Rosalind Hanmer, London Met University's LGBT officer, delivers her speech at UNISON National Delegates Conference (NDC), on 20th June 2014 in Brighton.
The full text of Motion 53 (before a friendly amendment to include facilities time), which was being debated, is on line here.
And the text for Ros Hanmer's speech is here.
Mark Chiverton, South East Regional Convenor, moved Amendment 53.1 to include the need to defend our facility time:
Sandy Nicoll, SOAS UNISON Branch Secretary, supporting the motion, as amended:
More to follow...
Sunday, 23 November 2014
Monday, 10 November 2014
Call for left unity meeting [update]: date agreed, 17th January 2015, Manchester
• Build a campaign for a fighting, democratic union• Agree left candidates for NEC elections in 2015• Discuss standing one left candidate for General Secretary in 2015In light of the pay disputes and the conspicuous absence of lay member control of our union, we, the undersigned NEC members, call on all left activists, groups and organisations in UNISON to come together to discuss and agree on the kind of campaign we need to transform our union into a fighting, democratic union.We need to encourage as many like-minded activists within our midst to come forward and stand in every seat possible in the forthcoming NEC elections.We want to launch an organising campaign which engages activists and involves the grass roots - which builds our networks and strengthens our hand on the key issues of the day.So we call for an assembly to agree a left slate, call on others to join our slate and stand under one banner.We also call for maximum left unity in the forthcoming General Secretary election, to take place during 2015.Max WatsonPaul HolmesBernadette GallagherHelen JennerHelen DaviesDiana LeachTomasa BullenJon RogersSuzy FranklinTony WilsonJanet BryanKaren ReissmannPolly Smith
Further to the call for left unity above, it has now been unanimously agreed by the left caucus of the NEC that we have such a meeting and it will be on Saturday 17th January, 2015 in Manchester. So please save the date and watch this space for further details to follow shortly...
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
"Max Watson Vs London Met University" update: 23rd October EAT preliminary hearing
As you will remember, we were not successful in our Employment Tribunal claim against London Met University in January which we were taking for trade union victimisation against Max Watson (see here and here for reports).
However, our lawyers submitted an Appeal against this decision and we can confirm the Employment Appeal Tribunal is meeting next week on 23rd October at 10.30am for a preliminary hearing. UNISON's lawyers will make the case for an appeal then. If this is successful a full Appeal hearing will then be scheduled.
We will of course update you accordingly.
Regards,
Claire
On behalf of the UNISON Branch Committee
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Thursday, 11 September 2014
'Absent From The Academy'
Prof. Paul Gilroy: 'I always dreamed of working at London Met...' Not something you hear everyday!
Saturday, 30 August 2014
Say No to Disability Discrimination in UNISON
This is the text of a leaflet circulated at UNISON's NDC 2014:
--
One NEC member, because of their disability, is unable to attend meetings on the ninth floor meeting room where NEC meetings are usually held. This is both a physical and mental health issue. The reasonable adjustment offered is for that member to sit in a first floor room at HQ, and participate by video link.
Technical objections to this arrangement:
1. The NEC member cannot see anyone on the NEC apart from the top table and only the top table can see them.
2. It is impossible to see votes when they are taken.
3. Sometimes people forget to say who they are when speaking and so the NEC member is left to guess.
4. All the informal liaison that takes place at meetings is impossible as they are not in the same room.
This is not the only possible solution. When the 9th floor council chamber flooded, an NEC was held in the ground floor meeting room which this NEC member was able to attend. However there has been a consistent refusal by the President to consider this simple solution becomes normal practice to allow full, equal, non-segregated participation by this member.
UNISON's strong anti-discrimination tradition
UNISON has always rightly prided itself on its very strong tradition of opposing disability discrimination. UNISON has rightly spent time and money on ensuring that members and reps with any disability can fully engage in our business. This is why we are so perplexed by the refusal to provide the simple, no-cost solution of meeting downstairs. Some have suggested it may be because the NEC member has been critical at times of the current leadership of UNISON eg when the pensions strikes were sold short. This would be a disgraceful position, if true.
Given this, some members asked for a vote as to whether we should continue with the situation of disability apartheid. Tragically, despite UNISON's fantastic record on disability rights, the NEC have been refused the right to even vote as to whether to continue this practice. An ET application was made but failed on a technicality ie the NEC members rep failed to reply within the timescale.
Principled objections to this arrangement
We are not prepared to collude in this discrimination. We have insisted on sharing the video link room with the NEC member affected. We have done this because we will not have anyone with a disability isolated in a room on their own, made to feel like a social outcast, whilst those us who can sit on the ninth floor. But this is not the answer. We stopped having inaccessible venues for wheelchairs, separate doors for men and women, and separate buses for black and white people.
Many of us work in mental health. We see discrimination on a day by day basis meted out to the clients we work with. It is sad to see this happening to a fellow NEC member. No-one wants to discuss the details of their health with anyone. Mental health is particularly difficult as the stigma and personal attacks that follow are sadly still very real. It is awful that this NEC member has had to share the details of his health problems widely to try and get a resolution to this. We hope we can return to disabled and able bodied NEC members all being in the same room.
What can you do?
Statement supported by the following NEC members:
Jon Rogers
Karen Reissmann
John Jones
Jacqui Berry
Polly Smith
April Ashley
Bernadette Gallagher
Roger Bannister
Helen Jenner
Vicky Perrin
Helen Davies
Diana Leach
Paul Holmes
Dave Auger
Tomasa Bullen
Max Watson
Suzy Franklin
Tony Wilson
Janet Bryan
--
One NEC member, because of their disability, is unable to attend meetings on the ninth floor meeting room where NEC meetings are usually held. This is both a physical and mental health issue. The reasonable adjustment offered is for that member to sit in a first floor room at HQ, and participate by video link.
Technical objections to this arrangement:
1. The NEC member cannot see anyone on the NEC apart from the top table and only the top table can see them.
2. It is impossible to see votes when they are taken.
3. Sometimes people forget to say who they are when speaking and so the NEC member is left to guess.
4. All the informal liaison that takes place at meetings is impossible as they are not in the same room.
This is not the only possible solution. When the 9th floor council chamber flooded, an NEC was held in the ground floor meeting room which this NEC member was able to attend. However there has been a consistent refusal by the President to consider this simple solution becomes normal practice to allow full, equal, non-segregated participation by this member.
UNISON's strong anti-discrimination tradition
UNISON has always rightly prided itself on its very strong tradition of opposing disability discrimination. UNISON has rightly spent time and money on ensuring that members and reps with any disability can fully engage in our business. This is why we are so perplexed by the refusal to provide the simple, no-cost solution of meeting downstairs. Some have suggested it may be because the NEC member has been critical at times of the current leadership of UNISON eg when the pensions strikes were sold short. This would be a disgraceful position, if true.
Given this, some members asked for a vote as to whether we should continue with the situation of disability apartheid. Tragically, despite UNISON's fantastic record on disability rights, the NEC have been refused the right to even vote as to whether to continue this practice. An ET application was made but failed on a technicality ie the NEC members rep failed to reply within the timescale.
Principled objections to this arrangement
We are not prepared to collude in this discrimination. We have insisted on sharing the video link room with the NEC member affected. We have done this because we will not have anyone with a disability isolated in a room on their own, made to feel like a social outcast, whilst those us who can sit on the ninth floor. But this is not the answer. We stopped having inaccessible venues for wheelchairs, separate doors for men and women, and separate buses for black and white people.
Many of us work in mental health. We see discrimination on a day by day basis meted out to the clients we work with. It is sad to see this happening to a fellow NEC member. No-one wants to discuss the details of their health with anyone. Mental health is particularly difficult as the stigma and personal attacks that follow are sadly still very real. It is awful that this NEC member has had to share the details of his health problems widely to try and get a resolution to this. We hope we can return to disabled and able bodied NEC members all being in the same room.
What can you do?
- Write to the President - after conference expected to be l.mckeever@unison.co.uk
- Pass model resolutions: “We believe that all UNISON meetings should be held in venues and with facilities that ensure they are open to all those entitled to attend, wherever practically possible.”
- Vote to re-prioritize Lambeth's Rule change 32, which reads: "Meetings of the NEC shall take place, so far as reasonably practicable, in venues which are accessible to all members eligble to stand." (NEC position is to support).
Statement supported by the following NEC members:
Jon Rogers
Karen Reissmann
John Jones
Jacqui Berry
Polly Smith
April Ashley
Bernadette Gallagher
Roger Bannister
Helen Jenner
Vicky Perrin
Helen Davies
Diana Leach
Paul Holmes
Dave Auger
Tomasa Bullen
Max Watson
Suzy Franklin
Tony Wilson
Janet Bryan
Tuesday, 26 August 2014
Charlotte Monro's Employment Tribunal Date Set / E-petition launched
Charlotte Monro's Employment Tribunal hearing is now set for 23 – 26th September at :
TRIBUNAL SERVICE, 2nd floor, Anchorage House, 2 Clove Cres, London E14 2BE
UNISON is backing Charlotte in a claim of unfair dismissal against her employer Barts Health NHS Trust.
The Campaign's online petition has been launched today: https://www.change.org/p/peter-morris-reinstate-charlotte-monro-end-the-bullying-climate-in-the-nhs
Please sign this version if you have not already and circulate as widely as possible; the issues in Charlotte's case are very significant in the current climate of cuts, privatisation and attacks on Trade Union members and Reps in the NHS
The Reinstate Charlotte Campaign are having an intensive push to escalate the petition and raise these important issues to coincide with the Tribunal - please show support at the Tribunal.
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