the necessary debate about the pros and cons of home working is sometimes framed as “all or nothing”. You are expected to think it either the best thing since sliced bread or some sort of an evil conspiracy by big tech.

We know it is more complicated than this.

Conference, please support this amendment and the motion as amended. Let’s get organised in all our workplaces, in person… virtual and hybrid.

Remember we are not just individual volunteers, we are a collective and we do our best as a collective when we work effectively and truly represent all union members. Conference I move".

Happy 61st birthday John!

Many thanks to my wonderful wife Gill for this photo collage birthday card. I cannot believe that I am now well and truly into my 60s!. I am sure that I am only 39 (again).

I had to go to court this morning to find out what was happening to a tenant who was being sentenced for assaulting a neighbour and this afternoon I was representing a union member facing gross misconduct charges. 

This evening Gill and I went for a birthday drink and meal in London Bridge. Some more future birthday treats likely in coming weeks. 

Denise Thomas & John Gray Community NEC Report Oct 2023

NEC Meeting 14 July 2023

This was the first National Executive Council to be held after National Conference. We had met briefly there to elect the Presidential Team. President is Libby Nolan and Vice Presidents Steve North & Julia Maluke were narrowly elected. Neither of us supported their candidacy.

The meeting on the 14 July was to elect Chairs of all the NEC strategic committees and to ratify the membership of them. These working groups will govern the workings of UNISON for the next two years.

A number of NEC members were dissatisfied with the allocation by the Presidential team of seats on these committees including both of us. John had only 1 committee allocated (PDCC – Policy Development & Campaign Committee) which was his 3rd choice. Denise was only offered 2 (non-strategic) committees - International and disabled. Community NEC reps were being treated differently from over service groups and members. Some others had 5 positions. It is clear from remarks made at the meeting that this is some sort of “Political Revenge”. We both appealed. John was turned down and Denise was given Welfare (important but again not a strategic committee)

General Secretary Christina McAnea gave her report to the NEC. Noting it was UNISON’s 30th Birthday, reflecting on the many gains and achievements for our members over the years.

National Delegate Conference held in Liverpool was a great success both celebrating the ‘Year of Black Workers’ 2023 and promoting all Employers to adopt UNISONs Employment Anti-Racism Charter. Dr Neville Lawrence’s parent of Stephen Lawrence received honorary life membership of UNISON. UNISON is on course to intervene in the Judicial Review against the Home Secretary who reneged on the Windrush Lessons learned Review.

The National Care Agency report has now been launched and the Cost-of-living campaign has a new video encouraging members to contact their MPs. Some excellent news that UNISONs Judicial Review against this government’s use of Agency workers during a strike was successful.

National Labour Link Committee Election 17 July 2023

This was a ballot of all NEC members who are part of Labour Link and both of us were elected as NEC reps to the UNISON National Labour Link committee.

Disabled Members Committee 4th-5th July 2023

Elected Disabled NEC Members Katrina Murry, Angela Hamilton, Denise Thomas

Denise attended this meeting and over the coming months we will be working hard to make sure Disabled Members issues are seen as a priority by the NEC. Things we will be working on include: Reasonable adjustment passports; Securing the legacy of the Year of Disabled Workers ; Feeding into the COVID inquiry; · Changes to travel for people receiving PIP – see motion 19; · The disability pay and employment gap

The NEC will be committed to being an accountable and united team for Disabled Members. We’ve created a new Facebook page, Disabled Members’ united NEC Team, where we will share NEC reports and other information you might find interesting.

Welfare Committee & Training 7 September

Denise attended this meeting. Tony Wright was elected as Chair. All attended Trustee Responsibilities Training. Finances: for the 3-month period 1 April – 30 June 2023. The finance reports were received and noted. Service activity reports for the 3-month period 1 April – 30 June 2023, the total number of completed benefit calculations during quarter (01/04/23 – 30/06/23) was1143. The Service activity reports were received and noted

John attended an online training on NEC Discipline panels by Barrister on 7 September

Trade Union Congress, Liverpool 10-13 September 2023

John took part as a UNISON delegate to TUC (via PDCC) and spoke in the housing debate on accommodation for key workers. He also spoke in a fringe (in personal capacity) on Collective Defined Contribution Pensions.

Labour Link Committee 14 September 2023

Both Denise and John attending this meeting. Motions for submission to Labour Women’s and Labour Party conference were discussed. As was conference arrangements, finance report, regional updates; National Policy Forum update and Labour NEC report. The impact of the Tory anti-trade union legislation has resulted (as they intended) in a significant reduction in the number of unison members paying into the Labour Link and also the Campaign fund.

International Committee 17th September

Denise attended this meeting. Some of the recent work that’s been carried out;  Submission to the Africa APPG on just energy transitions.  Briefing for MPs ahead of the third reading of the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill;  Evidence submitted to the Bill committee to supplement oral evidence.  Palestine delegation report. (Can be found on Unisons Website)  Photos from the UIDF project with MAAN, organising Palestinian workers in the settlements.

The committee has been working alongside SOG’s especially national women’s committee On 22 November 2023, 12.30pm – 1.30pm. To mark the United Nations International Day to End Violence Against Women and Girls, the National Women’s Committee has organised a webinar on Violence in the workplace and International Labor Organization Convention. This webinar will explore union’s experiences in dealing with Violence in the workplace, including domestic violence and union’s experience in putting forward C190 provisions on the collective bargaining discussion table and the role of the union in pressing for a bipartite protocol on violence and harassment in the workplace. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsceqrqj4tEtXY8snzpwyuY_gbT1VnDlLj

CVS sector meeting 26 September 2023. Both Denise and John attend this meeting

PDCC Meeting 28 September 2023 Report to be tabled for next meeting.

30th anniversary as a Housing Officer and Trade Union Activist

 

On 6 September 1993 I started work as a housing officer in Bow for Tower Hamlets Council. I had worked as an agency temp in Columbia Road, Bethnal Green beforehand and also as a Housing Rights advisor in Edinburgh. I joined UNISON as a temp but had been a member/rep in the T&G previously. 

I cannot believe how fast the years have flown by nor that I still work normally one day a week in Bow for my same TUPE successor employer.

This picture is from the month long - all out 1999 UNISON Housing Strike, when I was the Chair of the Strike Committee. When we stopped the closure of local housing officers and the making of many staff redundant. It was a very tough dispute and while I hope to avoid future strikes with my present employer, it seems at the moment, very likely we will. 

Watch this space!

UPDATE: It was pointed out that yesterday 6/9/23 was also the day that my employer issued me with a fire and rehire dismissal letter! The irony!

COLLECTIVE PENSIONS: IMPROVING INCOME AFTER WORK - TUC Fringe 23

 

Next tuesday 12 September 2023 at 12.45 - 2pm I will be a panel speaker at a TUC fringe at Congress in Liverpool sponsored by First Actuarial LLP. 

I am at TUC as a UNISON NEC delegate but will be speaking at this fringe as a trade union pension activist/LGPS Board member etc. 

Check out some of my previous posts on Collective Defined Contribution schemes (CDC)

https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2022/01/royal-mail-cdc-pensions-could.html

https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2019/06/going-dutch-collective-defined.html

https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2023/03/tuc-pensions-conference-2023-pensions.html

"Many members of trade unions no longer have access to good quality defined benefit pensions. Instead they are auto-enrolled into individual defined contribution schemes often with very low employer contributions which are unlikely to provide dignity in retirement. Legislation now allows a new type of scheme: collective defined contribution. These schemes have the potential to really improve the income workers receive in retirement. This session will look at how these schemes work, where they might be appropriate and how trade unions can get them onto their bargaining agenda.

Speakers: Andy O’Regan, Employers & Strategic Partnerships Director (TPT), John Gray, Derek Benstead – First Actuarial LLP

Chair: Hilary Salt – First Actuarial LLP

Refreshments provided

Venue: Room 13

(check out al l TUC fringes and agendas here https://mailchi.mp/2c9743ce8691/welcome-to-tuc-congress-2022-final-agenda-436884?e=ca2047d5d4

"Clarion Housing Group must raise pay and stop pension cuts to avoid strike action, says UNISON"

 

Yep. My "social mission" employer is cutting my pay by up to 8% and also planning to sack me after 30 years of service (and other UNISON members) in November, in order for them to break the pensions promises they made to staff (and local authorities). Watch this space.

UNISON Press release - more to follow. Please pass on. https://www.facebook.com/clarionunison

Staff working at Clarion Housing Group, including caretakers and sheltered housing wardens, have rejected a 5% pay offer, and their union UNISON, has urged the employer to think again.

UNISON says the current offer is essentially a pay cut, as it falls well short of inflation and that staff deserve more.

Clarion has also announced plans to cut the pensions of nearly 300 staff. The housing association has said it intends to close the defined benefit scheme, which means employees will be significantly worse off, adds the union.

Clarion is planning to close the pension scheme by using ‘fire and rehire’ tactics, says UNISON. The housing association is threatening to sack staff and re-employ them on new contracts and an inferior pension scheme. Staff have been told that anyone who refuses to accept the new contracts will lose their jobs, says UNISON.

UNISON London convenor and tenancy specialist at Clarion John Gray said: “Clarion has offered little or no justification for wrecking the pension futures of so many of their long-serving staff.

“Employees were promised their pensions were safe if they transferred into Clarion from the local authorities where they were originally employed. Housing association managers have now gone back on their word. This is completely unacceptable behaviour, and the employer must think again."

UNISON London regional organiser Ezequiel Kramer said: “The fact that Clarion, the largest housing association in the country, is using this extreme practice to impose detrimental changes on staff pensions is disgraceful.

“This will affect staff moral and it shows the type of employer Clarion really is.”

Notes to editors:

- Staff are currently on a final salary pension scheme. With a defined benefit (DB) pension scheme, the amount paid out is based on how many years someone has been a member of a scheme and the salary they earned at the time they left that employer or retired.

- A consultative ballot conducted by UNISON over this year’s pay offer saw 92% of staff who voted reject the 5% offer, with 87% supporting strike action and 91% action short of strike action.

– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Fathers Day 2023

Today is always a little difficult for me (and no doubt my sisters Helen and Lucy) despite it being over 21 years since we lost our father, John Gray, in 2002. 

Picture from his Labour Party election leaflet for Buckley Town Council in late 1950's.

But I do get great joy at all my family and friends who genuinely celebrate or remember their Fathers on this day. 

Nuf said.

A (short) Homage to the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage

 

Last week Gill and I went for a holiday to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain. The old town of Santiago is a beautiful medieval city full of history and art, as well as bars and restaurants. It is also the end point of a famous Catholic pilgrimage route across Spain from several points in Europe to the reputed remains of the Apostle St James. Some 200,000 pilgrims take part every year. There are 9 routes and the most popular route is about 800k.

We were tourists not pilgrims but with help from the local tourist office, we were able to work out how to catch the airport bus (6A) and get off about 10k away at village of Lavacolla, outside the Supermarket, in order to walk back. The route is well marked and there is many other walkers. It was a lovely walk, lots of rolling countryside and historial stop offs (One at least not to be mentioned in polite company) but we did notice angry handwritten banners in the villages protesting about some planning proposals for the area (see riot Police on hand for a later demo outside the Cathedral which seemed to be a somewhat OTT response?).

My father (another John Gray) did the full pilgrimage route several times despite being a socialist atheist from a Scottish non conformist background. He always said he enjoyed the comradeship of the pilgrims from all countries and different walks of life and also the fantastic scenery.

One day I will come back and walk the full walk.

Last chance to take part in your unions internal democracy- UNISON NEC elections 2023

Election finishes this Friday 19 May 2023. All 1.3 million unison members should have got a ballot paper delivered to their registered home address. So if you have not voted yet -  you still can. 

If you have lost the envelope to return the ballot paper then just use a blank envelope and write the address in my photo. Put 1st class stamp on it to be safe or write “Freepost” Check out my recommendations for all seats 

Thank you UNISON Community & Voluntary Organisations Branch for your nominations - Only 4 days to go!

Dear Member,

Thank you to everyone who has already voted in the current UNISON NEC Elections, if you haven’t posted your ballot paper back yet then you still have time to do so. 

This is the most important election in the union, the NEC decide everything from how our money is spent to what campaigns we run. 

Want to know where your nearest postbox is to either home or your workplace? Check Find your nearest postbox 

We also proudly nominated these candidates to represent the interests of all community members nationally:

·         John Gray for Community General Seat

·         Denise Thomas for Community Female Seat 

 We have also proudly nominated these candidates to represent the interests of all members in London:

·         Anu Prashar for Greater London Female seat

·         Abiola Kusoro for Greater London Low Paid Seat

·         Sonya Howard for Greater London Female Seat

·         Eddie Brand for Greater London Male Seat

We nominated them because we believe that they will always put UNISON members first, are committed to fighting all forms of discrimination and all have a proven track record of delivering on their promises.  

If you’ve already voted, please encourage your colleagues to do so as well. Noone should be left behind.  

Don’t lose your voice. Make your plan. Vote by 19 May 2023. 

                                                                           Thank you, 

 

UNISON NEC Elections: John & Denise Endorsed by Brian Green

 Many thanks to Brian for his kind comments and endorsement of us. This is the last weekend for voting!

BALLOT CLOSES FRIDAY 19 MAY. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED OR LOST BALLOT PAPERS YOU CAN RING 0800 0 857 857 by 12 noon Monday 15 May to get replacements

UNISON NEC Elections: Tony endorses John & Denise for Community seats

Many thanks to former UNISON Housing Associations branch chair & L&Q Housing Association convenor, Tony Power, for this endorsement.

For those of you who do not work for Housing associations, Charities or other 3rd sector employers (Called "Community" in UNISON) you can vote for below

For all UNISON members voting in the NEC elections, here are our personal recommendations for contested seats. We have not sought the agreement of anyone to be in these recommendations.

Please vote in these elections, the future of the union is at stake. We need a NEC that will be a voice for all members, reject division, defeat this Government and stand together to make our union stronger.

You can vote for your regional reps (based on where you live), your Service Group (based on your job) and for National Black members and Disabled members seats (even if you do not consider yourself to be Black or Disabled).

If individual members have not received a paper by 25 April 2023 (or lost the originals and need a replacement), then they should contact the ballot helpline operated by UNISONdirect, on the following telephone number: 0800 0 857 857.

Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Members with hearing difficulties can use textphone 0800 0 967 968.

John Gray & Denise Thomas (Community candidates)

HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE UNISON NEC ELECTIONS 2023-2025! Community Nominations by London Housing Associations branch

The UNISON NEC is the “Parliament” that helps run the union in between our annual National Delegate Conference. Ballot papers will be sent to your home address any day now. Your Branch Committee nominated the following candidates. Please see photos and statements why these Community & Greater London delegates were nominated.

Denise Thomas & John Gray

“Thank you again for nominating us for the NEC, as you know the election ballot papers are being sent out this week! 

As a nominating branch, you are able to let your members know who you nominated and why. This will really help our campaign and to get our message out. 

This is one of the most important elections in our union, but we all struggle in getting members to get involved. We have also both made a one minute video introducing ourselves and what we want to achieve if elected. You can share this video.

Denise Thomas https://youtu.be/fq6168G3c2c 

John Gray https://youtu.be/eUfR3sZ6cCI 

The UNISON Housing Associations Branch nominated Denise Thomas and John Gray because they have committed to: 

1. Putting UNISON Members first 

2. Representing members when they need help and support 

3. Winning better pay and decent pensions for all 

4. Fighting Cuts and Austerity 

5. Building a union that looks after you and your family 

These are the values and priorities of the majority of UNISON members. Values and priorities that your branch hold and support. Make sure your voice and branch is heard!

The UNISON Housing Associations Branch Committee also nominated Sonya Howard, Eddie Brand, Abiola Kusoro and Anu Prashar, for the Greater London Region NEC Seats. 

The NEC is the most important National Committee in UNISON, we nominated these candidates as we believe they are the right people for the job. They are all experienced reps, from introducing the first menopause policy in London, to fighting for LGBT+ rights, to getting over the industrial action threshold, to leading the London Ambulance Service strike and winning for members. 

We nominated Sonya, Eddie, Anu and Abiola because they have committed to: 

• Fight discrimination and put equality at the heart of every decision • Tackle the Cost of Living Crisis – winning fair pay for all • Put London UNISON members first, not factional politics • Work with our first woman General Secretary, Christina McAnea, to make UNISON the strongest union. • Make sure every member gets high quality legal advice and representation when you need it most 

See below for our other National seat nominations: 

Black Members MANJULA KUMARI, ASH SILVERSTONE, MITSY HARMONRUSSELL 

Disabled Members KATRINA MURRAY ANGELA HAMILTON

Vote for Denise Thomas (& John Gray) for UNISON NEC

Denise is a Welsh care worker who is standing in the @Unison National Executive Council elections (NEC) which start 17 April 2023. This just over one minute intro by Denise is about why she is standing and what she wants to achieve if elected. UNISON members who work for Charities or Housing Associations (Called Community Service Group in UNISON) can vote for her. She is running with John Gray for the 2nd seats available. Check out further information https://www.facebook.com/JohnandDenis... https://www.oneunison.org/

Vote John Gray for UNISON NEC (& Denise Thomas)

John who is a housing worker is standing in the @Unison National Executive Council elections (NEC) which start 17 April 2023. This just over one minute intro by John is about why he is standing and what he wants to achieve if elected. UNISON members who work for Charities or Housing Associations (Called Community Service Group in UNISON) can vote for him. He is He is running with Denise Thomas for the 2nd seats available. Check out further information https://www.facebook.com/JohnandDenis... https://www.oneunison.org/

UNISON NEC Elections 2023 - Vote Denise & John for Community

 

1.3 million ballot papers are being sent out to UNISON members homes from today via Royal mail. Please see the message that Denise and I have sent out to the 46 UNISON branches who have nominated us and who we have asked to circulate this message to their Community (who work in Charities and Housing Associations) Members (but not the above flyer).

Dear Branch Secretary

Once again, many thanks for your nomination of the both of us for Community NEC. The ballot papers are starting to go out Monday 17 April and we would be most grateful if you could send out to your members by your usual methods of communication our photos and hopefully the nomination statement below. This will be in accordance with UNISON rules.

We have also both made a 1 minute video introducing our self and what we want to achieve if elected.

Denise https://youtu.be/fq6168G3c2c

John https://youtu.be/eUfR3sZ6cCI

“This Branch is nominated Denise Thomas and John Gray in the UNISON National Executive Council elections to represent Community Female seat and General Seat. We did so because they are committed to:

1. Putting UNISON Members first
2. Representing members when they need help and support
3. Winning better pay and decent pensions for all
4. Fighting Cuts and Austerity
5. Building a union that looks after you and your family

These are the values and priorities of the majority of UNISON members.

Values and priorities that your branch hold and support

Make sure your voice and branch is heard.

Many thanks

Denise and John