UNISON New NEC 2025 - 2027 - 1st meeting

 

On Tuesday there was the first proper meeting of the newly elected UNISON National Executive Council (NEC). The NEC is the UNISON "Parliament" of elected members, which helps run and lead the union in-between our national conferences. 

I was so pleased when I arrived early at the UNISON National headquarters in Euston Road, London to see the new Presidential team in their office on the 8th floor preparing for their first meeting with the NEC. 

The meeting itself was pretty lively (and some breath-taking hypocrisy by some sore losers) I will post a report here for Community members soon(ish). 

It was confirmed at the meeting that I was on the UNISON national Policy Development and Campaign Committee (PDCC), the Industrial Action Committee and the Staff Pension Committee (after 4 year gap). 

In an earlier vote I had also been confirmed as being on the UNISON National Labour Link committee as a NEC nominee. 

See picture of myself and my UNISON Committee colleague Denise, the top table and also the 4 Greater London Regional reps Clara, Sonya, Eddie and Abiola (aka S Club 7). 

Thank you to branches and supporters of UNISON NEC "Members Together" Candidates. Results out 11 June

 

UNISON NEC elections (the elected "Parliament" of UNISON members) closed 5pm on Wednesday (21 May). The Scrutineer and Returning Officer (Civica Election Services) for this election will now investigate any complaints and will then announce the results on 11 June.

Denise (my fellow candidate for the two National Community seats) and I thank all our supporters, those who have voted for us and also the other #Membertogether candidates.

Win or loss, the fight to build the union and defend members continues!

Last chance for UNISON NEC elections: Members together Community, London & National Slate

 

The UNISON NEC elections close at 5pm Wednesday 21st May next week. It is a postal only ballot and if you have not voted yet, it is probably best to send tomorrow at the latest to make sure it gets to returning officer in time - it is SAE but maybe put on a 1st class stamp if you can, to make sure. 

I am standing with Denise for the 2x Community seats (if you are UNISON members and work in a charity or Housing association). I am recommending Eddie, Clara, Sonya and Abiola as your London reps. All UNISON members will be able to vote for other national seats as well (except for the Young Members seats which are for ...Young members only). 

Please vote and if you are a UNISON member in another UNISON Region or Service (work) Group then please check the Members Together web site for recommendations. 

We must unite our union and work with our General Secretary, Christina McAnea to win for members. Full stop. 

UNISON NEC Elections Recommendations: on London regional, National Local Government, Black Members & Disabled members

 

UNISON NEC elections currently underway, and the recommendations shared above reflect the views of several colleagues London This is a significant election, as the NEC functions as "Parliament" UNISON. It is essential to elect NEC representatives who prioritise members' interests, aim to unite the union, and work with, not attack, our General Secretary Christina McAnea.

All 1.3 million UNISON members are entitled to vote for seats in respective regions and service areas (such as Local Government, as above). Additionally, they can vote for Black and Disabled members. Members under the age of 30 can also vote for two young members' seats. A small number of NEC seats have been elected unopposed.

Further updates will follow regarding other regions and service areas.

While I support the Members Together slate, are several other strong independent candidates. Please review the election booklets if  you have time.

The deadline for ballot papers to be received by the Independent Scrutineer is 5 p.m. 21 May 2025. results will be announced on 11 June 202, and the successful candidates will assume office at the conclusion the National Delegate Conference 2025.

UNISON Community Conference 2025

 

Saturday 1st March was Day 2 of the UNISON Community Seminar - then Conference in Bristol. Saturday was also of course St David's Day which the Welsh contingent (including myself) celebrated (but I have been told off for not wearing a daffodil) 

It was a motion based conference and there 16 different motions debated during the day on a wide range of Community specific issues. 

Before (and afterwards) Conference, my UNISON NEC Colleague Denise Thomas and I handed out our leaflets outside the Conference hotel, asking for support in the forthcoming NEC elections (ballot papers out 21st April) and also for our fellow minded allies (mostly those from members together). 

I spoke twice in support of motions on behalf of the Community Service Group Executive on "Challenging racism and discrimination in Community" and then on "Sectoral Bargaining in the Housing Associations Sector". I will post my speeches another time. My branch and London SGE colleagues, Lola and Joseph also spoke as did Denise. 

So a good conference (and seminar). Many thanks to the Hotel staff for looking after us so well and for UNISON staff for supporting us and giving up their Saturday. Bristol was lovely and I will definitely return again. 

Thank you for UNISON NEC Community Seat nominations

 

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

Thanking Branches for UNISON NEC Nominations

Tonight my UNISON branch (Greater London Housing Associations) nominated Denise and I to be a candidate for the Community NEC seats (representing 80,000 UNISON Charity and Housing Association members)

That makes 10 branch nominations that I am aware of so far. We will be writing to branches to thank them for their support. Branch nominations close on February 14. 

Below is a list of other recommended candidates standing in London and for national seats. I will post recommendations from colleagues on other regional/nation candidates. 

Greater London General	Eddie Brand
Great London Female	Sonya Howard
Greater London Female	Clara Mason
Greater London Low Pay Reserved	Abiola Kusuro

 

 

 

Black Members Female	Manjula Kumari
Black Members Female	Tansaim Hussain Gul
Black Members Male	Ash Silverstone
Black Members Low Pay Reserved	Maria Albert
Disabled Members Female	Lady Lola
Young Members General	Cameron Thompson
Young Members Female	Micaela Tracey-Ramos

UNISON NEC Elections: Team London & Members Together Recommendations

 

I am supporting my London colleagues Eddie, Clara, Sonya and Abiola for the above London seats and making recommendations regarding the the other national seats below.  Scan the QR code below to keep up with the campaign and receive updates. 

Standing for re-election UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) 25-27 - Members Together

 

Yesterday, Denise and I opened our re-election campaign to stand for the UNISON Community Service Group NEC seats to represent 80,000 members, who work in Charities and Housing Associations. We emailed 548 branches to provide information about ourselves and to ask for their nomination. 

There are number of other NEC candidates, who we are supporting, who I will post upon later. Please see below our covering email to branches. 

"Dear Branch Secretary,

 

We are writing to ask you to nominate us for the Community seats on the National Executive Council (NEC), by Friday 14 February. We also ask you to support all Members Together Candidates.

 

Both of us are experienced NEC members seeking re-election, we pledge to:

 

• Prioritise Branches
• Support our Community Activists
• Deliver for Community Members
• Restore Unity
• Fight Discrimination and put Equalities at the heart of UNISON

Please find attached our nomination request letter with more details on our pledges, who we are and what we stand for, we ask that this is please circulated to your branch committee and reps.

 

Members Together

We are part of Members Together - a group of like-minded members who put members first. We believe in our union and know the power it has to improve our lives at work. We also recognise the challenges that branches face and are determined to address them. We do not think this has happened over recent years because of political infighting.

  

What you need to do

 

The steps you need to take are:

 

1. Set a date between 13 January and 14 February for the branch nominating committee or branch executive to meet
2. Decide who to nominate, please read our full letter
3. If you have community members but are not a community branch, please ask them to support our nomination and ratify their decision at your committee meeting. We appreciate this is time consuming, but we know how important it is that they also have a voice in our union.

3. Fill in the online nomination submission in the email from CES you should have received as soon as possible and before 14 February 2025. 

 Please consider nominating us and other candidates in the Members Together group.

 

You can find more information about nominating on page 5 of the 2025 NEC Election - Procedures document - NEC election procedures

 

If you’d like to discuss anything mentioned in this letter, feel free to get in touch by emailing or calling us. We are more than happy to discuss Members Together, our platform and what we’re doing for your branch.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Denise Thomas

John Gray