UNISON NEC Elections 2011: Community Service Group General

This morning I received a letter from UNISON headquarters telling me that I had been elected unopposed as a National Executive Council (NEC) member for UNISON Community Service Group - General seat. 

I must admit to being just a little disappointed that there will not be a full contest but this will free up my time to support other sensible left comrades who will be fighting contested seats.  Many thanks to all the branches with Community members who nominated me.  I am really proud to be one of the first two Community NEC members of UNISON. Congratulations to Isobel McVicar from Manchester City Branch who was also automatically elected.

I will take up this seat for two years after the UNISON National Delegate Conference in June. 

In the meanwhile my many good comrades in UNISON United left have sent me this YouTube video above to celebrate the occasion.  

 :)

Nominate John Gray for UNISON Community General seat on NEC

Dear Branch Secretary

I am writing to ask your branch to consider nominating me for the Community general seat on the National Executive Council.

I am a lifelong trade unionist and have been a member of UNISON for 17 years. 

I am Branch Secretary of the UNISON Housing Associations Branch and also Health & Safety and Labour Link Officer.

For the first time Community members will be represented on the National Executive Council. I want to represent Community members in all branches across the organisation, those in other service group branches, in geographical branches and those that are in the dedicated Community branches.

I want to ensure that all members are aware of what UNISON is doing for them and encourage them to become active themselves. I also want to support branches that have Community membership by ensuring that we have adequate and fair resources to enable us to support our members in these volatile and uncertain times. 

I have attached a copy of my election address (double click to bring up details) and I would be grateful if you could discuss this with your branch committee. If you would like to talk about this statement please ring or email me.

Yours faithfully

John Gray

ps - Most large Local Government and Health branches will also be eligible to nominate.  Nominations need to be made at a quorate meeting of your branch or branch committee during the nomination period. The nomination period will open on 11 January 2011 and close at 5pm on Friday 18 February 2011. Copies of the nomination forms will be available on UNISON's website here.  My UNISON number is 3083288

UNISON Community Service Group Conference 2010

The first ever annual UNISON Service conference has just opened in Telford.

"Community" was created last year for members who work in the Voluntary sector and Housing associations.  There are 60,000 members and we are the 3rd largest service group in UNISON behind Local government and Health.

There are about 100 delegates registered from all over the UK.  London region has 30 delegates.  There are motions on pay, pensions, cuts, social housing and health & safety.

This being a UNISON conference the first business of conference was taken up with failed attempts to refer back the Standing orders committee reports. 

UNISON's First Community Conference - 2nd Nov 2010

I got this email today encouraging branches of the new UNISON Service Group "Community" to register as visitors to our first ever conference. 

"On Tuesday 2nd November, in Telford, UNISON will hold our first conference focused on members in the Community service group – members workers for charities, housing associations, social enterprises, and other community and voluntary organisations.

The deadline for registering delegates has now passed, but there is still plenty of time to register to attend as a visitor.

The conference has a wide-ranging agenda, looking at issues including personalisation of social care, safeguarding, volunteering, two-tier workforces, housing policy, TUPE, equalities, pensions, pay and reward, trade union organising, and facility time. There will also be a lunchtime fringe meeting, open to visitors, on personalisation.

To view the Conference Bulletin, including all the forms you need and lots more information, please click here: http://www.unison.org.uk/conference/community.asp

So please come along and take part!"