To open the day your delegation attended the Housing Association sector meeting various housing issues were discussed including the 7% increase cap for rent, Tenants are not facing a hike however resources for managing the stock is having an impact, Housing benefit in effect is reduced due to this.
Housing associations are trying not to recognise trade unions and it’s difficult to know how many members are in each workplace
Then following a break for lunch the seminar begun and Christina McAnea has sent her apologies to this conference, Claire Williams national secretary will be speaking in her absence.
She raised issues of how much of the cost of living has impacted the community sector, including Housing, Voluntary sector and Social Care. community is at the forefront of this. look at how we organise across all sectors and hope to see change in the future. Improved communications to adapt to the changing world of work. review ways members can access support, access learning, and the UNISON College (click below to find out more)
Prioritising a social care campaigning work to increase strength in this sector.
Following this speech there was mention of the year of the black worker. you can find out more about that by clicking below…
Following this questions were asked and Claire and Jon Williams answered various questions from the seminar.
We now hear a speech from Nye Cominetti from Resolution Foundation – “Who Cares? The experience of social care workers, and the enforcement of employment rights in the sector”
We now hear from Jo Gallaway, UNISON Regional Secretary, Organising & Recruitment Strategy Development Project.
Jo Gallaway took questions from attendees and then concluded her presentation.
This concludes todays session tomorrow will be the beginning of the conference session.
Don’t forget there is still time to book for this year’s Annual General Meeting – Friday 24 February 2023 Arrival 6pm AGM Start at 6.30pm at Derby Conference Centre, London Road, Derby, DE24 8UX, It will be great to see you there!
Please find below the Agenda, Minutes, and our Newsletter containing branch officer reports.
The AGM will finish at 7.30pm and be followed by a 2 course Indian Hot Buffet, then a live band and Disco. The Bar will be open till 1am
On arrival each UNISON member will receive one FREE Drinks Voucher to be redeemed at the Bar.
£378.40 has been raised in the bucket collection for TIE (Time for Inclusive Education)
You can find out more about TIE here…
Standing Orders Committee report 4 is now received verbally
19.1 falls if 2.1 falls
Jackie and Maz are now
We now hear the Motions being put forward NDC1 – Equality is for Retired Members this was carried but it was recommended by the NEC (National Executive Committee) that this doesn’t go to NDC (National Delegates Conference)
Next is the NDC2 – Make 2024 the year of LGBT+ Workers and Amendment – the amendment 2.1 fell this also means that motion amendment 19.1 has now fallen. This motion was carried without amendments.
NDC3 – Justice for Palestine and Amendment
2 Motions that are to be put forward
We now hear from UNISON President Andrea Egan
Andrea committed to ensuring that Trans Ally Training will be carried out to all NEC members, fighting for a ban on Conversion Therapy and Gender Recognition and stop LGBT Hate Crime.
Andrea also talked around issues of the current government, homelessness, the cost of living, inflation rises, and services that affect LGBT+ members
Andrea also mentioned the NHS Pay Ballot and that this ends on 25 November 2022 so make sure you use your vote.
Local Government NJC pay claim for 2023 is now coming up and all the hard work branches have done will help with the new negotiations and for branches to be ready for action.
Andrea also updated conference on all the current work the NEC (National Executive Council) is working on and has already carried out.
Andrea set out a clear plan for the union over the next year.
We now hear the Recruiting and Organising section of the annual report you can read more by clicking on the report below…
Organising and Recruitment Awards
Winners for this year
The Trans Caucus for all the hard work that have done over the year and development of the Trans Ally Training.
Northern Ireland and North West regions have jointly won an award for all the work they have carried out
Photograph award goes to the North West Region also.
Now we move to the debating of motions, you can read the motions in the below conference agenda.
Composite A – Recruiting and Organising Young LGBT+ Members is now being discussed and was carried.
There is now a collective motion debate on Motion 12 & 12.1 and Motion 19 &19.2 Make 2024 the Year of LGBT+ Workers, and then votes will be taken following this debate on these motions. These motions were carried.
Motion 11 – Equality Is UNISON Business was carried
Motion 8 – Making the ‘+’ a positive – Continuing the Work of Inclusion was carried
Motion 9 – Increasing BI+ Engagement in our Self Organised Group this motion was carried
Conference made a statement at this point about the recent news that Five people Killed in Shooting at Gay Nightclub in Colorado Springs and Conference sends it though and solidarity to all those affected by the recent shooing in Colorado. you can read more about this shocking news below by clicking on the image .
We now continue to discuss motions and next is Motion 13 – Inclusive Data Collection Reform for and Inclusive Union, this motion was lost.
Motion 23 – Black LGBT+ Activism and Amendment his motion was carried
Motion 18 – Accessible Organising for LGBT+ Members this was carried.
Motion 5 – We must strive for real and meaningful LGBT+ Data – this motion was carried as amended.
Motion 15 – Ban Conversion Therapy Now! This Motion was Carried
Motion 10 – Why LGBT+ Employees Should join UNISON – this motion was carried
Emergency Motion 1 – Trans Rights and the Labor Party – This motion was carried
NDC Motions to NDC are NDC2 & NDC4 are now to be submitted to National Delegates Conference.
We now hear the closing Ceremony with thanks to all involved in the conference from the Chair of the final session of conference.
This concludes this year LGBT+ Conference business, we hope you’ve found this blog useful and learnt something about what’s being discussed and learnt more about the unions structure and how LGBT+ members rights, discrimination, and issues are addressed.
