UNISON raises the age limit for its young members

UNISON’s national delegate conference last week approved a rule change that has an immediate impact on the union’s young members.

Delegates agreed to raise the ceiling age for young member status from 26 to 30. This increases the time in which activists can work in a young member capacity and, consequently, the age of those taking the two young members’ seats on the national executive council.

It’s estimated that the move will roughly double the number of the union’s young members.

Josephine Grahl, UNISON’s national officer for young members, commented today: “We hope this change will strengthen UNISON’s young member structures, giving young workers a longer period to join and become active in UNISON young members’ groups, and giving us time to develop young activists who will go on to play a lifelong role in the union.

“This motion came from UNISON’s young members’ conference in December 2022, where it was very strongly supported, and our survey of UNISON members showed that a large majority of members of all ages felt that increasing the age was the right thing to do.”

Ms Grahl added: “The increase in age reflects the changes in the workforce that have happened since UNISON’s first young members’ groups were established in 1996: the increase in school leaving age, the expansion of participation in higher and further education, and the fact that the public sector workforce tends, these days, to be older than the average.

“But it doesn’t stop here. We hope every branch and region will use this opportunity to step up organising with young workers – and make our young members’ groups better than ever before.”

 

The article UNISON raises the age limit for its young members first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC elects new presidential team

UNISON’s newly elected national executive council (NEC) convened for the first time on Friday afternoon, at the end of national delegate conference in Liverpool, to elect a new presidential team.

The council elected Libby Nolan of Swansea Bay Healthcare Branch in Cymru/Wales as president, with Steve North of Salford Local Government Branch in the North West and Julia Mwaluke, also from Salford City Local Government Branch as vice presidents.

The article NEC elects new presidential team first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC backs the right to strike emergency protest

UNISON’s national executive council (NEC) has encouraged as many members as possible to attend the TUC-organised emergency protest in Westminster at 6pm on Monday (22 May) and defend the right to strike.

The strike-busting legislation is returning to parliament on Monday and UNISON, along with other unions, believes that the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, is a full-frontal attack on working people and the trade unions they organise within.

Details of the demonstration can be found here.

Separately, at its meeting this week, the NEC also heard that the union is in the midst of taking the government to the High Court over their new rules to bring in agency workers to break strikes.

General secretary Christina McAnea said: “UNISON is clear that bringing in unqualified and ill-experienced agency workers during strikes doesn’t address the root causes of why people are striking, and it only puts the public in danger. Our legal team spent two days giving evidence earlier this month.”

A decision is expected over the next few weeks.

Elsewhere the general secretary highlighted that the NJC pay ballot is opening on 23 May and that the recent success with health pay did not include Northern Ireland where UNISON is still campaigning to make the deal a reality with action short of strike for the whole of May “to try and force ministers to get through the political impasse that is blocking any pay increases”.

Christina also highlighted that nine universities had voted for strike action and that the union was still pushing ahead with its national care service campaign, “pushing the Labour party to adopt as many of our priorities as we can.”

The NEC also:

  • continued to make preparations for national delegate conference in Liverpool in June;
  • received an update on UNISON’s race discrimination inquiry;
  • unanimously accepted the ‘organising to win’ strategy report which deals with the recruitment and retention of members and the streamlining of national whole-union organising priorities;
  • sent a message of solidarity to Environment Agency members currently still taking action on pay – and all other members currently taking industrial action; and
  • agreed to review the future of U magazine and will report back to branches.

The article NEC backs the right to strike emergency protest first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Three steps to NEC heaven

The future of our union is in your hands. It’s time to decide who will represent you on UNISON’s national executive council (NEC).

But time is running out. Voting closes on 19 May.

Members of UNISON have a direct say on who will work with UNISON’s general secretary to steer our union through these difficult times.

Your vote is essential in ensuring we have the right leaders making crucial decisions for all of us. And from the very close results of previous elections, we do know that every vote matters.

NEC members are ordinary UNISON members. By voting for candidates who share your priorities, you help elect leaders committed to enhancing your experience as a member.

That’s why it is so important that as many members vote as possible, ensuring that a small, vocal minority will not represent the views of the vast majority of members.

So, please, if you haven’t already voted, here are our three steps to NEC heaven:

  1. Find your election pack. If you can’t find it, you can order another one by ringing the ballot helpline from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, on 0800 0 857 857. The last date you can request a new pack is 15 May.
  2. Read the information from the candidates and make sure you’re voting for a member whose views you share and agree with, and who you think will work in your best interests.
  3. Send your vote in the Freepost envelope provided. It must arrive by 19 May.

In addition to NEC members, your election pack will allow you to vote for your regional representatives and service group representatives. You’ll also have the opportunity to vote for those standing for the national Black member seats and national disabled member seats.

But the most important thing to remember is to vote.

Don’t leave it to everyone else. Take a few minutes and help your union be the best it can be.

The article Three steps to NEC heaven first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Don’t give away your power

Every week is a busy week for UNISON. And although it’s only Wednesday, we’ve already achieved so much this week.

We’ve pushed the government one step closer to getting more money into the pockets of NHS workers, we’ve supported our CQC members taking strike action in their dispute over pay, and today, our legal team entered the Royal Courts of Justice to challenge the government on their strike-breaking laws.

UNISON members, activists and staff all play their part in making these things happen. A whole team working in partnership to make a huge difference for our members, for public services and society.

But it also relies on the right decisions being taken, on where we put our efforts and resources.

As the leader of UNISON, I work with our National Executive Council (NEC) to make those crucial decisions.

I’m committed to working in partnership with the 68 members that will take up their positions next month. And you have until 19 May to have your say on who should be on the new NEC.

It’s the foundation of our union and the principle on which our rules were built – that by working in partnership we are stronger and can achieve more.

It’s down to you, and all your fellow UNISON members, to put the right people into positions of responsibility in our union. Don’t give away your power by missing your opportunity to vote.

Have your say, make your voice heard.

The article Blog: Don’t give away your power first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: This is democracy in action

There is something important happening inside our union right now, and every UNISON member has the chance to take part in it. It’s our National Executive Council (NEC) elections, and this week, the ballot opened.

Whoever you elect to the NEC, will work with me to steer our union over the next two years. As the leader of our great union, I’ve always been clear that we want to increase participation in important votes like these, so that as many members as possible have their say.

The seats on the NEC are important leadership positions. They come with big responsibilities and have an impact on how our union operates, and on members’ working lives.

The NEC is tasked with making decisions on your behalf and, working collectively, they must put UNISON members’ interests first and focus on the issues that matter to you, no matter which region, service group and self-organised group you’re part of. That’s why it’s crucial that you have your say.

If your ballot paper hasn’t already arrived at your home, then it will arrive in the next few days. It’s so important that you look out for this, take a few minutes to read the information, use all your votes, and send it back in the pre-paid envelope.

Remember, this is your chance to vote for who you want to represent your region and service group, and everyone gets a vote for the national Black members and national disabled members seats.

So make sure your voice is heard, and encourage your UNISON friends to vote too. Ballot papers must be returned by 19 May and results will be announced on 8 June. If you haven’t received your ballot paper by 25 April, please contact our ballot helpline 0800 0 857 857 from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

The article Blog: This is democracy in action first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON prepares ‘robust response’ to government’s attempts to divide the health team

UNISON has reaffirmed its commitment to the One Team campaign for the health service, in the face of the government’s “divisive” actions during the NHS pay dispute, the national executive council (NEC) heard today.

Health members in England are currently voting on the government’s latest pay offer. The ballot closes at 3pm on Thursday 13 April. By the time delegates meet for the national health conference next week, results will be through and next steps will be debated.

In her NEC report, general secretary Christina McAnea said that, ahead of conference, the health service group executive had discussed the Westminster government’s commitment to the Royal College of Nurses to consider a separate pay spine in England ‘for nursing staff exclusively’.

“That’s obviously of huge concern to us,” she said. “The committee reaffirmed our union’s One Team values and agreed that any move to break up the Agenda for Change pay system in this way would present significant risks – including around equal pay – and cause unnecessary local tensions.

“The committee agreed to oversee development of a robust UNISON response, focusing on the measures actually needed to support proper pay and career progression for nursing staff, and highlighting the dangers of dismantling the harmonised pay spine.”

In associated work, Ms McAnea reported that the service group’s flagship healthcare assistant re-banding programme, ‘Pay Fair for Patient Care’, is going “from strength to strength,” with projects now active in every region.

And she noted the union’s launch of its National Care Service campaign, just one day after the government confirmed it was to halve its investment in the social care workforce. “The campaign couldn’t be more vital,” she said.

The NEC received updates on other pay campaigns across the union, including: the upcoming industrial action ballot for local government members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and consultation over a new offer in Scotland; a strike ballot in higher education; and upcoming strike action at the Environment Agency and CQC.

Council members took the opportunity to send messages of support to health members in Northern Ireland, whose strike actions recently brought the government to the negotiating table, and to the junior doctors of the British Medical Association (BMA), who are currently on strike.

Away from pay disputes, Ms McAnea told the council that UNISON has put the wheels in motion for a potential judicial review into the Home Office’s recent decision to renege on three commitments it made following the Windrush Review.

Home secretary Suella Braverman has confirmed that plans to strengthen the powers of the immigration watchdog, set up a new national migrants’ advocate, and run reconciliation events with Windrush families would all be scrapped.

Ms McAnea said that any action the union takes will depend on the responses it receives from the government to its objections, and further legal advice,

“We’re still investigating and trying to get more information. It seems appropriate given our long history of supporting people involved in Windrush, and [former general secretary] Dave Prentis’s personal involvement in this, that we as a union pursue this as far as we can.”

It was fitting that the NEC also approved the president and vice presidents’ award of UNISON honorary membership to Doreen and Neville Lawrence, the parents of Stephen Lawrence.

As president Andrea Egan told her colleagues, the honour reflected the Lawrences’ work for social justice and fight against discrimination in the UK, including their work on these issues with UNISON itself, and also marked the fact that 2023 is UNISON’s Year of Black Workers.

In other business, the NEC agreed to extend the union’s financial appeal – from regional to national – for the staff at the Orchard Day Nursery in Merseyside, who lost their jobs when the owners controversially closed the centre in March.

The article UNISON prepares ‘robust response’ to government’s attempts to divide the health team first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC hears of ongoing industrial action across the union

The first National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of 2023 heard a long list of all the industrial action that members are currently taking part in, across the UK.

“It’s been a very busy few months,” admitted general secretary Christina McAnea. “I’ll be heading to the South West for our next ambulance strike day on Friday, and we’re working on keeping up the huge media attention and public support that our strikes have attracted so far.

“Our health team, AGSs and regional secretaries have also spent many hours supporting our members on picket lines, and this support will continue throughout the dispute.”

Besides the ongoing dispute in the health service, strike action is also taking place in higher education this week, and the NEC meeting was taking place on the second day of action by members in the Environment Agency.

With strikes across the union – and pay ballots also taking place – Ms McAnea stressed that the union’s industrial action strategy was constantly being reviewed. “The Westminster government is still not engaged in meaningful talks with us and our concern is that they are deliberately not trying to resolve these disputes – that this is a deliberate tactic.”

The general secretary also discussed the difficulties of trying to coordinate strike action with other unions.

The NEC welcomed the news that the union has recently launched an appeal, so that all health activists and members can show solidarity by donating to the strike fund.

The NEC also discussed the ongoing campaign to fight the Westminster government’s draconian anti-strike bill, which seeks to severely limit the ability of workers to go on strike. The general secretary highlighted ongoing work with other unions and the TUC, with the possibility of a legal challenge.

The NEC agreed that raising members’ awareness of the threat posed by the bill was a priority.

In the light of so much activity, the NEC heard the welcome news that the union’s membership was continuing to grow, turning around a deficit at the start of 2022 and seeing strong growth in the first month of this year.

Ms McAnea noted: “We ended last year in net growth, which, given how we started the year, is very good news. January was also a very good month. Branches and regions are working very hard. Thank you to everyone who has been involved.”

The NEC also:

  • Sent a message of solidarity to the people of Turkey, in the aftermath of the earthquake earlier in the week;
  • Commended the launch of UNISON’s Year of Black Workers;
  • Vowed to continue to fight for full implementation of the Windrush review;
  • Congratulated former UNISON vice president Sian Stockham on receiving an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List, for services to the trade union movement.

The article NEC hears of ongoing industrial action across the union first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC hears that building for the NHS strike ballots is the ‘priority’

UNISON’s national executive council (NEC) met today and agreed that the forthcoming NHS industrial action ballots will be its priority after hearing details plans of the work being undertaken now to build turnout.

General secretary Christina McAnea updated the meeting on bargaining, negotiations, disputes and industrial action that the union is currently engaged in, across sectors.

On health, she noted that a ballot opened in Scotland on 3 October, with phone-banking set to start this week. The ballot for England, Wales and Northern. Ireland opens on 27 October.

“These combined ballots will mean we could be balloting over 400,000 members by the end of the year. The key priority is to turn out the vote to get over 50%. This is a huge logistical challenge and requires focussing our resources on the ballots,” observed Ms McAnea.

Earlier, she had said that, while the union will be celebrating Black History Month throughout October, “we don’t just do this for one month of the year, but make sure that this is a part of our work all year”.

More widely, the general secretary said that she couldn’t remember a time when a “new prime minister and a new chancellor have been such a unifying force!” They had no mandate, she said.

“But the mask has now completely gone. They’re not even pretending to be ‘one-nation’ Conservatives any more.”

Ms McAnea said that the government’s aim was to: “Take from the poorest to give the richest”, which “gives us a lot of ammunition”.

She also told the meeting that UNISON has issued proceedings with the High Court, triggering the start of the process to seek a judicial review of the government’s “new regulations to allow the use of agency workers to break strikes”.

The general secretary’s report also updated council members on the developing Together We Rise campaign and explained that the union wants every MP to be visited by a member at the We Demand Better lobby of Parliament on 2 November, organising jointly with the TUC.

Before Ms McAnea spoke, the meeting heard a shocking report from Lesia Semeniaka (pictured above), the international officer of Atomprofspilka, the Nuclear Power and Industry Workers Union in Ukraine.

Thanking UNISON and members for their “very important” moral and financial support, Ms Semeniaka said that she was speaking on the 232nd day of a war in which “Russia is committing genocide of Ukrainian people”.

She talked of recent civilian victims of Russian attacks, together with attacks on infrastructure and on educational and cultural sites.

“According to Putin, he is waging war on all Western countries.”

Ms Semeniaka said that the Russian leader’s wider aim is clear – to deprive Western European countries of fuel in the winter, provoking people onto the streets to overthrow democratic governments.

Speaking of union members facing torture by invading forces and being used civilians as a “human shield”, she reminded the meeting that the international Red Cross is being denied access to any Russian-held Ukrainian prisoners.

No international bodies have any influence over Russians, she said, labelling Putin’s forces as “terrorists”.

The meeting also heard reports on:

  • the state of pay claims and new ballots across service groups, including developments on phone banking to boost turnouts;
  • developments in internal the running of elections;
  • adopting 2023 as the Year of the Black Worker; and
  • received and accepted the latest financial statement.

The article NEC hears that building for the NHS strike ballots is the ‘priority’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.

‘A struggle is a struggle. That’s why we’ve got to stick together’

UNISON president Andrea Egan says she’s given her life to the trade union movement. A committed UNISON and local government activist of over three decades in Bolton, she “couldn’t be prouder” to be from the North West,

Describing how the union has given her the resources and space to help make a difference, she noted: “As a working-class woman, it’s allowed me to really fulfil that deep sense of how unfair and unequal society is, and has allowed me a platform to do that work and given me a structure to influence change.”

Ms Egan’s organising track record is strong: leading UNISON’s first industrial action against academisation of two Bolton secondary schools in 2008; organising to stop the closure of local childrens’ centres; pushing for trans policies in her local council and fighting tirelessly for disability inclusion.

It’s unsurprising that she believes that collective organising is where UNISON is most powerful.

“We’re an organising union. When you’re organised and winning, it attracts people to join the union, as opposed to just servicing.”

Servicing, she explains, is the ‘insurance policy’ feature of unions, that promises protection in case of any workplace issues. For Ms Egan, although this “can’t be the main focus of who we are”, the two features of the union aren’t mutually exclusive.

“In my branch, if somebody rings and there’s a disciplinary or a grievance, we consider: ‘Can that be a collective grievance?’ If it’s an issue of wages or bullying, we consider: ‘Who else in that workplace is suffering from that same issue?’

“We try to collectivise the issues. We’ve supported campaigns when employers want to target or have failed one member, and other workers have stepped forward. We have organised those workers to stand together to take action.”

Referencing successful UNISON campaigns in the region from rehabilitation workers in Wigan to winning the living wage for commissioned care workers across Greater Manchester, Ms Egan said “we can see the model of organising in all of those wins.”

Given that UNISON members work within public services, Ms Egan recognises the union holds a unique position in its capacity to engage the public and local communities.

“I’ve led some fantastic campaigns, which were only fantastic through the engagement of the community. We often forget that.

“During the academy campaign, I would attend branch committee and remind our stewards: ‘Don’t forget, this isn’t just about the children’s section fighting the academy programme. It’s about you – grandparents, parents, aunties and uncles who have kids in those schools. You’ve all got a part to play’.”

Equalities

As newly-appointed president of UNISON’s national executive council, Ms Egan is keen to lend her power to amplify issues of equality. She said: “I use every power and opportunity I’ve got, and I won’t leave any equality group behind. We’ve got to do whatever we can where people are disadvantaged, or there’s a potential for them to be treated differently and unequally in the workplace.”

Ms Egan is a proud trans ally and recently celebrated the launch of UNISON’s new trans equality campaign: “Being president of the largest union in the UK gives me a platform to be able to advocate and be a trans ally. I’ve always been an ally.

“I might be a white, heterosexual, able-bodied female, but that doesn’t mean I cannot understand what [trans people] are going through. As a white working-class woman, brought up by a single mum on a housing estate, I understand struggle.

“A struggle is a struggle. That’s why we’ve got to stick together.”

Ms Egan at UNISON’s trans equality campaign launch

As her presidential project, Ms Egan has chosen the Endeavour Project in Bolton, which supports survivors of domestic abuse and “doesn’t leave anyone behind”. The organisation offers a pet fostering service, to ensure that survivors of domestic abuse don’t have to give up their pets or leave them with abusers.

Every July, the organisation coordinates a ramble on Holcombe Moor in memory of Ellen Strange, and also honours the women who have been killed by domestic abuse in the past 12 months, which Ms Egan attends as part of group of local UNISON members.

As president of the UK’s biggest trade union at a time where the government are openly targeting unions, Ms Egan recognises UNISON is facing a “massive challenge”

In response to Tory leadership candidate Liz Truss’s statement that she will crack down on trade unions, Ms Egan said: “It’s not solely an attack on the trade unions, it’s an attack on the working class, because it’s the trade unions who organise the working class and have the power to give people a voice.

“When Truss says she wants to undo all the red tape, that won’t just affect union members, it affects the whole of society and all the things we’ve worked for.”

The article ‘A struggle is a struggle. That’s why we’ve got to stick together’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.