UNISON National Delegate Conference: Liverpool 2025

Today I travelled by train to Liverpool to take part in the UNISON National Delegate Conference as a NEC representative for Community (80,000 Housing Associations and Charities members) with my colleague Denise Thomas. 

I always know I am back in Liverpool when I see the statues of Ken Dodd and Bessie Braddock MP in Lime Street Station. I was born and raised in nearby North Wales and have many fond memories of visiting Liverpool. 

Around 2000 delegates and visitors will be attending the annual conference of the largest trade union in the UK. 

This evening I attended the Greater London Regional briefing for all our delegates. The elected regional delegates, Yvonne and Andrew, the Regional Secretary Sara and our Standing orders Committee representative Jim, advised delegates and answered questions on what to expect and how conference is likely to be run during the next 4 days.  

As a NEC delegate and London member I mentioned the National Labour Link fringe on the Employment Rights Bill and invited delegates to attend. 

There was a number of great questions by delegates about various aspects of conference business and also in my view, some rather unwise suggestions. I gently reminded delegates on the personal dangers and wider risks of not following legal advice during debates at conference.  

Nuf said. But Beware! Beware!

TUC LESE Regional Council AGM 2025

 

Due to a clash I arrived a little late to our Regional TUC AGM as a UNISON delegate. This is possibly the last such AGM to take place at Congress House which is being reluctantly sold to be replaced with a more modern and practical building. A real shame but was inevitable I think. 

The AGM went well on the whole but some odd surprises. A deeply moving speech and presentation by the National Centre for Domestic Violence, following which our new (covering Jo Galloway while she is on maternity leave) UNISON Regional Secretary, Sara Gorton, thanked the speakers and all workers who support Domestic Abuse survivors. 

I spoke in support of a great motion by RMT and Unite on investing in public transport and made some gentle suggestions to improve it. 

Hat tip pictures to our UNISON London Regional Convenor, Yvonne Green and Eastern Region delegate, Debbie Sahadeo Rowden, who has published a lovely reel about her day on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/12JEzjJUB1S/. Who says TUC conferences cannot be fun and cheerful!

UNISON London Ambulance Service (LAS) Strike: Picket outside their Waterloo Headquarters 10.2.23

 

After work this evening I went to the UNISON picket line outside the LAS headquarters in Waterloo, Central London. I went to show solidarity and support on behalf of Greater London UNISON Regional Council officers and my own Housing Associations UNISON branch. 

It was yet another, well organised and well supported LAS picket. Congratulations to their Branch Secretary Eddie Brand, and their stewards and regional support staff including our Regional Secretary, Jo Galloway. The pickets were confident, knew what the battle was about and what to do on a picket line. 

I see also from other social media reports that some LAS pickets are tomorrow setting off as volunteers to Turkey to help out as paramedics with the dreadful recent earthquake.  Last year the branch helped organise a convoy to Ukraine to deliver much needed medical supplies and equipment. 

I have been on various picket lines in my time in the Labour Movement and the UNISON LAS are by far the best organised I have ever attended. 

Our ace UNISON Head of Health, Sara Gorton, gave short speech to the pickets thanking them for all they are doing to save our NHS.

Fellow London UNISON activists Anu Prashar and Abiola Kusoro were also there to show solidarity.

Just to point out that contrary to Tory lies and smears, for life and limb calls, pickets are volunteering with the full support of their stewards, to leave the picket line to attend, and I have witnessed this on many occasions during this strike.  Because it is an "operational" picket line, with emergency ambulances coming and going, the branch has to be careful of numbers of pickets and supporters to ensure safety. 

I came back home tonight feeling uplifted and proud of my union and our members.