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

Get help with school uniform costs - UNISON "there for you" (despite the cuts)

 

While I am "disappointed" (to say the least) that the current majority group on the UNISON NEC is cutting the financial support for our vulnerable members, by hundreds of thousands of pounds, this vital scheme is still going ahead from 29 May 24. 

I believe in the last scheme the money allocated was claimed within 4 minutes!!! so members need to get organised to make a successful application. 

It is to my mind "regrettable" that the NEC cuts to the "there for you" budget have not been overturned and more money given to support the children of low paid UNISON members. 

Check out School Uniform Grant | There for You (UNISON Welfare) | UNISON National 

"Applications will be made online and a link to apply will be added to the bottom of this webpage when the grant is live.

The grant will open on 29 May 2024 for 750 applications at 8.30am and again for another 750 applications at 5pm. You will not be able to apply before these times.

We anticipate high demand for these grants; and due to limited funding, we’re unable to accept more applications.

Please ensure you read the below information to check if you are eligible for the grant, as well as for further information about what information you will need to hand to apply.

If you are unable to complete the application due to an accessibility need, please email: sug@unison.co.uk or call UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.

School Uniform Grant 2024 Criteria

Applicants must: Be a UNISON member and have paid at least four weeks’ subscriptions as of 29 May 2024. Subscriptions must be up to date.
Not have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 29 November
2023, excluding the Energy Support Fund or Winter Fuel Grant.
Have savings (including the total rolling balance on current accounts) below £1,000 to qualify.
Be financially responsible for school-aged child(ren) and receiving Child Benefit for them**.By school-aged, we mean children aged between 4 and 17 years old, who will be returning to school in the autumn.

And EITHER:

Be on a low income, meaning a net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month)

OR:

Be in receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:Universal Credit
Housing Benefit
Child and/or Working Tax Credits
Pension Credit
Means-tested Jobseekers Allowance
Means-tested Employment Support Allowance
Income Support

* Net household income includes your monthly take-home pay from work (plus your partner’s, if you have one), any income from child maintenance payments, any income from student finance loans or bursaries, pensions (excluding Pension Credit) and any income from people living with you (e.g. adult children or lodgers).

** Where members either have no recourse to public funds and their household income is above £26,000/year or have no recourse to public funds and don’t receive Child Benefit; an assessment will be undertaken to see whether they would be eligible for benefits if they did have recourse to public funds.

What can I get help with?

We can help with a one-off, non-repayable grant of £75 per school-aged child which will be paid in the form of a voucher. These vouchers can be used at a selection of high street and online retailers. The vouchers cannot be used at independent retailers. We want to make this fund go as far as possible and help as many members as we can. Please only apply if you are in financial difficulty. There is a limited amount in the School Uniform Grant fund, and we are only able to accept 1,500 applications. 

What if I don’t know my membership number?

We cannot accept applications without a membership number. This can often be found at the bottom of any emails you have received from UNISON. Alternatively, please contact UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.

How will you contact me?

Acknowledgement

Successful online submissions will receive an automated message confirming your application has been received. If this doesn’t show in your ‘inbox’, please check your ‘junk/spam’ folders.

Processing time

You should not expect to receive an immediate decision. It could take up to 12 weeks before you hear from us. We will require further evidence to support your application and we will be in touch via email to request this. Please do not send chasing emails as we will be unable to respond.

If I have recently received a grant, can I apply?

If you have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 29 November 2023, excluding the Energy Support Fund or Winter Fuel Grant, you will not be eligible to apply for a School Uniform Grant.

How do I apply?

All applications should be made online. Make sure you have your membership number to hand.

If you are unable to complete the application online due to work, personal or other commitments; we suggest you ask a friend or family member to apply online on your behalf. If you are unable to complete the application online due to a disability access need; please contact us on 29 May 2024, either by email: sug@unison.co.uk or by calling UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.

The grant will open on 29 May 2024 for 750 applications at 8.30am and 750 applications at 5pm.

Any questions?
Contact us via email: sug@unison.co.uk"

Confiscate the Homes of Bad Landlords

Hat tip to Housing Journo @PeteApps on this Observer article and well done to Clive for coming out with something quite radical but really sensible and worth doing.

My only hesitation was "Great idea but I do think to be fair & consistent that social landlords should be subject to the same penalty (and confiscated homes placed elsewhere also)"

Why should rubbish social landlords be treated differently than rubbish private landlords? For example, in my 11th year as a national UNISON NEC member for Housing Associations, I can tell you that a minority of them can act as badly as any rogue private landlord.

UNISON NEC Elections - Vote for your Health Candidates Michelle, Pat, Gordon & James

Put 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 

·         Fight discrimination and put equality at the heart of every decision

·         Tackle the Cost of Living Crisis- winning fair pay for all

Mitsy Harmon-Russell London Hospital worker

 

Thanks Jim for Voting Denise Thomas and John Gray as your UNISON NEC representatives for Community members

Many thanks to Jim D from Glasgow who sent me via my personal facebook a series of questions about my views on issues, I responded and then a little later he sent this photo of his completed ballot paper. Many thanks Jim!

I have received a number of telephone calls, WhatsApp messages and emails from UNISON members, up and down the country, asking me questions or for advice on who to vote for. Many have read all the election statements but are confused about processes and who they can or cannot vote for. UNISON members will all have several votes.  It can be a little confusing.  

So I would urge UNISON members who work in Community organisations (For example Housing Associations and Charities) to consider voting for John GRAY and Denise THOMAS. 

However, if you are a member of any Greater London UNISON branch you can vote for 4 NEC members regardless of which "Service Group" you belong too. 

I will be voting for :-

Female Seats: Sonya HOWARD and Clara MASON

Male Seat: Eddie BRAND

Reserved Seat: Eunice WHYTE

Other recommendations are as below:-

Denise and John for UNISON Community NEC seats!

Ballot papers for the UNISON NEC elections 2021-2023 are now being delivered by Royal Mail to the homes of UNISON members. 

Many thanks to our first video endorsement by Lola for our campaign (Denise Thomas for the Community NEC female seat and John Gray for the General Seat). 

Lola is a well known UNISON activist but tomorrow she is also standing as a Labour candidate to be the next Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent. 

So thank you Lola for your support and good luck in the election tomorrow.

Check out  @CllrLolaOyewusi and https://www.facebook.com/LolaForKentPCC

also if you want to know who to consider voting for if you live in different UNISON regions or service groups then check out

https://avoiceformembers.co.uk/

#avoiceformembers

https://twitter.com/voiceformembers

https://www.facebook.com/avoiceformembers

UNISON NEC election ballot papers are being sent out to members home addresses from May 4. Vote for candidates who pledge to be your voice for members.

Ballot papers for UNISON NEC elections are being sent out to members registered home addresses from May 4th. Look out for your ballot papers and consider voting for candidates who pledge to be your voice.

https://avoiceformembers.co.uk/

#avoiceformembers

https://twitter.com/voiceformembers

https://www.facebook.com/avoiceformembers

UNISON NEC Elections: A Voice for Members website

 

The UNISON NEC election starts next week and our members will receive ballot papers at their home addresses from Tuesday May 4 2021. 

All UNISON members will receive multiple ballot papers depending on where they work, their self organised group and the job they do.

Please consider these recommendations for your votes. Check out https://avoiceformembers.co.uk/

But please vote,  for whoever you choose, since it is so important to the democracy of our union that as many members vote as is possible. 

Vote for a Voice for Health Workers - Pat, James, Gordon and Michelle

 

Vote for a Voice for Members Health Team, Pat Heron, James Anthony,Gordon Mckay and Michelle England. UNISON NEC elections. Ballot papers will be sent to home address of all members from May 4.

UNISON NEC National Seats recommendations

 

Nominations for UNISON NEC candidates close at 5pm on Friday 5 March. Denise and I have enough  already be on the ballot paper for Community members but the more nominations the better!

Above are flyers from UNISON candidates I have had personal recommendations from by members of these sector or self organised groups :-

Community - General seat John Gray & Female Seat Denise Thomas (obviously)

Energy - General Tracey Wainwright

Health - General seat James Anthony: Female seats Pat Heron & Michelle England; Male Gordon McKay

Higher Education - General seat Amelia Rout & Female Josie Mangan-Murphy

Local Government - General seat James Minto; Female Maggie Griffin & Janet Green; Male Sean Fox

Police and Justice - General seat Chris Hanrahan & Female Maureen Le Marinel

WET - Pam Sian

Black Members - Femae seat Manjula Kumari, Male Conroy Lawrence, Reserved Abiola Kursoro

Disabled Members - General seat Graham Ellis & Female Katrina Murray

Young Members - General seat Jamie Dickinson

There are many other excellent candidates who I do not know of or are standing against each other so I will give these contests a miss for now. 

Totally fed up of losing General Elections: UNISON NEC

On Wednesday there was a post general election meeting of the UNISON National Executive Committee at our headquarters in Euston. I hold one of the two elected NEC seats for UNISON members who work in the UK Voluntary Sector and Housing Associations.

The NEC was supposed to  have met last Thursday 12 December but for obvious reasons it was postponed until this week.

The General election result dominated the meeting. In order to move business along, our President, Josie Bird, asked NEC members not to make detailed arguments why they thought Labour had lost the election since we need more time to reflect and need to concentrate on what to do next. However, many members, particularly those who lived in the previously rock solid Labour heartlands did give chapter and verse on the calamity.

I gave my pennyworth as well. Firstly, I made a joke since everyone was so depressed. I had stolen it from a colleague of a certain age, who had said the 2019 result was the worse since 1983, but at least in 1983 we had a really good music scene to lighten the defeat. I pointed out that this defeat was actually the worse since 1931 and I have no idea what music they had at that time.

My point was that I have no firm views on who should be the next leader but I want someone who can unite the Party and win the next general election.

Where I live in Newham, East London (population 359,000), a report this morning from housing charity Shelter found that 1 in every 24 of residents are homeless. 1:24!

In Newham once you take into account the cost of housing, 50% of families with children live in poverty. 50% of families!

We need a Labour government in power to tackle homelessness and poverty. No if's or buts.

We have lost 4 general elections in a row. I am totally fed up of us losing general elections. 

Community Executive NEC report: John Gray 4 December 2019

Firstly, apologies that I will have to leave this meeting early as I have to travel to Bournemouth today to attend a Pension Conference.

NEC 9 October 2019

This was the first full meeting of the new NEC at the UNISON centre. There was still problems in the centre following the recent flood which has damaged the lifts.

Following notice of obituaries, the General Secretary, Dave Prentis gave his report to NEC. He noted that UNISON is now the biggest trade union in the UK and that we have some 80,000 more members than the next biggest, Unite. Also, despite the fact that some consider us not to be a “militant” union we actually take more industrial action than all over unions put together! He spoke about our award winning legal services; our anti-racism work with “Hope Not Hate”; our support for WASPI pension rights; 100 years anniversary of Council Housing and UNISON’s ongoing support for the Durham Miners Gala.

Brexit is of course a huge issue and the prospect of a “No deal” could threat the peace process in Northern Ireland, cost private sector jobs, cut our income from taxes and therefore destroy public services. While a trade deal with Trump would mean the privatisation of the NHS. In the discussion I pointed out to the NEC that in the Community sector fears of Brexit had already caused housing associations to stop new housing projects and lay off staff.

There followed a debate about whether UNISON delegates at the recent Labour Party conference had followed or not our “policy” on Brexit. Delegation leader, Gordon McKay, made it clear that we had and apart from some silliness this was accepted by NEC. Dave spoke about the massive spike in our online membership during the conference debates on Brexit.

In a debate about the Climate change emergency I reminded the NEC of the absolute importance of ensure a “Just Transition” and that there are well paid and skilled “green” jobs to replace those currently dependant of carbon. If not this could derail change. Remember that Kentucky coal miner’s had helped Trump win in the USA and the French “yellow jackets” who had successfully wreaked increases in carbon taxes. Due to austerity many working class areas believe that they have been betrayed by society with low paid, insecure and exploitative jobs as well as rotten housing.

The debate on Brexit was I think the longest in my experience on the NEC with a wide range of views expressed but the vast majority of NEC members were supportive of UNISON on this issue while recognising that our members held a range of legitimate views.

The rest of the meeting had to be rushed. There was positive reports about recruitment and updates on our pay and industrial action campaigns.

The next NEC meeting was put back due to the General Election clash and will now take place 18 December 2019.

If any branch or regional Community branch wants us to attend any meeting or events (especially campaigns or industrial action) then let Denise and I know and if we can, we will attend.

Other NEC reports

Industrial Action Campaign Committee (IAC): As vice chair of this committee I have continued to support branches and services groups to take industrial action up and down the country. Note our record on action (Page 1 Para 2).

Staff Pension Trustee: Member of trustee board and Chair of Investment Sub-Committee. Attended trustee meetings and training including TUSO (trade union shareholders organisation).

PDCC I was unable to attend this subcommittee.

Labour Link Committee - General election 12 December

I respect the fact that UNISON has members from all political parties and traditions. However, I will say that this is a really crucial election to all union members, especially those in Community. In my view not only is the future of our public services such as the NHS under threat but our voluntary sector and our trade union will find it difficult to survive if we have a Uber right wing government in power for the next 5 years.

Please go out and campaign in marginal seats for candidates who want change. (I think members of the SGE can guess who I want them to campaign and vote for).

John Gray
Community NEC email: JohnDOTGray2012ATicloud.com

A Day in life: UNISON NEC, Pension meeting on Housing investment, & Chartered Institute of Housing Dinner

A full on Labour Movement Day. A long UNISON NEC meeting (and the rest); then met up with LGPS pension fund officers and fund advisers on possible investments in Housing (see why housing is an investment opportunity as well as social need) & infrastructure followed by Presidential dinner of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Fantastic and inspirational speech by President, Jim Strang, on Housing need and domestic violence. 

UNISON Welfare Trustee Board and UNISON Staff Pension Trustee Board meetings

I am back home after a couple of busy days in my role as a UNISON National Executive Committee (NEC) appointed Trustee. 

On Tuesday I travelled up to Grantham in Lincolnshire to a meeting of the UNISON Welfare Trustee Board. This board is a mix of regional elected reps and NEC members. We have our own UNISON Charity for members who are in crisis called "There for you". Local branches and regions raise funds for our charity and it is heavily supported by our National Union. There is a proud tradition in our Labour Movement of working class people organising and looking after their own. 

The reason we met in Grantham is because it is the headquarters of our Debtline service for members (Provider "PayPlan" in top picture). We had a number of very good presentations including one on their "talk about debt" campaign. 

(On Tuesday evening as a Newham Cabinet lead I appeared before a Council Scrutiny Committee on Homelessness with Cllr Susan Masters, officers and the Housing Charity Shelter, which I think went well and was really constructive.) 

On Wednesday morning I gave a NEC report and took questions at the meeting of the UNISON Community Service Group Executive (will post further). 

I then took the train to Birmingham for a 2 day board meeting and training of the UNISON Staff Pension Trustees (see bottom picture of meal out yesterday with fellow trustees, UNISON officers and advisors). 

Our Staff Pension scheme is, as you can imagine, a decent pension scheme but not as good as the Local Government or NHS scheme. 

The meeting was pretty "heavy duty" on pension funding, equity protection and investment strategy but there was also a very interesting and even provocative training on the dangers of "Group Think" at all forms of trustee meetings. 

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 

Liz Baptiste: New UNISON NEC member for Higher Education

Great news. My fellow Greater London UNISON Regional Council Officer (for Equalities) and comrade Liz Baptiste (on left in picture next to Regional convenor, Yvonne Green and yours truly) has been elected as the new National Executive Committee member for Higher Education.

Liz will make a fan-tas-tic NEC member.

Well done Liz!

 

Re-elected as UNISON National Executive Member

I found out this morning that I had been re-elected for a third term to the UNISON National Executive Committee (which is the UNISON "Parliament" of our 1.3 million members, which runs the union in between our National delegate conferences).

Many, many thanks to all the UNISON branches who had nominated me and all those who voted to support me. I am the Community General seat member for the part of UNISON which organises in the Housing Association and Voluntary sector. 57,433 members were balloted.

While I was pleased to get 1975 votes to 648, the turnout was only 4.9% (and not untypical in these elections) which is appalling and something we simply must-do-something-about and not just whine as some do.

Commiserations to Kieran Grogan who stood against me and to my Community running mate, June Poole, who missed out by only 61 Votes to Jane Bryan who was re-elected to a second term. Congratulations mind you, to Jane.

As in all elections there was a number of shock results and surprises but the NEC is still firmly in the hands of the forces of light and reason for the next 2 years.

I will be speaking in the next few days to some good comrades who lost and some new ones who have just won.

It is going to be a really horrible and tough time during the next few years for trade unionists and we need to make sure that our union is safe, strong and there for our members. I think we have a NEC team that can deliver.

(picture of my old NEC "seat" on 9th floor of UNISON centre in Euston, London. Click on picture to bring up more detail)

UNISON NEC Ballot ends 15th May

Still time to vote. Retrieve your ballot paper from the "pending" pile in the drawer or on the shelf and vote then post. Check out my recommendations for regional and national seats here or on Facebook. 

All UNISON members should have received a ballot paper at their home address by now.

If not you should ring 0800 0857 857 for a duplicate. Lines open 6am to midnight, Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturday. The ballot does not finish until May 15.

(Hat tip Chris Hanrahan)

UNISON NEC Elections 2015: John Gray Election Statement

Your existing NEC member

I am seeking your support for my re-election as one of your two members of the UNISON National Executive Committee (NEC) for Community, which is the part of the union for members who work in the voluntary sector, housing associations and charities.

A little bit about me

I have worked in front line housing management in a large inner city estate for over 20 years.  I now work for one of the biggest Housing Associations in the country but my first job was in Welfare Rights with a small voluntary organisation in Scotland. I have also worked in Wales and Yorkshire.

Grass Roots Union Activist

As a UNISON activist I have been elected to many different branch and regional positions including Treasurer, Health & Safety, Labour Link, Welfare and International officer.  I am currently the Secretary of the Greater London Housing Associations Branch.

·         But fundamentally I am a workplace steward negotiating pay and conditions with my employer and defending members in discipline, grievance and sickness hearings.

Pay, jobs and conditions

Community members have faced amongst the very worse cuts in jobs and attacks on their pay, pensions, terms and conditions. We must play our part in opposing austerity and arguing for an alternative economic policy.

Care and support members are under threat as unscrupulous employers deliberately underbid to win Supporting People and health contracts then try and do everything they can to destroy TUPE protections.

Many Housing management organisations are cash rich after years of inflation plus rent rises yet refuse to give their staff decent pay rises.

·         UNISON must be there to support members who stand up to employers who exploit them. 

As an NEC member there are a number of campaigns specific to our sector that I am actively supporting:

·         Living Wage Boards:  To decide the pay and conditions of all staff by collective bargaining including a living wage minimum and decent sickness benefits for all Community workers and agency/sub-contractors;

·         No public money for “union busters”: Any employer that does not have a trade union recognition agreement should be barred from access to public money either from local or national government;

·         We want decent pensions for all and everyone to have access to a safe and affordable scheme which will protect members’ futures;

·         Democratise our workplaces and stop our management boards being run by highly paid, unelected and unrepresentative “elites”. There should be union representation on all boards, especially their remuneration (pay) committees;

·         Adequate funding and resources for all UNISON branches that have Community members to ensure that we have the means to properly support and represent all.

You can contact me on any issues via johndotgray2012atbtinternetdotcom or ring me on 07977 285 297.  Please also support June Poole from Rochdale branch for the other Community Female seat. June and I will work closely as a team fighting your corner at the highest level in the union.

John Gray 

(Check out my recommendations for other regional and national seats here or on Facebook. 
All UNISON members should have received a ballot paper at their home address by now.
If not you should ring 0800 0857 857 for a duplicate. Lines open 6am to midnight, Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturday. The ballot does not finish until May 15).

UNISON NEC Elections 2015: My London Region and National Ballot Paper

The UNISON postal ballot election for a new National Executive Committee started on 7 April but continues until 15 May (click on to enlarge). So there is still plenty of time for UNISON members to vote if they have not done so. 

This is a copy of my ballot paper and preferences. All UNISON members in London will have the same choices for Regional Seats, while all National members of Community Service Group (Housing Associations and Voluntary sector) will also have the same choice as me as do all UNISON members over the Black Members' seats. 

Check out my recommendations for other regional and national seats here or on Facebook. 

Congratulations to Irene and Ablola for being elected unopposed! 

(If you did not receive your ballot papers by 14 April you should ring 0800 0857 857 for a duplicate. Lines open 6am to midnight, Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturday).