Ballot Papers are due this week

 

Our Branch has nominated Roger McKenzie for UNISON General Secretary, Roger has plans to bring our union closer to members and Branches like ours.

Roger’s campaign has set out how together we can build a strong, powerful union that represents all workers delivering public services, stands up for members and ensures social justice is at the heart of our union.

Roger has said that he will support members taking action over pay, terms and conditions, health and safety and fight to stop local employers and this Government using the public health crisis as an excuse to attack workers.

We've got less than a week to chose the next general secretary

Ballots begin to arrive on Wednesday

Oxford City Branch of UNISON is backing RogerMcKenzie for the next General Secretary of UNISON  - check out his pledges to build a fighting, winning union  roger4gs.co.uk/campaign 

Roger would like to personally thank the branch for nominating him  Your Branch Committee has nominated Roger McKenzie to be the next General Secretary for our Union. We believe Roger will bring about the changes we need to be able to represent you better.  Roger is committed, is a real supporter of our branch he cares. Roger knows we need better resources, more funding to be better organised.

Ballot papers will land on doorsteps this week, don’t ignore, use your vote we want to show that Oxford has a big Turnout!  www.roger4gs.co.uk/support. 

Ballots are sent out next Wednesday and your vote is really important so make sure you spread the word and forward this message. 

Regional LGBT+ AGM

In accordance with national guidance, I am pleased to inform you that the Regional LGBT+ AGM will be taking place this year virtually.

In order to accommodate this and ensure that members in the South East have the opportunity to participate fairly and democratically, we have made some slight changes to the normal processes and timescales.

Everything you need to know, including details on registering to attend, nominating members for election, and submitting motions for debate, can be found below.

AGM DETAILS

WHEN: 11am–12.30am on Saturday 5 December 2020 

WHERE: The meeting will be held online using Microsoft Teams. 

Holding this meeting online means that this could potentially be the biggest LGBT+ AGM we've ever held in the region. We very much hope to see a great turnout for this first meeting of its type on 5 December.

Almost time to have your say on who leads us next

 The following have been confirmed as candidates in the election to choose a new general secretary for UNISON.

Their names are listed below in the order they will appear on the ballot paper and in the election address booklet.

Paul Holmes

Nominated by one service group executive, two regional councils and 99 branches.

Christina McAnea

Nominated by the national executive council (NEC), five service group executives, nine regional councils and 210 branches.

Roger McKenzie

Nominated by one service group executive, one regional council and 104 branches.

Hugo Pierre

Nominated by 31 branches.

Ballot papers will be sent to members’ home or other notified address in writing. Members will be provided with a pre-paid envelope for the return of the ballot paper to the independent scrutineer. All voting will be by post

Your chance to choose who leads UNISON

Dave Prentis, our current general secretary, retires at the end of this year after 20 years leading the UK's biggest union. Soon you'll get a chance to decide who leads the union for the next five years.

The general secretary represents you and 1.3 million members of UNISON, so it's important that you use your vote and have your say.

The ballot opens on 28 October so please look out for your ballot paper, which will be sent by post to your home address.

The ballot is being run on our behalf by an independent organisation called Civica Election Services (CES).

Make sure you post your completed ballot in plenty of time to CES by 5pm on November 27. It will be freepost, so don’t worry about a stamp.

Your election pack will include the ballot paper and the pre-paid return envelope. There will also be information about the candidates who are standing to be general secretary.

If anything is missing from your election pack, or you lose your ballot paper please call our ballot helpline free on 0800 0 857 857 or on textphone 0800 0 967 968. The helpline opens on 10 November and closes on 20 November.

More info and a Q&A can be found HERE

This is why you're in this UNISON

 Recently UNISON had another major victory in the courts. This time it was for homecare workers and concerned how they were paid – or not – for the time it took to travel between visits.

The case means 10 UNISON members have received thousands in backpay – but it could have implications for thousands of other home care workers. 

And behind the headlines, it's been a fascinating four-year battle involving members, branch officers and UNISON's legal team, and it sums up what being in a trade union is all about.

If you would like to read the story behind this click HERE

Welcome to Black History Month 2020

Black History Month is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of Black people throughout history. Black History and Black British History in particular, is often marginalised. So Black History Month is a key time to acknowledge this and provide an opportunity to discuss wider issues affecting the Black community. UNISON has long campaigned and is proud to support Black History Month.

Black Members Tackling Racism 

Tuesday 13 October | 11:00 - 12:00 

This webinar is aimed at Black members and will cover the ways in which racism can be experienced. We will then look to why victims and onlookers do not always report racism when it happens before looking at the legal protections - both inside and outside the workplace which are available to those experiencing or witnessing racism. 
This webinar is free to attend. To apply, please email your membership number to educationse@unison.co.uk.