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News from UNISON National:
News from UNISON National:
General Secretary Election 2025: who your branch is backing!
General Secretary Election 2025: who your branch is backing!
The general secretary is the most senior role in the union. They represent UNISON when talking to the media, other unions, employers and to Parliament. UNISON has to elect its general secretary every five years.
As the largest trade union in the UK, who runs UNISON matters. It matters in the country at large, and it matters in your workplace.
UNISON’s elected General Secretary runs our union, manages its 1,200 staff and ultimately determines the kind of union we are and can become. The General Secretary and their abilities and qualities is the single biggest factor in whether or not UNISON succeeds and wins for you at work and on pay.
There are two candidates in the 2025 election:
1. Andrea Egan
2. Christina McAnea.
Following a branch committee meeting, discussion and a vote, your branch has decided to nominate Andrea Egan for General Secretary.
Our Branch is backing Andrea Egan for General Secretary because Andrea:
Has a clear plan for successful action on Pay, ending the stagnation of the last fifteen years.
Will take the wage of a social worker, not the £181,000 package our current General Secretary receives. Andrea’s pay will go up when yours does.
Opposes UNISON’s subservience to Starmer’s Labour. UNISON members will come first, not the Labour Party.
Will free up and resource branches so we can better support you, giving you access to legal advice when needed.
Has successfully led campaigns to defend Schools and Council terms and conditions.
How the election works
Voting will be over a 4-week period from Tuesday 28 October to Tuesday 25 November.
Ballots will be mailed out by the Post Office from Tuesday 28 October so are likely to arrive any time from a few days to a couple of weeks after this date.
1.5 million UNISON members – our in-work members plus our Retired members – get a vote in this election, so it is a big exercise, and ballot mailouts are staggered. By law, we cannot allow members to vote electronically, so lookout for your ballot paper which will be posted to your home address.
Inside will be a smaller addressed envelope, with the postage already paid. Vote by placing an X in the box beside your preferred candidate’s name, put the ballot in the envelope and put it in the post box. Simple!
Members are strongly encouraged to use their vote in this important election that comes only once every five years. Make your choice and have your voice heard!
Message on Behalf of Regional International Forum
Message on Behalf of Regional International Forum
SUPPORTING THE CUBAN PEOPLE – PRACTICAL SOLIDARITY: A Truck for Quisicuaba's Mission
The below attachment were recently circulated to our Branch International Relations Officers (BIROs) and members of the Regional International Forum.
The Quisicuaba Project, officially known as the Cabildo Quisicuaba Socio-Cultural Community Project, is an initiative based in the Los Sitios neighbourhood, Havana, Cuba. The project aims to strengthen the community's responsible participation in matters related to culture, health and education.
Quisicuaba has grown into a social reintegration program with a strong focus on vulnerable groups. These include the elderly, children and youth from dysfunctional families, abused women, former inmates, single mothers, Black women, individuals experiencing domestic violence, people living with HIV and their families, and victims of gender-based violence. Many individuals who seek assistance from Quisicuaba face challenges such as addiction, malnutrition, poor health, and family-related issues, all of which have been exacerbated by the current economic crisis.
The project runs over 30 social programs, including a community social kitchen that provides free daily meals to more than 4,000 people. For those unable to visit the social kitchen, Quisicuaba also offers delivery services.
Quisicuaba faces ongoing transportation challenges, spending thousands of dollars each month on truck rentals to move food from fields to the city and distribute donations.
Owning a truck would free up these funds for social programs.
For further information go to https://aid4c.org.uk/
MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF THE UNISON WEST MIDLANDS WOMEN’S COMMITTEE
Please join the Regional Women’s Committee for another Women’s Day on Friday 1 November between 10am and 4pm. This will be an in-person event, held at the UNISON Regional Centre (24 Livery Street, Birmingham, B3 2PA).
We will have three sessions in this day:
Rachel Taylor, a recently elected Labour MP will be returning to share her experience since she was elected to Parliament,
Anita Edwards will run a workshop on speechwriting and public speaking.
We will be running a craft session on the afternoon, for fun and solidarity.
Lunch will be provided – please confirm by response if you are intending to attend and any dietary requirements you would need to have accommodated. Please email k.walker@unison.co.uk with this information by Friday 18 October at 12pm.
Learning at Work Week.
Learning at Work Week.
See details about taster sessions being run by UNISON College during Learning at Work Week 2024. Registration will open next week so keep an eye on the page below.
Message on behalf of UNISON West Midlands.
We are pleased to announce that, as part of Year of the LGBT+ Worker, we have new dates for Trans Ally training.
This training is open to all members. To apply, simply follow the links below and fill in the electronic form at the bottom of the page.
Thursday 23 May – 9.30am – 12.30pm – ONLINE - https://westmidlands.unison.org.uk/events/transallymay2024/
Wednesday 26 June – 9.30am – 12.30pm – IN PERSON - https://westmidlands.unison.org.uk/events/transallyjune2024/
If you have any further queries about this course, please get in touch with the West Midlands Education Team by emailing wmeducationteam@unison.co.uk or calling 0121 685 3104
MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF UNISON WEST MIDLANDS LGBT+ SOG
Hello Everyone
Part of the Year Of The LGBT+ Worker is education. Therefore, please see below the Flags of the LGBT+ Community. Please feel free to share with your Branches
In the vibrant tapestry of the LGBT+ community, flags serve as powerful symbols, each telling a unique story of identity, belonging, and resilience. Let's embark on a journey through some of these flags, delving into their origins, meanings, and the vibrant communities they represent.
The rainbow flag: a beacon of hope and unity
At the heart of the LGBT+ flag landscape stands the iconic rainbow flag, a testament to diversity and unity. Designed in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, its vibrant stripes symbolize the myriad facets of the LGBT+ spectrum. But before the rainbow, there was the pink triangle, a haunting symbol of oppression reclaimed by the community from its dark past in Nazi Germany.
Originally, there were eight different coloured stripes – each with its own meaning.
· Pink – Sex
· Red – Life
· Orange – Healing
· Yellow – Sunlight
· Green – Nature
· Turquoise – Magic/Art
· Indigo – Serenity
· Violet – Spiri
Bisexual flag: embracing all shades of attraction
Enter the bisexual flag, a celebration of attraction without boundaries. Designed in 1998 by Michael Page, its pink, purple, and blue hues speak to the spectrum of attraction, from same to multiple genders, offering visibility and validation to bisexual individuals.
Pansexual flag: colours of inclusivity and fluidity
In 2010, the pansexual community unveiled its flag, a triad of pink, yellow, and blue, echoing the fluidity of attraction across genders. Each colour represents a facet of attraction, from feminine to masculine, agender to all-encompassing, embracing the complexity of desire beyond binary confines.
Asexual flag: honouring identity beyond desire
Similarly, the asexual flag, with its black, grey, white, and purple stripes, shines a light on a spectrum of attraction that transcends sexual desire. It stands as a beacon of visibility for those navigating a world that often equates identity with attraction, offering a sense of belonging and acceptance.
Lesbian flag: symbols of feminine pride
There are many variations of lesbian flag. One of the most recent lesbian flags incorporates shades of orange and white to represent all members of the lesbian community. This includes transgender women and those who do not identify with a gender.
· Dark orange/red represents gender non-conformity.
· Orange represents independence.
· Light orange represents community.
· White represents unique relationships to womanhood.
· Light pink represents serenity and peace.
· Darker pink represents love and sex.
· The purple/plum represents femininity.
Intersex flag: a circle of wholeness and visibility
Designed in 2013 by Morgan Carpenter, the intersex flag, with its yellow background and purple circle, stands as a symbol of wholeness and visibility for those whose identities challenge traditional notions of sex and gender.
Transgender flag: stripes of identity and empowerment
Crafted by Monica Helms in 1999, the transgender flag's light blue, pink, and white stripes symbolize the journey of self-discovery and affirmation. Its symmetrical design reflects the quest for correctness and validation in a world that often denies transgender individuals their truth.
Genderfluid flag: embracing fluidity and diversity
With its pink, blue, purple, black, and white stripes, the genderfluid flag celebrates the fluidity and diversity of gender identity. From femininity to masculinity, and everything in between, each colour represents a facet of identity, offering a sense of validation and empowerment.
Nonbinary pride flag: breaking free from binary constraints
Enter the nonbinary pride flag, a testament to identity beyond the confines of the gender binary. With its yellow, white, purple, and black stripes, it honours the myriad ways individuals experience and express gender, offering visibility and validation to those often marginalised within LGBT+ spaces.
Ally pride flag: standing in solidarity and support
The ally pride flag, with its black and white stripes and rainbow ‘A’, stands as a symbol of solidarity and support for LGBT+ individuals. It serves as a reminder that allyship is not passive but an active stance in the fight for equality and acceptance.
New pride flag: inclusive and supportive
Lastly, the new pride flag. The new flag has been redesigned to incorporate elements from various LGBT+ subcultures.
The following are the various meanings of the new flag:
· Red represents life.
· Orange represents healing.
· Yellow represents new ideas.
· Green represents prosperity.
· Blue represents serenity.
· Violet represents spirit.
· Black/Brown represents people of colour. Black also serves to remember those who have died from, and those who are living with HIV/AIDS and the stigma around the virus that is still present in society.
· White/Blue/Pink represents the trans community.
· The yellow with a purple circle represents intersex people.
Tracy Morgan
Pronouns Her/She
Mary Seacole Team
Mary Seacole Team Line on 0121 685 3101.
NJC 2024 Survey Results
Please see below the NJC 2024 survey results regarding the proposals for the 2024 NJC Pay Claim.
We had a 19.5% response to the survey for our branch, with the majority voting yes to the proposals.
1895 members entitled to vote.
1757 were sent the link via email.
We received 374 responses of which 338 voted yes and 36 voted no.
Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.
Please note: REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL FORUM NOTICE
Dear All
This communication is to inform you of a current situation.
The visit to Nicaragua in March 2024 which was planned for this year has unfortunately had to be postponed. This situation will be reviewed once finances are clearer.
The reason for this is that there have unfortunately had to be some measures taken in respect of the Regional lay budget.
We thank you for your understanding, such decisions are not taken lightly and interest was gratefully received.
Sent with the kindest of regards,
Dave
The UNISON West Midlands LGBT+ SOG now has social medica accounts. As part of Year of the LGBT+ Worker and February being LGBT+ History Month, they'll be sharing daily LGBT+ history posts they think are interesting. Many of them will focus on this year's theme of Medicine. #underthescope #YearofLGBTplusworkers #UNISON #UNISONLGBT #UNISONWestMidlands
The social media page details are below, please go take a look:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/unisonwestmidslgbt
Instagram - @unison_w.midlands_lgbtplus_sog
Email - wmunisonlgbt@outlook.com
Important news about Universal Credit
Being paid early for Christmas can affect members’ Universal Credit payments. Early pay can make it seem like they’ve received twice as much pay as normal, because two pay packets fall within one Universal Credit assessment period, reducing the amount of Universal Credit they will receive. However, employers can help to reduce the risk of this by reporting the usual pay date to HMRC, rather than reporting the earlier pay date.
If the employer cannot report pay on the usual date, members can ask the Department for Works & Pensions (DWP) to reallocate one of the salary payments to a different Universal Credit assessment period, but they may need to provide additional information or evidence and the DWP may not be able to make the change in time for their next Universal Credit payment. Members can contact the DWP through their Universal Credit Journal to request this.
Member Courses:
Member Courses:
A reminder that the education team we are also sill accepting applications for a new course taking place early next year:
Managing and Developing People (for branches who employ staff) – In person – Thurs 25 January and Thurs 22 February 2024 10:00am – 4:00pm
To apply for this course, simply email wemeducationteam@unison.co.uk with your UNISON membership number, branch and preferred email address.
Branch Prize Draws:
Branch Prize Draws:
Recruitment Week Prize Winner: Terina Ramsay
Stars in Our School Prize Winners:
Michelle Bound - St. Pauls C of E Primary School, Leamington Spa
Izabela Poplawska - Rokeby Primary School
Christine Reynolds - St. Pauls C of E Primary School, Leamington Spa
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