Greater London UNISON AGM 2018 - Lay Executive re-elected unopposed

This was great news that the Regional Council Officers for Greater London Region were all re-elected unopposed at our AGM today. I think it shows trust and confidence by our members and branches in the lay leadership of the London Region led by Yvonne our Regional Convenor and Conroy, Fran, Liz and myself

This is the first time in 11 years that there has been no contested internal Unison elections and I hope that this means that we can move on and work together across all of London Region to improve pay, protect our members and save their jobs, terms and conditions

Picture from 2017 AGM. Me, Fran, Yvonne, Liz (acting Regional Secretary Stephanie Thomas now replaced by Maggi Ferncombe) and last but not least Conroy. 

Pizza & Politics : Broadlands UNISON AGM 1 March

AGM season for the Labour Movement is in full swing. There has already been a Newham Fabians AGM, on Wednesday it is the Greater London UNISON Regional Council AGM. On Thursday it is Forest Gate North Labour Branch AGM and I am planning the UNISON Housing Association branch AGM for March and our branch Labour Link AGM at the House of Commons. Not forgetting the West Ham CLP AGM in June.

I hope to make the Broadlands (Norwich) UNISON AGM this year. I like the "Pizza and Politics" theme. 

Five–Nil: Victory for Members in London UNISON Regional Council AGM.

For the fifth year in succession ordinary UNISON members secured a clear sweep in the Regional Council Officer (RCO) elections. The disUnited Ultra Left (and one other) were routed and Gloria, Conroy, myself, Monica, Lynn and Emma were elected as the Regional lay leadership executive.

We won’t know the exact margin of victory until the figures are published tomorrow but going on the results of the declared vote in the rule amendment debate I suspect that the margin will be our best ever.

Formal and heartfelt commiserations of course to the losers.

I will post further details about the AGM soon. I have also been promised a special guest video on Friday about some sort of other important UNISON news.

Can’t wait!

Emma Rolland for Regional Young Members Convenor

Check out here about AGM

"I am currently the Regional Young Members Convenor and also a member of the Regional Young Members Forum.

Young members have been particularly affected by the current economic climate and this gives the union the opportunity to recruit, organise and engage young workers to give them protection and support but also to build and strengthen the union for the future. I believe this should be a priority for the coming year.

If re-elected I would work with the Regional Young Members Forum to build and improve the young members organisation in London by:

• Ensuring that all branches elect a Branch Young Members Officer (less than 10% of our branches have one now)

• Increasing the number of members that join and participate in the Regional Forum to give young members a voice in London

• Encouraging branches to make recruiting young members part of their branch recruitment strategy and looking at resources they need to do this

• Encouraging young members to participate both in national campaigns such as Minimum Wage Campaign, as well as regional campaigns such as the sexual health awareness campaign.

In my experience trade unions can sometimes be considered by young people to be out of date and not relevant, I would like to continue to work with the YM forum and the Regional Council Officers to look at how we communicate with members and non members under 27 to change this perspective and demonstrate that trade unions are as relevant today as ever before - all too often young people are treated unfairly purely because of their age and face harassment, bullying and discrimination in addition to the issues that all public sector workers face such as attacks on terms and conditions, below inflation pay rises and privatisation. Trade unions are the key to protecting our members and challenging the issues we face at work.

Unfortunately no regional young members have taken place this year due to low attendance and I want to speak to young members to find out why they aren’t engaging at local level and how we can resolve this situation and build the Regional Young Members Forum in 2010.

We are the future of the union and recruiting young members is vital. Without encouraging more young people to join and then to become active at branch, regional and national levels the future of the union will suffer".

Lynn Bentley for Regional Publicity Officer

Check out here about AGM.

"I am currently the Regional Publicity Officer. As a member of the lay leadership team, working in partnership with colleagues at regional office, we have had significant success in the past four years in strengthening our union in the region; by bringing greater unity; building participation across the differing service and self organised groups; and building a union to be proud of. I hope you will re-elect me together with Gloria Hanson as Regional Convenor, Conroy Lawrence as Deputy Regional Convenor, John Gray as Regional Finance Convenor and Emma Rolland as Regional Young Members Officer so that we can continue the work we have started. We would like to bring in Monica Hirst as Regional Equalities Officer.

I am an experienced Branch Secretary and know the importance of good communication. My branch, Valuation Tribunals, has members scattered across the country and I understand how important it is to keep in touch with members and activists alike, as well as the difficulties that branches can face in doing this.

Good communications, whether in a branch or region, can improve recruitment, organisation, participation and democracy – a key priority for us all!

I am only too aware of the challenges that our members, and the branches & activists representing them, face in the coming year with more cuts in public services, the continued threat of privatisation, Total Place, Shared Services and the threat of a possible Conservative Government. As Regional Publicity Officer I will continue to look at how we communicate in the region; how this can be improved to ensure it is effective and relevant to our members as well as a useful resource to our activists to assist them in fighting these challenges at every opportunity.

Key objectives for the coming year will continue to be:

• Raising the profile of UNISON Greater London Region both in UNISON and across London

• Continuing to improve communications with all members but particularly with those groups who currently feel excluded from the union such as private contractors. We have recently introduced an e-bulletin for our members employed by private contractors and will be looking to develop this and extend it to other groups

• Highlighting current campaigns and disputes taking place across the region

• Regularly highlighting and updating on our successes and achievements

• Ensuring that the wide diversity of members in London is reflected in all forms of regional communications

• Producing a high quality and professional conference newssheet that reflects the views and opinions of the whole London delegation and which all delegates feel that are able to contribute to.

• Improving and promoting use of the regional website

• Looking at ways to support branches and activists, how they can communicate most effectively with their members and how we can strengthen support given to them to improve these.

Thank you for taking the time to read this address".

Monica Hirst for Regional Equalities Convenor

Check out here for preamble - Below is Monica's election statement (updated with photo) for London UNISON Regional Equalities Convenor. 

"I am seeking your support for election as Regional Equalities Convenor.

I am the Branch Secretary of Brent PCT and also the Staff Side Chair. I have worked in the NHS for over 25 years as an enrolled nurse, Staff Nurse, Health Visitor and now Nurse Educator.

I am experienced in representing and campaigning on behalf of our members and our union and am not afraid to speak up and be heard.

I believe in fairness and equality for ALL. Discrimination and inequality unfortunately continue to exist and affect many of our members on a daily basis and we all have a role to play in opposing and challenging this in whatever forms in exists. It is not acceptable that in 2009 people are discriminated against because of their gender, race, age, sexuality or disability and we must all work towards ensuring true equality for all.

Equalities legislation such as the forthcoming Equalities Bill gives us unique opportunities to negotiate and bring about real changes for our members both at work and at home, especially with the current political and economic climate and the challenges facing our members delivering public services in the coming year. The region has done much to campaign on equality and to provide support to activists in bargaining for equality. I see the role of the Equalities Convenor being central to ensuring this issue continues to be a priority on all agendas and to build on the work that has been started.

Our membership in London is the most diverse and this diversity must be celebrated. We must ensure that the opportunity to participate in the union at all levels exists for every one of our members. That they feel part of the union and that they are able to contribute and participate in whatever form is at the heart of the equalities agenda.

I want to be part of the Regional Convenor Team, working with Gloria Hanson, Conroy Lawrence, John Gray, Lynn Bentley and Emma Rolland to play an active role in strengthening our union in London by bringing greater unity and democracy, building participation across the differing self organised and service groups, and building a union to be proud of".

John Gray for Regional Finance Convenor

Check out here for preamble - Below is my election statement for Finance Convenor.

"I am currently the Regional Finance Convenor, and strongly believe that strong management of our member’s money is the foundation to organising campaigns that deliver for our members.

If re-elected as the Regional Finance Convenor I will continue to ensure that the member’s money is used to support branches focusing on real issues for real members such as:

• Recruitment

• Defending the NHS and Pensions

• Campaigning for directly provided services and to defend our public services

• Campaigning for equalities

• Strengthening our influence in all areas but in particular Education and in Private Contractors

OPEN AND TRANSPARENT

Financial decisions need to be open and transparent and be easily understood by activists.

I want to make sure that activists better understand the financial support that is available to branches and ensure that the money gets to them to support recruitment and organising campaigns.

The Region has the money to back a growing union – the bigger we are, the stronger we are – let make sure it happens".

I am an experienced branch officer and regional activist for many years (including holding the position of branch treasurer, assistant branch secretary, branch health and safety officer, member nominated representative on Pension panel and vice chair of London Labour Link).

As part of the current lay leadership team, working in partnership with the regional office, we have had significant success in the past four years in strengthening our union in London by bringing greater unity, building participation across the differing service and self organised groups, and building a union to be proud of and I hope to be re-elected to continue the work we have started.

If anyone wishes to discuss my statement with me they could ring me or email at john.m.grayATntlworldDOTcom

Conroy Lawrence for Deputy Regional Convenor & Regional Rep @ TUC Conference

Check here - Below is Conroy's election statement

"I am seeking your support for re-election as Deputy Regional Convenor and Regional Delegate to TUC Conference 2010

During the last few years the regions lay leadership has finally started to reflect our membership and has done much to champion the cause of UNISON members in London. The Convenor Team has successfully strengthened UNISON in London by bringing greater unity, building participation across the differing service and self organised groups, and building a union to be proud of. I want to continue to work with Gloria Hanson as Convenor, John Gray as Finance Convenor, Lynn Bentley as Publicity Officer, Emma Rolland as Young Members Convenor with Monica Hirst as Equalities Convenor to continue to build on this in the coming year.

With 75% being female and 40% from black and ethnic minorities our membership in London is diverse. It is vital that the lay leadership continues to be representative. We also need to look at how things are currently done and consider new ways to make the union more relevant to engage and encourage members and new activists from all occupational and service groups to become active at all levels of the union.

We must continue to focus on real issues for real members. We must listen to our members, make their priorities ours and ensure all members in London have a voice.

Unfortunately the issues which our members continue to face on a daily basis - inequality, privatisation and marketisation, attacks on their terms and conditions and relentless budget cuts and reforms – don’t change. We need to continue to recruit and organise and build the region to ensure that we are strong enough to fight on their behalf and win!

In recent years I have been proud to be part of the unions campaigns to defend our NHS, for fair pay, a decent pensions scheme and against the far right. I want to continue our campaigning for decent London Weighting, affordable housing, greater equality and opposing the BNP everywhere they emerge.

As a Branch Officer at Lewisham Hospital I know first hand how difficult it can be to balance doing the day job with union duties and am committed to working to strengthen the support available to activists and branches to assist them as much as possible in representing their members at work.

Only a few years ago members in health felt they didn’t have a voice and weren’t represented in the region. As Chair of the Regional Health Committee I have been delighted to see more health branches than ever before becoming active and playing a central role within the region.

There is still a long way to go in the fight for equality but I am proud that my branch is one of the pilot branches taking part in the Challenging Racism Project.

If re-elected I will work tirelessly to represent the views of our members, to campaign for issues that affect them and ensure that their voice is heard loud and clear".

Gloria Hanson for Regional Convenor & Regional Rep @ NDC

Check out here - Below is Gloria’s election statement.

"I am seeking your support for my re-election as Regional Convenor and also Regional Delegate to NDC.

As the Regional Convenor, I am so proud to be part of this diverse lay leadership team which is representative of our membership and our considerable success in recent years of strengthening the region by bringing greater unity and democracy, building participation across differing service and self organised groups, and building a union to be proud of.

Our union and our members have faced many challenges this year but the region has seen many successes such as a sustained increase in recruitment, increase in activists attending training, winning equal pay claims, campaigns to protect jobs and conditions through cuts and restructuring and our work on equalities which goes from strength to strength.

I want to see London UNISON continue to campaign on real issues for real members - defending the NHS and directly provided services; strengthening our influence in Education and in Private Contractors; promoting equalities; Pensions, affordable housing, London Living Wage, opposing and defeating the far right and raising UNISON’s profile as the lead trade union in London.

Never has it been a more important time for public service workers to be a member of a trade union, which gives us an opportunity to continue to build and strengthen our union, by recruiting, organising and maximising participation. By getting our members active we can only become stronger and more representative. We must take every opportunity to look at how we make the union more relevant to all and encourage participation at all levels. I will continue to send a message out to our members that this is OUR union, and each member has a role to play and a contribution to make.

As an experienced black activist I know only too well the challenges our members and activists face. I will work to strengthen support for branches and activists in undertaking the difficult task of supporting members at work, as well as to encourage new activists to come forward from sections of the union where there is a long-established under-representation.

In the coming year our union and our members will face many changes and challenges for which we must be ready to act and adapt. If re-elected as Convenor, with Conroy Lawrence as Deputy, we will ensure that the voice of the membership – your voice –continues to be listened to and heard, and that we champion these voices. We will continue to work tirelessly in the fight for equality and fairness for our members, to give London UNISON a louder and effective voice that is listened to by all.

I am also standing as Regional Delegate for NDC. In recent years we have seen more branches and delegates attending and participating in NDC than ever before and I want to support, encourage and assist the London delegation to ensure a successful and productive conference.

UNISON Greater London Regional Council AGM 2010

This Wednesday (3rd February) the UNISON Greater London Regional Council AGM takes place. Around 250 delegates will be present representing 130,000 UNISON members. This is arguably the most important annual trade union meeting in London.

UNISON President Gerry Gallagher, Leader of the Labour Group on the Greater London Authority (GLA), Len Duvall and Kirsten Hearn who is an independent member of the MPA will be keynote speakers.

The Annual report will be tabled and I will also be presenting the Finance Report (and doing my best not to send everyone to sleep). Then there will be NEC reports emergency motions, rule amendments, ordinary motions and committee reports. The most importance business will be the election by secret ballot of Regional Council officers (the lay executive for London UNISON), the main Regional committee and sub-committees.

I am standing for re-election as Finance Convenor alongside the other “dream team” (as described by the opposition!) candidates: -

Gloria Hanson - Regional Convenor

Conroy Lawrence - Deputy Regional Convenor

John Gray - Regional Finance Convenor

Monica Hirst - Regional Equalities Convenor

Lynn Bentley - Regional Publicity Officer

Emma Rolland - Regional Young Members Convenor

There is usually a bit of a bun fight with disunited left during reports and motions but hopefully we can all have a good old debate and it is a successful AGM (by that I mean of course - we win).

I will post our “Slate” election statements next starting with Gloria. 

Their dreams turn to ashes..... London UNISON sees off United Left

This is a quick post on the main Election results of the (Ash Wednesday) London UNISON AGM that took place today.

I was very pleased that I was re-elected as Regional Finance convenor. However, we won all the Regional Council posts with Gloria Hanson being elected Regional Convenor, Conroy Lawrence: Deputy Convenor, Lynn Bentley: Publicity Officer and Gill Brown as Equalities Convenor. Sarah Lewis was re-elected unopposed as Young Person convenor.

Commiserations to all those who lost (sincere this time since I have lost elections in the past and will no doubt lose others in the future). But many, many thanks for all those who voted for us.

We’re find out the result of the other committee elections tomorrow. I’ll post a full report on the AGM as soon as I can (just back from a Labour Party “fish and chips supper” fundraiser for Ken and the GLA elections – so it has been a long day)

Picture of our Guest speaker, UNISON President Norma Stephenson, speaking to AGM, with Sarah and Gloria on the top table.

BTW – yesterday was the first anniversary of my very first posts.

Merry Shove Tuesday Mr Lawrence

(If you are not interested in the internal political machinations of the trade union UNISON in London then please ignore this post.)

Well, actually it should have been titled “We are not Trots Mr Lawrence (honest gov)”.

Picture (left) of Conroy and current acting convenor Gloria!

Things are hot-ing up a little for the London UNISON regional Council AGM on Wednesday (see email below sent to various London UNISON branches today). Malcolm “methinks thou dost protest too much” Campbell has had a “dig” at top UNISON Health steward (hospital electrician) Conroy Lawrence, who actually did not know who exactly would be part of the SWP/United left slate when he put in his nomination (except of course that there would be one).

It is interesting to note that apparently Mandy has now “left” the SWP after 20 odd years of membership and that none of the other candidates are members of Trotsky Entryist Labour Party factions. Well, that’s all right then. I thought *** was never a member of United Left? and that of course the wonderful Katrina has been taken over by UL Zombie body snatchers.

Has anyone in disunited left ever heard the saying “I joined the Labour party to help change the world, not to change the minutes of the previous meeting”? What on earth is Malcolm going on about? I assume that I was at the same meetings and do not recognise what on earth he is actually making a complaint about. I thought I was a total anorak?

Whatever the result it should be a fun packed AGM. I will let you know what went on.

From: Malcolm Campbell Sent: 04 February 2008 08:55Subject: URGENT - Regional Council AGM
Please forward this to your Regional Council delegates and ask them to read it carefully.

I'm writing to urge you to vote for the following people in the election of Regional Council Officers this Wednesday:

Convenor: Mandy Berger
Deputy Convenor: Malcolm Campbell
Finance Convenor: Heenal Rajani
Publicity Officer: Katrina Hoogendam
Equalities Convenor: *** ****

In his election address, Conroy Lawrence (who is standing against me for Deputy Convenor) talks about the Region being "captured by those who take their policies from extreme parties and who are answerable to their political masters and not UNISON's members". He is clearly suggesting that this describes those of us standing against him and his running mates. This is completely untrue.

I'm a member of the Labour Party and have never been a member of any other political party. Heenal, Katrina and *** are also members of the Labour Party, and Mandy is not a member of any party.

The idea that we won't be answerable to the membership is misleading in the extreme. We're standing on a platform of democracy and accountability, because we believe that the leadership of the Region for the last two years hasn't been allowing the views of the membership to be considered. Debate has been stifled.

Examples of this are:

An inquorate Regional Council meeting where debate was quite rightly allowed regarding the fight against fascism, but we weren't allowed to discuss the Pensions Dispute, which was at a crucial stage
Not allowing the Regional Committee to vote on a proposal for a Regional rally on a strike day, when other regions were holding them.
A consultation exercise regarding the establishing of a Regional Standing Orders Committee which only outlined two alternatives, and not a third which had been proposed involving a directly elected SOC
Introducing an SOC comprised of the Regional Council Officers, without the agreement of either the Regional Council or the Regional Committee
Not allowing a proper debate regarding motions submitted to Regional Council which had been ruled out of order (this was at a meeting of the Regional Committee curtailed after only 10 minutes of the allotted 45, when the Acting Regional Convenor and the Regional Secretary left the room despite there still being a number of people indicating that they wanted to speak!)
Not allowing a vote at the last Regional Committee on a perfectly valid proposal to commit the Region in principle to a joint union meeting in the future over Public Sector pay
This list isn't exhaustive and demonstrates that the way the Region is currently being run just isn't good enough.

PLEASE VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

CheersMalcolm Campbell

UPDATE: I have been asked by someone mentioned on this post to remove their name. I have done so. grayee

London UNISON Regional Council Elections

On Wednesday 6 February 2008 it is the AGM for the Regional Council. UNISON is the biggest union in London with more than 130,000 members. There are 152 branches that are entitled to send delegates to the AGM and vote in a secret ballot for lay regional council officers, regional sub-committees, conference delegates, motions and proposed rule changes. The AGM also approves (or not) various reports.

The president of UNISON, Norma Stephenson, is our guest speaker. There are also speakers from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, on public sector pay and a Parliamentary report from Jeremy Corbyn MP.

I am standing to be re-elected as Regional Finance Convenor. This is one of the 5 Regional Council Officers posts. I am also supporting Gloria Hanson for Regional Convenor; Conroy Lawrence for Deputy Regional Convenor; Lynn Bentley for Regional Publicity Officer; Gill Brown for Regional Equalities Convenor.

Check out “UNISON members win at Regional AGM” (5 February 2007 – one of my first ever posts)

Below is my election statement. I'm sure Andrew will post my opponents statement in "comments".

REGIONAL FINANCE CONVENOR ELECTION STATEMENT

ORGANISE TO WIN

I am currently the Regional Finance Convenor and strongly believe that
strong management of our member’s money is I believe the key foundation to organising campaigns that deliver for our members.

If re-elected as the Regional Finance Convenor I would ensure that the member’s money is used to support branches with key issues such as:

Recruitment

Defending Pensions

Campaigning to defend our public services

Campaigning for equalities

OPEN AND TRANSPARENT

Financial decisions need to be open and transparent and be easily understood by activists.

I want to make sure that activists better understand the financial support that is available to branches and ensure that the money gets to them to support recruitment and organising campaigns.

The Region has the money to back a growing union – the bigger we are, the stronger we are – let make sure it happens.

I am an experienced branch officer and regional activist for many years (including holding the position of branch treasurer, assistant branch secretary, branch health and safety officer and member nominated representative on Pension panel).

If anyone wishes to discuss my statement with me they could ring **** or email johndotgrayatunisonplusdotnet