Category: Branch Secretary

Categories
Archive Blogs Branch Secretary Campaigns Conferences Derby City Council LGBT News Newsletter Our History UNISON

A Tribute to Sue Salzedo

We would just like to pay tribute to Sue Salzedo who was a a great support and friend to Julie Walker our Branch Treasurer and a very good friend of our branch. Rosie Bartram UNISON Area Organiser – Case Support Unit and Regional Women’s Network Secretary sums up below in her words how much sue was respected in UNISON for everything she did for the union and its members.

For those interested in attending Sue’s funeral please contact Derby City Branch and we will share these with you.

Hi all

I am writing this with a heavy heart as we recently lost a much loved and respected member of the UNISON family. Sue Salzedo sadly passed away in December 2021 at the age of 75. She was a member of Leicestershire County Branch but was also active in several of our self-organised groups (SOGs) as well as Regional and National forums. I thought it would be fitting to honour her many years of activism and her dedication to supporting members.

Sue, a Social Worker, started her UNISON path as a steward for NALGO. We know that she was active in the 1990s and I suspect that she was active before this time too. In 1991 she was the Women’s Officer within the branch. As such she attended regular meetings and attended Women’s Conference on numerous occasions. She was also active in the LGBT+ SOG at this time. She was a branch delegate, regional delegate and also got involved nationally too. She was a leading light in both SOGs and continued to be until the end of 2021.

Sue was the branch chair at Leicestershire from 2003 to 2006. She retired in 2006 but still continued to be a very active part of both the branch and regionally. She became joint retired members secretary upon retiring, sharing the role with Shirley Ball and then Richard Lancaster. In 2016 she took on this role solely and held it until now. She was also a member of the International Committee, Regional Council and the Equalities Committee.

She was an integral part of the Regional Women’s Network and will be sorely missed by us all. Sue was interviewed for an article in Out In UNISON magazine back in 2008. It gives a great insight into Sue, and I wanted to share my favourite quote from it with you. When asked what advice she would give others when approaching retirement she said, “don’t wait; don’t worry about spending money to do things that you really want to do, now is the only time that you have. The main thing is to enjoy yourself.” I think this advice applies to us all. 

Thank you Sue.

Rosie Bartram

UNISON Area Organiser – Case Support Unit

Regional Women’s Network Secretary

Categories
Archive Blogs Branch Secretary Campaigns Conferences Demonstration Derby City Council Derby College Derby Homes Events Labour Group LGBT National Delegate Conference News Newsletter Our History Retired Members Schools Social Training UNISON

Special Delegate Conference 2021 – Day 3

Today we attended the third of three days of the National Special Delegate Conference in a very different way, as a virtual conference run by UNISON attended by the branch. this was all done online with voting taking place virtually. and your Delegates all attended and actively participated in this event. 

First we had a welcome from Josie Bird, introducing us to the conference and the order of business and the rules around it.

Todays order of business was the remaining order of business and the continuation debating of the motions the detail of these can be found in the following documents. click on the documents to read more detail.

The first motion to be discussed is Motion 66 – LGBT+ people; hidden figures in the pandemic was carried

LGBT+ people should not be hidden figures in this Inquiry

Composite A (Motions 7 and 8) – Creating Fairer Workplaces for the Post Lockdown World is carried It’s crucial we lead the fight for a fairer workplace. We know who the Covid hero’s are this needs reflecting in pay! Read more on the composite here https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2021/03/SOC-Report-SDC-2021-Final_.pdf

Josie then went on to talk about the following video campaign. Impossible choices could soon define our local communities. But we can #SaveOurServices. Write to your MP to #DemandThe10Billion

https://action.unison.org.uk/page/65995/action/1

Motion 64 – No Going Backwards on Gender Equality is carried The gender pay gap is real! Women DO hold vital jobs within our public service. #bridgethegap

Motion 23 – Organise to Defend Workers’ Rights post Brexit, post Covid this is carried #FireAndRehire must stop!

Motion 45 – Coronavirus Pandemic – the Case for Public Services this was carried

Motion 20 – Learning the Lessons from the Pandemic for Safer Workplaces this was carried as amended 20.1

Motion 43 – Organising to End the Crisis in Social Care – this was carried Social care remains in crisis. Low paid carers worked all through the pandemic, PPE was in short supply, the risks faced & anxiety of Covid was real!

All motions that could be moved have been completed for this years conference any motions not moved will be passed to the NEC (National Executive Council)

And Finally

Categories
Archive Blogs Branch Secretary Campaigns Conferences Demonstration Derby City Council Derby College Derby Homes Events LGBT National Delegate Conference News Newsletter Schools Social Training UNISON Young Members

Special Delegate Conference 2021 – Day 2

Today we attended the second of three days of the National Special Delegate Conference in a very different way, as a virtual conference run by UNISON attended by the branch. this was all done online with voting taking place virtually. and your Delegates all attended and actively participated in this event. 

First we had a welcome from Josie Bird, introducing us to the conference and the order of business and the rules around it.

Josie went onto introduce Christina McAnea to give her first speech as General Secretary on the virtual conference floor. Thanks all the efforts members and the hard work they have done in response to the pandemic and kept the country going in extreme circumstances.

Extremely powerful words form Christina and a clear direction for the future of and inspirational with exciting things to come.

Then we moved to the debating of the motions the detail of these can be found in the following documents. click on the documents to read more detail.

First up is Motion 25 – Securing an Equal and Sustainable Post Pandemic Settlement now continues from yesterday’s business.

Motion 25 – Securing an Equal and Sustainable Post Pandemic Settlement this was carried as amended 25.3 We need to protect members pay, Terms and conditions. Clapping does not pay the bills – increased wages do! We need to be strong! Solidarity!

Motion 59 – Tackling Climate Change and COP 26 this was carried as amended 59.1

Motion 2 – Facilities and Expectations for Workplace Representatives This motion was carried

Motion 27 – No back to Normal for Disabled Workers – this was carried

A useful guide mentioned by Kathleen can be read here

Motion 55 – The NHS After the Pandemic watch the following video from Michael Rosen explaining the hard work the NHS did for him

Motion 55 – The NHS After the Pandemic – this motion was carried The NHS are now faced with the longest waiting lists – staff are exhausted / suffering with PTSD stress and anxiety! we hear & stand in solidarity

Motion 42 – Health and Social Care Provision for Older People Post Covid – this was carried

Motion 5 – Burned Out: Young Workers and Mentally Healthy Workplaces – this was carried as amended 5.1 Read the No Going Back to Normal Campaign & Mental health Matters Campaign by clicking on the below images.

Motion 12 – Post Covid 19 Syndrome & Disability Employment Protection – carried as amended 12.1 We must do more to protect the employment of our disabled workers facing effects of Covid-19 Long Covid advice

Motion 65 – No Going Backwards on Equality – carried We must continue to challenge discrimination! Equality must be at the heart of everything we do in the Workplace, Local Branches, Regional & National office Equality for all!

Motion 6 – Trade Union recognition for outsourced workers delivering public services – carried Our public service workers wherever they work should be protected, supported and treated Fairly.

That concludes todays session of the Conference Second day has gone well, quite a lot of business got through and inspirational speech from Christina McAnea, & the speakers, see you tomorrow for more updates and the final day Hope you all have a great evening