Category: Retired Members

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Local Government Conference 2025 – Day 1

Andrea Egan welcome all to this year’s conference and covered the etiquette of the business of the day.

We then had a period of silence to remember the 72 people that were lost in the Grenfell Tower Tragedy. You can read more about this below.

We now move to the order of business and the moving of both standing orders 1&2. You can find out more on the below website (click the image to view)

We now move to the moving of this year’s Annual Report from the Service Group Executive (SGE) by Glen Williams, Chair, Local Government Service Group Executive. He covered topics

We now move to the moving of the prioritised business of today’s agenda and the moving of the first motion.

Motion 37 – Supporting Migrant Workers in Local Government – this motion was carried. As ammended 37.1 & 37.2.

You can read more about the motions in the below conference agenda.

Motion 38 – Insourcing Adult Social Care – was carried as ammended 38.1

Watch Becky speak on this motion…

We next move to the Local Government Funding and Cuts section of the Annual Report. This concluded the morning session as we next hear a speech from Cristina McAnea UNISON General Secretary.

You can watch Christina’s speech here…

Following the lunch break we then receive the Local Service Champion Awards and videos to support all those who are finalists and find out about the excellent services they provide.

The winners were Paul Brennan as Local Service Champion and also Cinthia Da Silva-Parris is this year’s Champion in Our Colleges Winner.

We the Moved to the next section of the Annual Report Section 4 – Education and Children Services,and we begin discussing the motions in this area. The first motion is, Motion 9 – The School Support Staff Negotiating Body – this was carried as ammended

Motion 15 – Engagement, education and retention of Apprentices in Local Government – was carried

Motion 11 – Tackle poor behaviour and violence in further education – this motion was carried as ammended

Motion 13 – Campaign for classroom assistants in northern Ireland – this was carried

Motion 12 – Sixth form college funding (England) -this was carried

Motion 14 – Support School Catering Services in Northern Ireland to provide Universal, Free School Meals – this was carried

Motion 10 – A new negotiating body for Early Years Workers – was carried

We now have a speech from a guest speaker, Nick Lowes , Hope not Hate, click below images to find out more.

Watch Nick’s speech below…

Standing orders committee gave a verbal report putting to conference a reduction in speaking times, for movers of motions 5 to 3 and 3 to 2 for other parts, mins This concludes today’s conference session. Look out for tomorrow’s blog update for more coverage.

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UNISON Local Government Service Group Conference 2023 – Morning Session – Day 1

Conference this morning began with the welcome and announcements from the current president of Unison Andrea Egan

We now move onto the movement of the Standing orders committee report 1 & 2 which contain the up-to date order of business of this years conference. You can read more about this and the motions discussed here…

We now move to the moving of this years SGE Annual report 2023 this is moved by Glen Williams.

Glen drew attention the current strike action happening across the country

You can read this Annual Report below…

Now we move to the Motions for this years conference,

the first motion is for Composite C – Securing a Legacy and making 2023 the year of the Black Worker in Local Government Workplaces. This Composite motion was carried.

You can find more resources in the articles below (click on the images for more details)…

You can read about this and the other Composite motions here…

Motion 21 – Pay Campaigning in Local Government was then discussed, this motion was carried. To read this you can find it in the above conference guide document.

We now move to the discussion of the composite motion D – Pay Campaigning and Beating Industrial Action Thresholds – this motion was passed.

At this point please make sure you use your right to vote if you have received your strike ballot for the NJC Pay Claim 2023 to find out more about the campaign please click below.

The CQC strike actions were raised at this point also…

The next motion to be discussed is Motion 31 – Campaigning for better pay and preparing for industrial action. – this motion was carried as amended 31.1

During this section the use of social media was highlighted particularly focusing on the safety of campaigning and dealing with online threats

Motion 33 – Promoting the Anti Racism Charter in the Public Sector this motion was carried.

You can read below this chapter and click on this for more information.

Motion 19 – Equal Pensions for Surviving Spouses and Civil Partners – this motion was carried

The Goodwin Case was brought up as part of this motion regarding the equal treatment of same-sex partners and those in a civil partnership for pensions. You can read more below a about this case…

This concludes this mornings session and any motions for this session that have not been discussed will be taken at the end of the afternoon session.

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LGBT+ Conference 2022 – Day 1 Session 1

This years conference starts with the a welcome to all at conference and the moving of the Standing Orders Committee Report Number 2. there was also a minutes silence held to remember those we have sadly lost over the past year.

We now hear the moving of this years Annual Report, you can read this below it contains information of what all regions have been unto over the past year and the aims and objectives of the LGBT+ Committee.

We now move to discussions on the motions these are as follows

‘Motions are your way to influence UNISON, to shape and change policy, sometimes a grassroots motion from a branch, drafted by a single member, can lead to historic changes to our campaigning and policy agenda. ‘

More information on how to write a motion can be found here (click on the image below)

This years LGBT+ Conference. motions can be found in the final agenda below

The first motion to be discussed was Motion 4 – In Support of Gender Neutral Toilets and Changing Facilities, this motion was carried with amendments 4.1 and 4.2.

Motion 1 – Negotiating Trans Equality with Employers – this was carried

Motion 2 – LGBT+ Hate Crime was next to be discussed we hear personal accounts of hate crime that some of our delegates have been subjected to and shows how important support and protection is important to LGBT+ members.

If anyone is subjected to hate crime and requires support, a useful charity is GALOP this charity is the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity. They work with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of interpersonal abuse and violence. You can find more information below by clicking on the image

Motion 3 – Equality and Diversity and Inclusion Speeding Ticket Scheme is now being discussed and has been carried.

We now hear from UNISONs General Secretary Christina Mcanea who speaks on what has been happening recently nationally and the current political situation faced by the country.

Christina talked about the launch of the new UNISON updated trans inclusion policy and mentioned the current industrial action for NHS Staff and encourages all to make sure you use your vote. Christina went on to say how committed she is to LGBT+ workers and being a Trans Ally.

You can hear more about the NHS Industrial action from this recent rally below, watch now.

Heat the moving of the International Section of the Annual Report

And we now discuss motion 22 Rwanda and LGBT+ Asylum was discussed and carried as amended

Motion 17 – Support for LGBT+ Communities in Ukraine is now being moved this was carried.

Motion 21 – Solidarity with Ghana’s LGBT+ Community this motion was discussed and carried

We now hear a panel debate for Trans Equality is UNISON Business this was a very good debate covering lots of issues affecting Trans people and the issues they face and what UNISON is doing to campaign on this and support its members with Trans Ally training and more.

You can read more about the campaign by clicking on the image below…

You can also read below the latest issue of Outin UNISON

This concludes this mornings session of this years conference, keep an eye out for this afternoons update. We hope you have found this useful. Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) has been announced as this years chosen charity for the bucket collection. You can find out more about this charity below.