Our TeamAll of the candidates below are united.
We believe that our union needs to change - to be a more democratic, member-led, active, fighting union. Help us make the change we need. Vote for us in the UNISON NEC Elections |
A Campaigning Team
April Ashley
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Sonia Stewart
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Hugo Pierre
Black Members Male Seat A New National Leadership
Organise the fight to defend jobs, pay and conditions. I campaign for our NEC to call co-ordinated national action against austerity. As schools’ convener I’ve campaigned to stop redundancies, school closures, Academy conversion and win pay rises for the lowest paid. Fight for Jobs & Pay Carillion and Northamptonshire County Council prove privatisation is bankrupt! Bring all services back in-house. Fight the schools funding crisis: back a national industrial action campaign. National action to win on pay and £10 an hour. Fight to End Racism and Division This government pursued illegal action against the ‘Windrush Generation’ – dismissal, detention and deportation - this government must go! Oppose racist division and put our union at the head of a campaign for jobs, homes and services not racism. For a Member-Led Union Defend our right to campaign: Debate not ban branch conference motions. Elect all Senior Regional and National officers on the average wage of those they represent. More funding to branches. As a lifelong socialist and trade unionist, we need an anti-austerity Labour Party with councillors voting against cuts. A national UNISON and TUC demonstration can end this weak government. |
Kevin Jackson
Community General Seat I have worked in the voluntary sector since 2001 when I joined UNISON and have been an activist and steward from day one. I currently work part-time for a small Berkshire based charity where I support people with Autism through the perils of our benefit system. I have been a member of the Community service group executive since it was formed and Chair of the the executive for six years until I stood down last year. As chair I represented the Community membership on the UNISON Service group liaison committee and also the General members assembly of the National council for voluntary organisations. I also attended the Trades unison council for six years running on behalf of the service group as well. I remain hugely committed to my service group and UNISON and would ask you to consider me when deciding who to nominate to the highest body of our union. Please also consider nominating my Community service group executive colleague Anjona Roy for the Community female seat as well. Paula Carlyle
Disabled Members Female Seat I am standing in the NEC elections for the National Female Disabled Members Seat. I believe we need the leadership of our Union to be proactive in standing up for our Disabled Members against the crippling effects of austerity, which disproportionately effect them. I believe there is much more our Union could and should do. Anjona Roy
Community Female Seat I have been a UNISON member for over twenty years and have worked in the community and voluntary sector for all of that time. It is a travesty that there are such limited resources to organise in the sector (the biggest growth in membership in the country). Members in the community sector deserve organised work places and representation. Members in the sector are often at the whims of trustees who and making decision about employment issues with little or no experience or human resource investment. These members are often experiencing the poorest conditions that the labour market has to offer and deserve experienced and skilled organisers and representation fit for a member led union. UNISON needs to be not only organising in workplaces but ensuring that the organising skills of local members are helping transform local communities and supporting Labour representatives in delivering transformative socialist policies across the Country. I will fight for: • A properly organised sector • The fight for secure work • Giving members a voice Jordan Rivera
Healthcare Female Seat I am an Occupational Therapist working in East London for 12 years. I have been an active UNISON steward for most of that time. I first became involved in UNISON as part of an anti-cuts campaign against the closure of a ward I worked on and have been a leading activist in all campaigns against cuts and privatisation in my hospital since this time. The Tory Government continues to savagely attack working class people whilst giving the rich tax breaks. Working on an elderly care ward, I really see the impact of the cuts when patients cannot get a nursing home placement or cannot be discharged because suitable care packages are not available. I am standing for the NEC because I believe we need more resources in branches to build fightbacks and we need a leadership at national level who will encourage this and give our members the confidence to fight. We could have won much more over NHS pay. Most of the pay increase this year has already been wiped out by inflation and the pay increases agreed for the next two years are even lower. This is after 8 years of pay freeze in which we saw our pay devastated leaving us crushed by the cost of living. We cannot continue to accept being treated like this. I will fight for ✓ Solidarity for all those groups the Tories try to scapegoat – migrant workers, refugees, women, LGBT+, disabled, unemployed, users of our services. ✓ Real solidarity with others in struggle ✓ Campaigns fighting for the proper budgets needed to sustain our NHS and its staff Katherine Owen
Higher Education Female Seat • Putting our members’ interests top of the UNISON agenda • Using the full force of UNISON resources to stand up for members and services against cuts, privatisation and attacks on our NHS • No branch left to fight alone • Ending the influence of unelected officers on the direction UNISON takes • Putting more resources into branches Higher education workers are at the sharp end of university marketisation, hit by continual restructures and unreasonable workloads. Our union must respond with active campaigns. We need to break the deadlock on pay, squaring up to the TU Act and closing the pay gaps for race and gender. If we don't fight, we can't win. If re-elected to the NEC I will continue to stand up for members in every nation and region, fighting for an HE sector for people not profit. Vote for candidates prepared to put the interests of members first! Re-elect me for the HE Women’s Seat. Andrea Egan
Local Government Female Seat I am seeking re-election because I always want to make a difference. I am in an organised campaigning branch. Supporting and facilitating members to fight back using the union as a collective voice is high priority for me. To deal with the increasing challenges we face, it is essential that we have the full involvement of activists, members and officials at every level. Accountability and commitment is vital. I have always believed that members must have balanced information alongside strong leadership. My experience over the last few years, in particular on the issue of pay, is that full-time officers have had too much influence. This has to change: we are a member- led union. Decisions should be based on the views of our members. I have the skills and experience to help with the challenge facing us. In my branch I am one of a team, I work tirelessly on recruitment and retention initiatives to maintain union density and consequently recogni- tions rights. I bring that attitude to my work on the NEC. Active in UNISON—28 years, Joint Branch Secretary, Bolton UNISON. I led the first strike against academies in Bolton. Joanne Moorcroft
Police & Justice Female Seat Now more than ever our members need a Union that is capable of delivering change. It is time for that change on our NEC. New ideas and new ways to raise the profile of our service are vital and long overdue. Most of our members and many of our activists don’t fully understand UNISON’s internal structures and don’t see how our NEC can affect them on a daily basis, they have no idea who their NEC representatives are and never hear from them. I passionately believe that all members should have their voice heard and not just those that shout the loudest; therefore I pledge to be an NEC representative who will aim to visit every Police and Justice branch during my tenure to listen to our members and ensure that their priorities are heard loud and clear. I promise to listen, learn and lead and guarantee regular interaction with members. I firmly believe that democracy can only function with proper accountability and transparency, so I will publish regular reports of my activity on the NEC and explain what we are doing for our members. if we are going to turn things around we need a strong, bold, and effective national leadership, supporting our exhausted branches by tackling their issues at a national level with serious campaigns. I believe that I can be part of that national leadership and take our union to the next level. Elizabeth (Liz) Potter
East Midlands Region Reserved Seat If I am elected on to the NEC in the East Midlands Low-Paid Woman Seat, I will always vote for what low paid members need from UNISON. I will encourage the NEC to fight harder against all threats to our jobs and cuts to public services. I will raise my voice on the NEC to tell them that low pay and pay restraint is endemic in the Public Sector and that us low paid members need UNISON to fight for £10 an hour to be the minimum demand in any future pay claims. Serious national union leadership is needed more than ever now and I stand ready to take action to push for this if you will put your trust in me. Liz Wheatley
Greater London Region Female Seat I'm the branch secretary of Camden Local Government branch, and as I write this, our branch is in the middle of a dispute with our traffic wardens who have so far taken 27 days strike action for better pay and conditions. They work for a private company on a council contract and show how we can organise to fight back. As well as being low paid, they are a predominantly Black and migrant workforce, and I am proud to be standing alongside them on the picket lines and protests. I have also been instrumental in organising resistance to racism inside and outside the workplace, something that has become increasingly important over the last few years as Nazis try to mobilise on the streets and drag mainstream politics to the right. Austerity is not caused by migrants - there's plenty of money to go around but it's lining the pockets of those at the top of society. Britain has 134 billionaires whilst over 4 million kids live in poverty. Never have we needed more to be a union that resists austerity and inequality, and leads a fightback for our members and the communities we live in. Evelyn Doyle
North West Region Female Seat I am standing for re-election to the NEC because I believe that we need a much stronger national leadership in UNISON who are prepared to do everything possible to stand up for our members in every service across our union. As Manchester’s Branch Secretary I am proud to be part of a Branch and Region that has consistently fought to oppose cuts in our public services, attacks on our pensions and the year by year erosion in our members’ real pay and living standards. The impact of the Tory austerity agenda has been devastating to our public services with large-scale job losses, compulsory redundancies and cuts in terms and conditions across many services. Despite our size our national leadership has consistently failed to lead and support effective action over pay, pensions and in defence of jobs. Local Branches are left to fight in isolation on an individual basis. I ask for your support to be part of a new elected national leadership that will put our members’ interests at the top of UNISON’s agenda. The only way towards a stronger UNISON is to elect an NEC leadership that is prepared to use the full force of UNISON’s resources against cuts, privatisation, continued pay freezes, attacks on our terms and conditions and attacks on our NHS. Luisette Batista
North West Region Reserved Seat I am a Town Hall building cleaner and I also do crisis cleaning for vulnerable people where I see first-hand the levels of poverty that some people are forced to live in. I am also a shop steward and I want to represent and support all low paid workers to make sure that they are treated with dignity and respect. I am standing for re-election to the NEC because I want to stand up for low paid workers who are struggling to make ends meet. I believe that we need a much stronger response from UNISON nationally on behalf of our members. Despite our size our national leadership has consistently failed to lead and support effective action over pay, pensions and in defence of jobs. Local Branches are left to fight in isolation on an individual basis. I ask for your support to be part of a new elected national leadership that will put our members’ interests at the top of UNISON’s agenda. Jacqui Berry
South East Region Female Seat I am a nurse working in Intensive Care at Medway Hospital and current member of UNISONs National Executive Committee. I live first hand the crisis in health and social care, which impacts on every member of our union. Short staffing in the NHS is directly related to years of public sector wage suppression. Unions leaders congratulated themselves on breaking the 1% pay cap, however members are now tied in to long term arrangements which will mean wages continue to fall against inflation. In the NHS, our three year, below inflation award has also bounced members into a performance related pay structure. Shamefully, branches were forbidden to campaign against the offer. I believe this high handed and anti-democratic approach goes against the values and traditions of everything we stand for as trade unionists. I want to continue serving on the NEC because I believe our union needs to change. We need a union which rejects the line of least resistance and leads the fight to end and reverse the decade of austerity imposed upon workers across the public sector. Michelle Goodman
South West Region Female Seat I have worked in the NHS for 33 years, undertaking many roles - secretary, receptionist, auxillary nurse and I am now a clinician at South West Ambulance. I originally joined COHSE and then as a rep’ in Unison, and I am currently a Sector Leader and your National Executive Representative. I work full-time on a worker’s wage and often attend meetings on my day off. I’m 100% committed to the NEC role. If re-elected, I will continue to speak up against savage attacks on our public services, and the need to have a union that stands up for its members. As a working mum, with caring responsibilities and disabilities, I understand first-hand how important being heard in a union is. MY 2019 OBJECTIVES
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Adrian O'Malley
Healthcare General Seat I have represented the Yorkshire and Humbersideregion on the Health Service Group Executive since 2008. I have consistently opposed the governments attacks on the NHS and argued for united industrial action against the pay freeze, cuts and privatisation. For unity in action 1000’s of our lowest paid members voted for action against their jobs being transferred into private companies owned by Trusts but classed as being “outside the NHS”. Our branch members stopped a WOS being formed by voting 97% in favour of strike action on a 56% turnout. Successful strikes were held in Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh and Bolton. By standing together as UNISON branches we have stopped the spread of privatisation and showed that UNISONs lowest paid members are prepared to fight for their jobs and NHS status. If I am elected to the NEC I will fight for united struggles across UNISON to stop further privatisation and for the return of all privatised jobs and services back into public ownership. In this election there is a choice between candidates who will vote and campaign for action and the union establishment which is indecisive, eager to compromise and calls off action before it’s even started. We need a change at the top of UNISON. Sandy Nicholl
Higher Education General Seat I have been a lifelong socialist and anti-racist activist. I have been Branch Secretary of SOAS UNISON since 1996, chaired the London Region HE Committee from 2008 until 2011, represented London Region on the HE Service Group Executive from 2010 to 2016 and have held the HE General Seat on the NEC since 2017. I am proud of being part of the SOAS Justice for Cleaners campaign that ended outsourcing at the University when all cleaning, security, catering and maintenance staff were brought in house in 2018. I have fought to ensure our union is more democratic and genuinely member led and for a national leadership that can present a real alternative to the Tories austerity agenda – fighting to improve our members lives while defending the vital services we provide. Diana Leach
Local Government General Seat I have been a member of the NEC for a number of years. I have been a member of the National Joint Council Committee (NJC) dealing with pay negotiations/terms and conditions, for a number of years and I’m now on its Executive. I am a branch officer in the Brighton and Hove branch representing members in individual hearings and major disputes with our employer. Our branch has a long tradition of successfully fighting for our members and supporting nursery nurses, teaching assistants, social workers as well as others including many other public sector workers. On the NEC I have always supported branches in both local and national disputes, argued for more branch resources including more funding and generally challenged decisions that I feel do not ultimately benefit our members. Too many times our activists are fighting their own battles without the full support of our national union. This has to change. We need the NEC to take more notice of what is happening on the ground and respond to this. I look forward to receiving the support of your branch. Steward—29 years, Branch Officer—16 years NEC Member—12 years Polly Smith
Eastern Region Reserved Seat I work as a home carer/support worker in Suffolk on a £8ph zero hours contract. I am a steward in my workplace and a.current NEC member, but NEC decisions must change to fully reflect members views. We need an NEC that leads Industrial action not belatedly following branches work. It has been a tough year, dominated by government cuts and the current NEC has led nothing. It is branches who have taken action to support their members. Members in Eastern region are now being.forced to work without pay. Services in all areas are being cut, not only affecting our members' pay but also creating an unsafe and dangerous environment . No more blaming refugees for the financial situation. There should be no more branches being left to fight alone. Branches do 90% of work representing members. It is branches who are in the front line, yet support/resources that branches need are not there, leaving branch secretaries/officers being thrown in at the deep end. We need a Union that supports and defends its members. There must be no more witch hunts, members must.have the right to voice thier opposition to policy without facing suspension. It is time for members to take control of their UNION. Gerald Talty
East Midlands Region Male Seat FOR CAMPAIGNING NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEMBERS TO GENUINELY PUT MEMBERS’ INTERESTS AT THE TOP OF UNISON’s AGENDA We face an onslaught from the austerity policies of this weak crisis-ridden government.
UNISON’s current leadership has failed to organise the national fight needed to stop the attacks. The time is long overdue for UNISON to throw its full weight to fight austerity. Lobbying MPs and petitioning is not enough. IF ELECTED, I WILL:
I am an active member of the Labour Party, rejoining following the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader. I want to see a Labour Government carrying out policies in our members’ interests. Karen Reissman
North West Region Female Seat I have been a union activist for 37years. I am currently on the Unison national executive but I am opposed to the current leadership strategy. The Tories are weak. We can get much more out of them if we coordinate a proper fight. Unison too often settles for too little. I am a campaigner against low pay, for the NHS, particularly mental health where I work. Previously I was sacked for speaking out about cuts. I am passionately opposed to all forms of oppression whether racism including Islamaphobia and anti-Semitism, sexism, LGBT+, disabled or age discrimination. Steve North
North West Region Male Seat Prior to being elected as Salford City UNISON Branch Secretary, I worked as a Mental Health Support Worker. I have retained my passion for dignity in social care and am proud to lead a branch that has used an organising approach to build the confidence of care workers and secure recognition agreements with a number of private sector employers. On the back of last year's successful battle to save Council nurseries, we are now using that same approach to build our membership in Early Years. Since the team I lead was elected in 2011, we have protected our members from the worst effects of austerity and have ensured that terms and conditions for Salford City Council workers have not been eroded - nor have we seen any compulsory redundancies. As a representative for the last two years I have taken my passion for organising and campaigning to the NEC. I have argued that UNISON should seek to emulate the approach to industrial action that has seen us beat ballot thresholds and deliver effective strike action in places like Wigan, Bolton, Birmingham and Glasgow, while constantly pushing for the national union to do more to link disputes and increase branch resources. Abi Holdsworth
South East Region Reserved Seat I have been a UNISON member since 2009 and an activist since 2011. I work as a customer services assistant in a large call centrewhich Capita operates for West Sussex County Council. I work hard, full-time for 37 hours a week for low wages, and this qualifies me to stand for the low-paid woman’s (reserved) NEC seat. As a workplace steward in a difficult and punitive environment for members, I am constantly representing my members at disciplinary and sickness meetings. I know first-hand just how difficult it can be representing members in employers like my own, Capita. I am a mum of one young child. I also have Multiple Sclerosis. As a disabled, young mum who is used to fighting for UNISON members, you can be assured that I will stick up for you and all UNISON branches if I’m elected. Along with many other candidates, I am standing on a programme to ensure UNISON meets its full potential. If we’re the largest union in the country now, we need to punch our weight. Our union needs significant change and I want to be a part of achieving that. I am fully behind calls to redistribute UNISON’s resources to branches: put the funding where the work is! Caroline Johnson (awaiting picture)
West Midlands Region Female Seat Greta Holmes
Yorks and Humberside Region Female Seat I'm a lifelong trade unionist and have held various positions within my own Branch including Convenor, Assistant Branch Secretary, Young Members’ Officer and Steward. I passionately believe in public services and supporting our members that deliver those services. I believe that together, we can improve all our working lives. The work to change the union has begun, but there is still a long way to go. NEC elections are more important now than ever. We need a leadership that puts the members first and that can deliver real improvements to our members' pay and terms and conditions, across every service group. Rose Brown
West Midlands Region Female Seat As Vice Chair of Birmingham Branch with close to 12,000 members, I continue in my efforts to raise the profile of the destruction forced on workers and communities as a result of the lie that is austerity. I have supported both the Homecare Enablement Workers and the Bin Workers in disputes against a Labour Council gleefully forcing through Tory cuts! My involvement with Stand Up To Racism a campaign that UNISON affiliates to at national, local, and regional level allows me to refocus the tide of anger against migrants and refugees that the alt right are using as an excuse for Brexit and be part of the movement that lays the blame firmly at the feet of Tory austerity cuts. I intend to continue the fight against our Labour Council imposing Tory cuts by way of engaging the community to do the same. Dave Auger
West Midlands Region Male Seat I have been a trade unionist and socialist for 46 years. A member of UNISON since 1988, For the last 16 years I have been Deputy Branch secretary of Wolverhampton LG branch As such I believe I have a wealth of experience in both representing members at all levels both individually and collectively and in organising roles within the union. As importantly my faith in the trade union movement as the driver of social change is no less strong than when I joined a union at 17. I believe , If we are to protect public services, if we are to defend the NHS we are going to have to fight! The time is long overdue for UNISON to throw its full weight into the battle against austerity. No more marching up the hill and down again. Not just lobbying of MPs and petitions. We need a leadership that recognises the day to day struggles members face from Tory attacks, and is prepared to lead joined-up strike action against the government & employers. As rank and file members we need to make those demands and I stand in order to represent that view at the NEC Lewis Shanley
Young Members General Seat I am a call centre worker for Manchester City Council dealing with frontline calls and emergencies for Manchester residents. I am proud to have been a shop steward for the past two years. During this time, I have recruited new members and have been successful in getting improvements for members in my workplace by raising issues about training and development with management. I am passionate about making young people aware of the role of trade unions and why it is so important to join with others because there is strength in numbers. I am standing for election to the NEC because I want to be a strong voice for members, in particular young members in our national union. I want to be part of a newly elected national leadership that will put our members’ interests at the top of UNISON’s agenda. I want UNISON to support workers who want to fight against cuts in their services and act like we are a massive trade union. I know from my job just how bad Tory cuts are, and what a bad impact they have on ordinary people and I think we should use all UNISON’s resources to fight cuts. |
John Jones
Water, Energy & Transport Seat I have been a Water, Energy & Transport (WET) NEC member since 2005. I am a firm believer in accountability & transparency. Branch Secretary of the largest branch in WET for three decades, I have fought water privatisation since 1988 and I am looking forward to the re-nationalisation commitment from a Labour government. I am also a Hillsborough survivor and I have fought for justice against the Sun's lies since 1989. Claire Dixon
Healthcare Female Seat I have worked as a senior phlebotomist in the outpatients department at the Whittington Hospital in north London for 16 years. I have fought with others in my local branch against the endless assault of privatisation and asset stripping in the NHS. Since 2014 we have staved off the threatened closure of our a&e department, and more recently with others in the local community have helped halt plans to hand over hospital property to private developers Rydon (named in the Grenfell inquiry). I am seeking nomination and election on the following platform: *For a leadership in Unison that leads from the front - to empower branches to fight austerity in a real way - to work alongside other trade unionists and community campaigns - to defend the NHS and all other parts of the public sector from all attempts to sell, close and privatise - if necessary through co-ordinated strike action locally and nationally. Not to leave branches fighting alone. *We can do better than the present 3 year Pay deal in the NHS - most of it is already wiped out by increased inflation and the soaring cost of rent/house prices and basics like food. * Members forced to work in the private sector must be organised and given a voice. * With growing divisions over Brexit - we must oppose racism wherever it raises its ugly head - migrants and their families must be welcomed no matter what country they come from - for a world without borders! *For true union democracy in action - to stifle and repress difference of opinion is wrong - for healthy democratic debate in all levels of the union starting at the top * For paid officials to serve the needs of the members in branches - to help enable this with increased branch funding Neil McAlister
Healthcare Male Seat I am Chair of Greater Manchester Mental Health UNISON Branch and Bolton United Trades Council, a leading member of Bolton Stand Up to Racism and on the Stop The War Coalition National Steering Committee. Corbyn has inspired thousands of new activists. However, we cannot sit back and wait for the election of a Labour Government. The Trade Unions have a crucial role to play in defending the gains of the past, protecting the more vulnerable and of advancing the needs of a new young generation of workers. All our rulers have to offer is deeper cuts, more racism and division and more austerity. Meanwhile the siren voices of racism and fascism are calling out to the poor and disaffected across the globe with a simple message of blame your neighbour. We have to respond with a call to human solidarity. Unions can reverse the slide to the right if we say clearly that the Bankers and the Bosses are the cause of falling living standards, increasing poverty, shrinking social services, attacks on benefits and rights at work. But words will not be enough. Unions will need to lead a nationally co-ordinated campaign to get rid of this weak and divided Tory Government and reverse the cuts. Jane Doolan
Local Government Female Seat I have held a number of steward and branch positions since 1981. I have been branch secretary for 20 years. I have been at the forefront of bringing services back in house , defending jobs, services and terms and conditions. I was elected to the NEC in 2017 and I want to continue in that role because I do believe that I and other like minded colleagues are making a difference. Branches are facing difficult times with attacks on facility time being just one such difficulty. Branches and members need to be supported and not left to fight alone. We are a member led union and this needs to be reinforced through our union. Since I was elected I have regularly put up brief reports and items of interest to UNISON members on FB. Please feel free to visit Jane’s NEC page or Jane Doolan4NEC2019. Paul Holmes
Local Government Male Seat I am Kirklees UNISON Branch Secretary, one of the 10 largest UNISON branches in Britain with over 9,00 members. I’ve been re-elected as Kirklees Branch Secretary 28 times! I’ve been elected to UNISON’s NEC 6 consecutive times (and once, in 1987, to NALGO’s NEC). In my time on UNISON’s NEC, Service Group Executive and National Joint Council, I’ve always been approachable. I don’t see my role as spending as much time as possible in UNISON HQ, but to get around branches and regions. I’ve spoken at dozens of branches across the 4 countries and will continue to do so. Pay in the public sector is a disgrace. Our members are being driven into poverty. We need coordinated campaigns which the leadership believe in. NEC members should give leadership, be honest, have integrity, be straight talking and be in touch with the members. I think I bring these qualities to the table. UNISON Steward 44 years Branch Secretary 30 years NEC Member 12 years UNISON General Secretary Candidate 2010 Helen Davies
Greater London Region Female Seat I'm an NEC Greater London regional rep. I've consistently argued for more democracy in our union and for our members to have their voices heard. The Tories have given us 10 years of shocking falling living standards but they are weak and divided. I've supported members and branches fighting back and I've argued for our union to lead pay campaigns to deliver for our members and campaign for the services we provide. I’ve been part of a branch leadership in Barnet with John Burgess as Branch Secretary, which has managed to stop the outsourcing project of our Council. Our services are now coming back in-house. As a union we must do better. Racists are gaining in confidence, our union needs to take our members to the streets to show the racists that we are the many and they are the few. We cannot allow the racists to hi-jack the Brexit debate to divide us when there is much more to unite us. The Grenfell disaster is a symbol of all that is wrong with housing for working class people. We attend the silent marches with our branch banner to show we stand with this community in their fight for justice. Tony Wilson
North West Region General SeatI am standing as a current NEC member for re-election as I believe we need a leadership for UNISON that is prepared to fight to defend our members and stand firm against the attacks of the employers and Government. I am the Branch Secretary of the Greater Manchester Transport UNISON Branch and have been a UNISON activist for over 25 years. I have been proud to be part of a team of North West NEC members who speak out and challenge the national union where necessary. I firmly believe in transparency and accountability and believe it is important NEC members report back to branches so our role in decision making can be assessed by members. It has been an honour and a privilege to represent members on the union’s highest lay committee. However, from my experience on the NEC, I believe we are currently punching below our weight for a union with 1.4 million members. I believe we need a new national leadership that will use the full force of UNISON’s resources to stand up for our members and services against cuts, privatisation and attacks on the NHS. I am opposed to all forms of discrimination. All members have the right to be treated equally and with dignity at work. Jim McFarlane
Scotland Male Seat I have been a UNISON activist for over 20 years and I am currently Branch Secretary of Dundee City Branch. As public sector workers we face unprecedented attacks on jobs, services and terms & conditions. We need a national leadership that is prepared to put forward a fighting strategy of action to defend the gains of the past. The governments at Westminster and Holyrood have embarked on a strategy of massive public sector cuts. We need to link up with all trade unions willing to lead a fightback. For too long UNISON has punched below its weight and we have missed opportunities to lead a fight for our members.Our union needs to use its potential power to take on the employers when needed. We need to give a lead on the fight for decent pay for all our members, protect jobs and services as well as defend our hard fought terms & conditions. UNISON's resources need to be utilised to support regions, branches and activists who are at the frontline of defending jobs, terms and services on a day to day basis. Our national leaders have to be prepared to challenge the cuts agenda with a clear alternative and be willing to build and support all campaigns up to and including industrial action. My main campaigning points are – 1. Opposition to all cuts - the money stolen from the public sector should be return immediately. The Scottish Govt and local councils should use their reserves and work with us to help stop the cuts. 2. To make UNISON a campaigning democratic union at all levels. Support to all branches forced into taking action to defend jobs and services. 3. To ensure that members in Scotland have their voice heard across the wider union and that the different political set up in Scotland is understood at that level. Dan Sartin
South East Region Male Seat I have been an activist since 2009 and branch secretary of a large county branch since 2012. Our branch supports 5,450 members from 350 employers. Our membership has grown since 2012 – and in 2018 we grew by 3.3%. As a branch secretary I am well-placed to understand the issues facing branches and members, to articulate them at NEC and work with others to find solutions. I am a serving member of the NEC, elected for the first time in 2017 and seeking re-election this year. During my time as branch secretary I have been a vocal advocate for branches within my region and nationally. Continuing to speak out has caused our branch many practical difficulties. In 2018 I worked with other branches at national conference to highlight the unfair resource allocation throughout the union. Finally sorting this will be key to our union meeting its potential. Branches needs fair funding! With your support – I am confident we will finally resolve this in 2019. Along with many other candidates, I am standing on a programme to ensure UNISON meets its full potential. If we’re the largest union in the country now, we need to punch our weight. Our union needs significant change and I want to be part of achieving that. Bernard Parkes
South West Region Male Seat I have worked for 30 years in children’s social care and for the past 23 years have lived in Dorset. I am from Liverpool and spent 10 years in the Merseyside Police prior to my current career. It was in the Police that I was politicised. I learnt through observation and experience the importance of community & solidarity. I also gained an understanding that you cannot achieve anything without struggle and action. It is for these reasons that I am standing for the NEC, as for a long time our leadership has let us down and failed to motivate our membership into action against austerity, against cuts and in defence of public services. If elected, I intend to be part of a fight back that will maximise the strength of our membership and build alliances with our sister unions that will shake the establishment to its foundations! Vicky Perrin
Yorks & Humberside Region Female seat I work as a learning mentor and teaching assistant in primary school which has been my job for the last 19 years. I’m the workplace steward in my school and represent members for my branch in other schools across the borough. For the last 9 years I have spoken out and voted on the NEC for a more fighting and democratic union. Unison has too often failed to give a confident, determined lead to its members to defend our jobs and the services we deliver against cuts and attacks by employers public and private, Tory or Labour, blaming the membership for not wanting to fight and letting unelected full time officials do the talking for us. The union’s response to dissent is disciplinary measures. It’s time this changed and branches are no longer left to fight alone. We show time and again that where branches, across the sectors show this lead, we can win. Too often we’ve been led up the hill simply to be led back down and members have had enough of this. Unison need to start using its weight in the TU movement to take this government on and put up a serious fight against the austerity agenda. I’m standing alongside those that think the same as me to win Unison as a genuinely member led union. Vote for us to reclaim our union for us the members and to make it work for us! Tony Wright
Yorks & Humberside Region Male Seat Since I began working in our NHS 25 years ago as a hospital Porter, I have held a number of different roles in various NHS Trusts. After being active in UNISON for over 20 years, I now serve as a Branch Chair and I am fully aware of the issues facing members in all the sectors UNISON covers. I believe our union has to change and it is vital that we re-establish a truly member led union which is accountable to its members and supportive towards its branches. Communication is vital and if elected, I would not leave it until the next NEC election to get back in touch with you just because I want you to vote for me again. As your NEC member I would ensure that I represent member’s views by making myself contactable, feeding back in a regular and timely manner and visiting Yorkshire and Humberside branches in my own time when I am invited to do so. If I am elected I will stand up for equality in all areas and I will encourage the NEC to take action to protect jobs and fight against threats to our jobs, pay, terms and conditions. |