Happy May Day!

Hat tip #StrongerUNISON

UNISON NEC elections finish this Friday 28 April 2017 so get your finger and pen out then VOTE STRONGERUNISON!

Okay, everyone is busy, busy and Easter is not a great time to hold an election but if you are a UNISON member and you haven't voted yet then please get this sorted asap. All ballot papers have to be in by this Friday 28 April. 

If you have not received a ballot paper or have any queries then please ring the UNISON election helpllne on 0800 0 857 857 which is open until Tuesday 25 April.  

Most of our 1.3 million members have not voted yet. The ballot papers are probably on the mantlepiece, kitchen drawer or shelf waiting to be completed and sent off. Please spend 5 minutes to fill out and send!

If you have lost the envelope you can send the ballot forms to "Electoral Reform Services, Ballot Administration Centre, London, N81 1DA" (best to put on 1st class stamp). 

These are my STRONGERUNISON recommendations.

You will have votes depending upon the region you are based in and your employer. 

So if you were a UNISON member in London who is directly employed by a Council you should consider voting for:-

Region 

Greater London

Mike DAVEY Male Seat

Rose MINTI-TUTTON Female Seat

Mitsy HARMON-RUSSELL Female Seat

National
Black Members

Kebba MANNEH Male Seat

Elizabeth CAMERON Female Seat

Manjula KUMARI Female Seat

Young Members (You can only vote if you are a young member)

Andrew ANDERSON General Seat

Disabled Members

Angela HAMILTON General Seat

Kim SILVER Female Seat

Service Group

Local Government

Janet McKENNA General Seat

Peter CREWS Male Seat

Wendy NICHOLS Female Seat

Lynn POULTON Female Seat

other regions and service groups

Region

Eastern

Mark TRASK Male Seat

Sarah CROWE Female Seat

Jean THOMAS Reserved Seat

East Midlands

Chris TANSLEY Male Seat

Nicole BERRISFORD Female Seat

West Midlands

Stephen JONES Male Seat

Eleanor SMITH Female Seat

Carole SEWELL Female Seat

Mary LOCKE Reserved Seat

Greater London

Mike DAVEY Male Seat

Rose MINTI-TUTTON Female Seat

Mitsy HARMON-RUSSELL Female Seat

Northern

Edwin JEFFRIES Male Seat

Josie BIRD Female Seat 

North West

Steph BELL Female Seat

Angela GREENHALGH Female Seat

South East

Steve MILFORD Male Seat

Yorkshire & Humberside

Tony GREEN Male Seat

Linda CROWTHER Female Seat

Jenny MIDDLETON Female Seat

Liz MAWSON Reserved Seat

Wales/Cymru

Mark FISHER Male Seat

Angela ROBERTS Female Seat

NATIONAL  (vote for all)

Black Members

Kebba MANNEH Male Seat

Elizabeth CAMERON Female Seat

Manjula KUMARI Female Seat

Young Members (You can only vote if you are a young member)

Andrew ANDERSON General Seat

Disabled Members

Angela HAMILTON General Seat

Kim SILVER Female Seat

SERVICE Group (you will belong to one of these depending on your job)

Community

Denise CHARLES Female Seat

Healthcare

James ANTHONY General Seat

Gordon McKAY Male Seat

Sinead LIDDY Female Seat

Jenny FORBES Female Seat

Higher Education

Dan BEARD General Seat

Liz BAPTISTE Female Seat

Local Government

Janet McKENNA General Seat

Peter CREWS Male Seat

Wendy NICHOLS Female Seat

Lynn POULTON Female Seat

UNISON NEC Elections 2017: South East Region candidate recommendations

If you are a UNISON member in our South East region please vote for Steve and you can also vote for all the National seats below and for your own Service Group representatives.

NATIONAL  (vote for all)

Black Members

Kebba MANNEH Male Seat

Elizabeth CAMERON Female Seat

Manjula KUMARI Female Seat

Young Members

Andrew ANDERSON General Seat

Disabled Members

Angela HAMILTON General Seat

Kim SILVER Female Seat

SERVICE Group (you will belong to one of these depending on your job)

Community

Denise CHARLES Female Seat

Healthcare

James ANTHONY General Seat

Gordon McKAY Male Seat

Sinead LIDDY Female Seat

Jenny FORBES Female Seat

Higher Education

Dan BEARD General Seat

Liz BAPTISTE Female Seat

Local Government

Janet McKENNA General Seat

Peter CREWS Male Seat

Wendy NICHOLS Female Seat

Lynn POULTON Female Seat

Stronger UNISON - London Local Government slate

If you are a London UNISON member and work in Local Government then please consider voting for above.

UNISON NEC Elections 2017: Yorkshire & Humberside

Regional recommendations for Yorkshire & Humberside region. As well as regional NEC reps members can also vote for all National seats and for their own Service Group

National (vote for all)

Black Members

Kebba MANNEH Male Seat

Elizabeth CAMERON Female Seat

Manjula KUMARI Female Seat

Young Members

Andrew ANDERSON General Seat

Disabled Members

Angela HAMILTON General Seat

Kim SILVER Female Seat

Service Group (you will belong to one of these depending on your job)

Community

Denise CHARLES Female Seat

Healthcare

James ANTHONY General Seat

Gordon McKAY Male Seat

Sinead LIDDY Female Seat

Jenny FORBES Female Seat

Higher Education

Dan BEARD General Seat

Liz BAPTISTE Female Seat

Local Government

Janet McKENNA General Seat

Peter CREWS Male Seat

Wendy NICHOLS Female Seat

Lynn POULTON Female Seat

Voting Starts today, Support your #STRONGERUNISON candidates: National Seats

Community

Denise CHARLES Female Seat

Black Members

Kebba MANNEH Male Seat

Elizabeth CAMERON Female Seat

Manjula KUMARI Female Seat

Young Members

Andrew ANDERSON General Seat

Disabled Members

Angela HAMILTON General Seat

Kim SILVER Female Seat

Healthcare

James ANTHONY General Seat

Gordon McKAY Male Seat

Sinead LIDDY Female Seat

Jenny FORBES Female Seat

Higher Education

Dan BEARD General Seat

Liz BAPTISTE Female Seat

Local Government

Janet McKENNA General Seat

Peter CREWS Male Seat

Wendy NICHOLS Female Seat

Lynn POULTON Female Seat

UNISON members can vote for their relevant National seats and Regional seats (as well as Black, Young, Disabled seats).  I will post Regional seat recommendations next. 

UNISON National Executive Council Elections 2017 - STRONGER UNISON

From Monday 3rd April onwards some 1.3 million UNISON members up and down the UK will receive ballot papers and election statements sent to their home addresses. This is a really important election. The NEC is the "Executive" or even "Parliament" of UNISON (in between our National conferences) and deals with issues and campaigns, oversees the running of the union and works with UNISON staff to support members. 

Like my branch I am supporting the STRONGERUNISON slate and I hope all UNISON members will consider voting for candidates who also support this alliance. 

A number of seats were not contested this time and candidates were elected unopposed. This included me and I should now have a 4th term as the UNISON NEC member for Community (UK Housing Associations and Voluntary Sector) General Seat. I would like to thank the 44 branches that nominated me. 

While I respect many candidates who are not part of any formal alliance, if you agree with the manifesto below then please support the candidates listed above:-

STRONGERUNISON
* Putting UNISON Members first* Fighting Cuts and Austerity* Fighting for fair pay* Building a union that looks after you* Growing our union* Uniting our union and rejecting the politics of division 

STRONGERUNISON - NEC elections 3 April - 28 April 2017

Reminder that UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) Elections are due to start soon. Ballot papers should be sent out on 3 April.

I am going to vote for UNISON members who support the combined left & centre left STRONGERUNISON slate of candidates.

I am also standing for re-election as one of the two UNISON Community NEC members (Housing Associations and voluntary organisations).

Will post further information later.  

STRONGERUNISON - NEC Election 2017 - National Seats

It will soon be UNISON National Executive Committee elections. This morning I was outside Bournemouth Conference Centre with Greater London NEC Candidate, Mitsy Harmon-Russell, handing out these leaflets to delegates arriving for the UNISON Community Seminar/Conference.

I am standing for one of the two Community NEC seats with Denise Charles (who had to miss Conference due to illness). I am happy to speak to any delegates about our campaign. I will post tomorrow on recommended Regional Seat candidates.

Angie Greenhalgh North West Female Seat UNISON Nec Elections

"I am signing the Stronger UNISON pledge because I believe in doing what's right for our membership, ensuring that we stand up for their right to be treated fairly. UNISON needs a strong united NEC to lead our union and speak on behalf of our members, ensuring it is their views that we represent"

Angie Greenhalgh North West Female seat

Mark Fisher UNISON NEC Candidate Wales Regional Male Seat

"Pleased to stand as your Regional Male Seat candidate making sure we have a strong Welsh Voice in National Stronger UNISON"

Mark Fisher Wales Regional Male Seat

Liz Cameron UNISON NEC Candidate Black members Female Seat

"Help us achieve fair pay, keep our jobs, terms and conditions, pension rights, stamp out racism in all its forms, fight for equality for all members, Women, Men, Black, Disabled, LGBT, Young Members and in all our sectors. Keep us safe and health protecting our Local Government, our NHS, our Policing and our Education"

Liz Cameron Black Members Female Seat

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

Tony Green UNISON NEC Candidate Male Seat Yorkshire & Humberside

"I want to a build a union that looks after you - I know the pressure you, your families and your colleagues are under. So I will always stand up for you, and ensure that UNISON properly supports our members both inside and outside of the workplace".

Tony Green Male Seat Yorkshire & Humberside

Irene Stacey UNISON NEC Candidate Greater London Reserved Seat

"I will work to unite our union and reject the politics of division - I will work with anyone in UNISON  to deliver the Stronger UNISON we need at these difficult times, and I will reject divisive tactics designed to divide us.

Irene Stacey Greater London Reserved Seat. 

Chris Hanrahan UNISON NEC Candidate Police & Justice

"Putting our members first is what UNISON is all about. I will always put our union first and serve the best interests of our members. I will not be swayed by the agenda of a political party, my allegiance is to UNISON".

Chris Hanrahan Police & Justice

Maureen Le Marinel Police & Justice UNISON NEC Candidate

"I want our union to work hard for our members, putting their issues and concerns first through a proper democratic process, listening to ALL and acting on the democratic decision of the majority whilst always taking on board the views and needs of the minority and working together to move forward, not disrupting or working against the democratic decisions of the members and those working represent them, it is the membership that elect us and it is the membership who we should be accountable to. 

I have always work in this way and will continue to do so, being honest with what can and can't be delivered and the rationale for both. Be a Stronger UNISON and support those that truly want to support you and not their own agenda's.

Maureen Le Marinel Police & Justice

STRONGER UNISON - request for Community NEC Nominations

NEC Elections 2017: Community General Seat & Female Seat Nomination Request

John Gray                                                                                         Denise Charles

                                                     

RMS 3083288                                                                                  RMS 8688788

Dear Branch Secretary

Your branch is entitled to nominate candidates to the two Community seats for this year’s National Executive Council elections. We request that your branch considers nominating John Gray for the General Seat and Denise Charles for the Female seat.

Denise is currently the Cymru/Wales Regional representative on the Community Service Group Executive. She has also been a longstanding UNISON activist holding positions as regional Branch Secretary and currently the convenor of Hafal which is the largest Mental Health charity in Wales.  She is an active member of Ymlaen/Forward Branch which has over 4500 Community members in over 400 organisations

John is currently the Community NEC General seat representative and has been an activist in UNISON for many years and held a number of branch and regional positions including Treasurer, Health & Safety, Welfare, Labour Link, International officer and Assistant Secretary.  He works as a Housing officer and is the Branch Secretary of the Greater London Housing Associations Branch which has over 3000 Community members.

Denise has a background as a support worker for women fleeing domestic abuse. As a Branch Secretary she set up a steward’s network to mentor workplace activists and representatives. On the SGE she has championed equalities and tackling low pay in our sector.

John has served the union as a NEC member on the Policy and Development Committee, Trustee on the UNISON staff pension fund, National Labour link and is a trustee of UNISON “there for you” (Welfare) fund Committee.

Protecting Jobs, Terms & Conditions

Community members are facing amongst the very worse cuts in jobs and attacks on their pay, pensions, terms and conditions by this Tory led Government.

Care and support staff wages in particular are under threat as unscrupulous employers deliberately underbid to win contracts then try and do their utmost to destroy TUPE protections.

We deserve a Pay Rise

While many Housing management organisations are cash rich after years of inflation plus rent rises yet still refuse to give their staff decent pay rises. In the voluntary sector employers are funding the National Living wage by attacking terms and conditions and increasing workloads.

Both of us as NEC and SGE members have been working and campaigning with branches and regions to oppose these measures. We believe that Community members must play our part in opposing Austerity and arguing for an alternative economic policy.

We also believe that there are a number of Community specific campaigns that UNISON should be pursuing such as:-

• Sector Wage Councils. Set up to decide the pay and conditions of all staff by collective bargaining including a living wage minimum for all Community workers and agency/sub-contractors.
• Better governance and democracy. Increasingly many of our employer management boards are run by highly paid unelected and unrepresentative “elites”. There should be union employee representation on all Community Trust or management boards, especially remuneration committees (if applicable)
• Defend Pensions. Protect the Social Housing Pension fund and the Pension Trust from further cuts.
• Access to a decent defined benefit pension scheme for all.
• Challenging poor health & safety at work in particular stress
• Recruit & train more activists to support members
• No public money for “union busters”. Any employer that does not have a trade union recognition agreement should be barred from grants or contracts from local or national governments.

We believe that we would both work together well as your Community NEC team. While Denise's employer is a voluntary organisation, John works for a housing association, so we represent and complement both of the major sectors in Community. 

If you would like either of us to come and attend a branch meeting or hustings (under UNISON election rules) then please let us know and if we can, we will be delighted to come and speak.

Yours faithfully

             

Denise Charles & John Gray