Category: LGBT

Categories
Archive Campaigns Derby City Council Derby Homes Events LGBT News Newsletter Schools Social Training UNISON Young Members

Pension Advice Sessions – 16 April 2018

We had a very good day today delivering Pension Advice Sessions for members and non-members at Derby Homes in the London Road Depot. Over 75 people attended three sessions receiving advice about their future options. These sessions were delivered in conjunction with Derby County Council and The Prudential.

Following the success of these sessions we are arranging to deliver the same advice sessions and also information events for those who have just taken out a pension and would like more information. These will be held at a central Derby City Council location, look out for further details soon.
There will also be some online advice we will share with you shortly so you can find out more about your options.
Categories
Archive Campaigns Conferences Demonstration Derby City Council Derby Homes Events Labour Group LGBT National Delegate Conference News Schools UNISON

National Delegate Conference 2017 Blog – Day 4 – Morning Session – Mental Health Champions

Carol Sewell UNISON Vice President welcomed all to conference and informed conference of the security arrangements for today in preparation for Jeremy Corbyns visit, Carol went on to say that Jeremy will be carrying out a question and answer session after his speech.

“Mental Health Champions” is the first Motions to be discussed, emotional accounts were given from delegates to move this motion and special mention went to the “time to change” initiative.

Our branch officers will be taking first aid mental health training as part of the “time to change” initiative you can read more by clicking on the logo here…

Julie Walker is a “Time to Change Champion” and will be taking a lead on mental health issues for our branch.

heres a short video to explain more

Heres a few facts about Mental Health that you may not be aware of 

  • Myth: Mental health problems are very rare.
  • Fact: 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year.
  • Myth: People with mental illness aren’t able to work.
  • Fact: We probably all work with someone experiencing a mental health problem.
  • Myth: Young people just go through ups and downs as part of puberty, it’s nothing.
  • Fact: 1 in 10 young people will experience a mental health problem.
  • Myth: People with mental health illnesses are usually violent and unpredictable.
  • Fact: People with a mental illness are more likely to be a victim of violence.
  • Myth: People with mental health problems don’t experience discrimination
  • Fact: 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems experience stigma and discrimination.
  • Myth: It’s easy for young people to talk to friends about their feelings.
  • Fact: Nearly three in four young people fear the reactions of friends when they talk about their mental health problems.

You can read more about this here

These motions aims to do the following,

  • Encourage other regions within UNISON to consider taking forward this initiative and develop similar schemes in their regions;
  • Seek to encourage an interest in good mental health by education and publicity, particularly in UNISON publications, e.g. ‘U’ and ‘Focus’ magazines and the UNISON website;
  • Work with Labour Link to draw attention to MPs and members of devolved governments the need to fund good mental health services.
  • Take a lead in promoting awareness of mental health issues
    Develop a strategy to enable and support members with mental health issues, allowing
  • Them to feel valued and able to become involved with UNISON
  • Ensure accessibility to Mental Health Champions at conferences, training and policy days
  • Promote tolerance of mental health issues at UNISON events.

These motions were approved and showed the importance and commitment of mental health issues for our members.

 

Categories
Conferences Events LGBT National Delegate Conference News Schools UNISON

National Delegate Conference 2017 Blog – Day 1 – Morning Session

Welcome to the opening of the UNISON National Delegate Conference 2017

Carol Sewell welcomed everyone to the conference and covered housekeeping, safety arrangements and paid tribute to Eric Roberts President of UNISON who sadly passed away last year.

Carol went on to introduce International Speakers that will be delivering speeches later on in the week. Following this she talked about those who have passed away over the past year and paid tribute to all of these activists a short film was shown with names of all those that have passed away, and also paid tribute to the tragedies in Manchester, London Bridge, Grenfell Tower and Finsbury Park.

Now conference is under way and there is a report being delivered for the Standing Orders Committee reports. the First SOC report was accepted and discussions are now being held around SOC report two this report highlighted the important areas for debate this conference, this covers Social Care, budgeting, public service campaigning, LGBT Rights, the UKs exit from the European Union, Mental Health issues. Questions were put against some legalities for the second SOC report and responses were given by the Standing Orders Committee for referencing back to conference.

Guest Speakers this week will include, Dave Prentis UNISON General Secretary, Jeremy Corbyn will be addressing the conference on Friday, Stephen Lewis form AIDS Free World., video presentation featuring Huber Ballesteros from Columbia, there will also be other Guest Speakers that will be revealed later in the week.

There will be an official collection at conference for the Red Cross to assist victims of the terrorist attacks in Manchester, London Bridge and Finsbury Park and victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. However the SOC have received a question that will be referenced back to conference on the working conditions of the Red Cross following a recent report and will be reported back to conference.

The Annual Report is now being introduced  by Margaret McKee, vice-president, junior and the motion to accept all parts of the report was carried by conference it can be read here…

 

 

 

 

 

Josie Bird presents the Financial statement to conference and explains the differences between this
year and last year. Josie went on to cover significant areas of the report including pensions for staff, fraudulent activity, branch spending and the industrial action fund. and that Union is in good financial position but must be used effectively and efficiently to further strengthen the union.

The report was agreed

This can be read here.

 

Look out for the next blog post which will cover the motions and discussions that are to take place shortly.