Notice of Branch AGM, Tuesday 19 March 2024

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UNISON Bexley branch’s next Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in-person at Bexley Civic Centre’s Council Chamber from 12 – 2pm and online (hybrid) from 5:30 – 7:30pm on Tuesday 19 March 2024.

All members are invited to attend the Branch AGM to be held on Tuesday 19 March 2024.

The 2024 AGM will be an aggregate meeting, comprising an in-person meeting and an online meeting, to enable as many members as possible to participate. This is possible following a rule change at UNISON’s National Delegate Conference in June 2023.

The in-person meeting will commence at 12pm (midday) and will have concluded by no later than 2pm. Please note that lunch will be provided.

The online meeting will commence at 5:30pm and will have concluded by no later than 7:30pm. The meeting link will be sent to members at least one week prior to the meeting.

If you wish to attend but have not previously given us your email address, please get in touch now.

The AGM is an opportunity for members to hear updates from the branch on another challenging year as we have supported members through continued upheaval exacerbated by funding cuts and below-inflation pay settlements.

Join the meeting to hear about the work the branch has undertaken this year and our plans for the challenges that 2024/25 will undoubtedly bring.

It’s also a chance to ask any questions you may have about UNISON and also to take decisions such as electing your committee for the next year.

Nominations

The Executive Committee has not yet made nominations but will do so at the January Branch Committee meeting on Tuesday 9 January 2024.

Members are encouraged to consider what they might have to offer in working with our friendly committee, and nominations to all the posts below are invited but, in particular, to those posts currently vacant and listed in bold below. Accredited training and support will be provided via our regional colleagues.

Nominations are being sought for:

Any member of the Branch who has been a member for at least 13 weeks and is not in arrears with their subscriptions shall be entitled to be nominated for election to any of the branch offices.

Any nomination must be supported by at least two members of the branch (please contact the Committee if you would like to be nominated but don’t know any other members – we would be happy to assist further).

You can submit your nomination here, before the deadline of 5pm on Monday 26 February 2024. Should more than one nomination be received for a post, a ballot may be necessary and will be arranged before the Annual General Meeting.

You can find more information on any of the above posts on the UNISON national website.

The closing date/time for receipt of all nominations is 5pm on Monday 26 February 2024.

Motions/amendments to Branch Rules

If you would like to submit a motion to be discussed and voted on at the AGM, or if you would like to propose a change/amendment to the Branch Rules, please email motions to n.turnbull@unison.co.uk and cc unison@bexley.gov.uk.

The closing date for submission and receipt of motions is 5pm on Monday 26 February 2024.

  • Please note, all motions must include the full name of the proposer and a seconder, both of whom must be UNISON Bexley branch members and must attend the AGM.

Annual General Meeting: Friday 24 March 12pm

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FAO Bexley UNISON members

A reminder that the Bexley UNISON branch AGM will be held next Friday 24 March in the Council Chamber at Bexley Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath, DA6 7AT from 12-2pm.

Lunch will be provided and the first 25 delegates to arrive will receive a free gift from the branch!

Please find the agenda and proposed rule change/amendment attached below; if you have any questions in advance of the meeting please contact Bexley UNISON Pro Tempore Branch Secretary, Nick Turnbull, at n.turnbull@unison.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you all.

Bexley UNISON

230316 unison-bexley-branch-agm-2023-agendaDownload
230228 Motion_Branch Rule ChangeDownload
220310-agm-minutes-2022Download

Notice of Branch AGM, Friday 24 March 2023

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UNISON Bexley branch’s next Annual General Meeting will be held at Bexley Civic Centre’s Council Chamber from 12 – 2pm on Friday 24 March 2023.

All members are invited to attend the Branch AGM to be held on Friday 24 March 2023.

The meeting will commence at 12pm (midday) and will have concluded by no later than 2pm. Please note that lunch will be provided.

If you wish to attend but have not previously given us your email address, please get in touch now.

The AGM is an opportunity for members to hear updates from the branch on another challenging year as we have supported members through a ever-shifting landscape underpinned by your efforts as we exit the worst of the pandemic into a Cost of Living Crisis and endemic incompetence from a merry-go-round of Conservative Prime Ministers.

Join the meeting to hear about the ways we’ve helped make a real difference to members’ lives in that time. It’s also a chance to ask any questions you may have about UNISON and also to take decisions such as electing your committee for the next year.

Nominations

The Executive Committee has not yet made nominations as December meeting was cancelled due to the bad weather and transport issues.

Members are encouraged to consider what they might have to offer in working with our friendly committee, and nominations to all the posts below are invited but, in particular, to those posts currently vacant and listed in bold below. Accredited training and support will be provided via our regional colleagues.

Nominations are being sought for:

Any member of the Branch who has been a member for at least 13 weeks and is not in arrears with their subscriptions shall be entitled to be nominated for election to any of the branch offices.

Any nomination must be supported by at least two members of the branch (please contact the Committee if you would like to be nominated but don’t know any other members – we would be happy to assist further).

You can submit your nomination here, before the deadline of 2pm on Thursday 2 March 2023. Should more than one nomination be received for a post, a ballot may be necessary and will be arranged before the Annual General Meeting.

You can find more information on any of the above posts on the UNISON national website.

The closing date/time for receipt of all nominations is 2pm on Thursday 2 March 2023.

Motions/amendments to Branch Rules

If you would like to submit a motion to be discussed and voted on at the AGM, or if you would like to propose a change/amendment to the Branch Rules, please email motions to n.turnbull@unison.co.uk and cc unison@bexley.gov.uk.

The closing date for submission and receipt of motions is 2pm on Thursday 2 March 2023.

  • Please note, all motions must include the full name of the proposer and a seconder, both of whom must be UNISON Bexley branch members and must attend the AGM.

NJC 2022 Pay Consultation

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In June, the trade unions (UNISON, Unite, and GMB) submitted a pay claim demanding a substantial increase of either £2,000 or RPI (whichever is greater) on all spinal column points, from 1 April 2022.

The employer’s side have responded with a pay offer for 2022/23 for an increase of £1,925 on all NJC pay points, with effect from 1 April 2022. This amount would be added to every point on the pay scale as a fully consolidated pay increase.

This pay offer is much higher than members have seen in recent years and is the highest flat-rate offer made to the public sector this year. It would give members at the bottom end of the pay scale a 10.5% increase in pay – and more than three-quarters of employees would get a 6% pay rise or more.

The offer is also very close to the £2,000 which UNISON branches and the NJC committee agreed should be a key part of the pay claim.

Having said that, our claim was for £2,000 or RPI inflation, whichever is the higher. RPI inflation is currently 11.8%, so this offer doesn’t meet either of those aims, and it doesn’t deliver a pay increase that keeps up with the rising cost of living. 

By not keeping up with these costs, wages are worth less than before – effectively a pay cut – and that discrepancy between pay and inflation only increases for those higher up the pay spine.

What happens now?

Discussions with the employers have reached an end, making this the best offer that can be achieved by negotiations. So, UNISON is putting it to you, our members. We are consulting you on whether you wish to accept or reject this pay offer.

The UNISON NJC Committee is not making a recommendation that members should vote ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ – it’s totally your choice. It is vital that you make your voice heard on this matter so that we have a full picture of every member’s view.

The consultation is running until Monday 19 September. If you are an NJC member you should have received an email from after 19 August with a link to vote online so keep an eye on your emails and make sure to have your say!

If you have not received an email to take part, and think you should have, please email unison@bexley.gov.uk in the first instance and we will investigate.

You should be aware that if there is a majority vote to reject the offer, the next step would be an industrial action ballot to attempt to force the employers to make an improved offer so think carefully about what you feel would be the best option for you.

You can’t assume others will speak on your behalf, so add your voice to the conversation so your pay isn’t decided for you! 

What you can do

Vote in the consultation! This consultation is being run digitally by branches, so look out for an email from us containing your link to vote online. The deadline for voting is Monday 19 September so make sure you let us know if you haven’t had an email so we can include you and you can make your voice heard on this pay offer.

Other ways to get involved

Once you’ve voted in the consultation, there are lots of other ways you can get involved in the campaign and spread the word to colleagues and friends:

  • Follow us on social media for the latest updates and to have your say on pay – just remember to use the hashtag #lgpay2022
  • Check out our range of useful materials to learn more about the consultation and inform colleagues – they can be printed out via our online shop:
  • There are branded graphics for social media, email and webpages:
  • Make sure your details are up to date – it is crucial that all members play their part, so make sure we can contact you over the coming months about the fight for your pay rise. It takes two minutes:
  • Get your colleagues involved – if your colleagues aren’t members of UNISON already, encourage them to join! They can join online, it only takes five minutes:

TUC Young Workers Month – November 2025

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November is TUC Young Workers month, when we celebrate the contribution of young workers to the Labour movement. UNISON’s National Young Members Forum have organised a variety of activities for TUC Young Workers Month 2025, focusing on the issues we know are important to young members

Survey of young members

During Young Workers month we will be doing a comprehensive survey of all UNISON’s young members to ask them about their engagement with UNISON, public transport, and their experiences of the cost of living crisis. The survey will launch on the 30October 2025 and will run until the end of November.

Take the survey here: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90934469/Young-Members-Survey-2025

Young Black members network meeting | Tuesday 11 November 2025 5-6pm

The network meeting is a place for young Black members to get together, talk about the issues that are important to them, and share experiences of campaigning and organising in their branches. Now that the date for Black members’ conference has been announced we’ll also be discussing motions for that conference. Chaired by a member of the National Young Members Forum.

Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/83d277e4-9df3-4ce1-bf68-a4f5f80f7581@d7c21edf-d541-49a4-9f5a-7737832d42c7

What does a Young Members Officer do? | Thursday 13 November 1-2pm

Have you thought about standing as a Young Members Officer in your branch but you’re not sure what the role involves? Or maybe you’re already a young members officer and want to do more for young members in your branch. Join us to hear from UNISON young members about the realities of being a young members officer.

Presentation by Josephine Grahl, UNISON Young Members Officer, on the role of the Branch Young Members Officer, followed by a panel discussion by UNISON Young Members Officers about the realities of the job. Chaired by a member of the National Young Members Forum.

Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/978c00e0-f7b7-4e3a-8036-b235966ac01d@d7c21edf-d541-49a4-9f5a-7737832d42c7

Menstrual and reproductive health: a trade union issue | Wednesday 19 November 12.30-1.30pm

There’s growing interest in how periods and menstrual conditions can affect working lives and what trade unions can do to support people who menstruate in the workplace. Join us for a webinar where we discuss these issues from a trade union perspective.

Bukky Akinwale, UNISON National Women’s Officer, will join us to talk about the recent UNISON survey about women’s health. Kate Oboussier, Women’s Officer for UNISON Westminster, will share her experiences of running a campaign to get her employer to provide free period products in the workplace. Zaihera Chaudry, from the UNISON Knowsley branch, will talk about her campaign ‘It’s bloody difficult.’ Chaired by a member of the National Young Members Forum.

Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/28bef42f-06e1-4ce0-b847-460f8bbfb1ad@d7c21edf-d541-49a4-9f5a-7737832d42c7

What to expect at your first UNISON conference | Tuesday 25 November 12 noon-1pm

Are you attending a UNISON conference for the first time? In this session we’ll explain how conferences work, what to expect, and how you can prepare if you’re going to Young Members Conference at the end of November.

Presentation by Josephine Grahl, National Officer for Young Members, on how conferences and debate works. Caitlin O’Hagan, chair of the Young Members Conference Standing Orders Committee (SOC), will explain how the agenda for conference is determined. Micaela Tracey-Ramos, young members’ representative on the UNISON NEC, will share her top tips for public speaking and writing a speech. Chaired by a member of the National Young Members Forum.

Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/fb0f21c8-87c6-4d9b-b8b0-7f7bf86879bc@d7c21edf-d541-49a4-9f5a-7737832d42c7

Nominations for the Eric Roberts award

The Eric Roberts award is given annually to a UNISON young member who has demonstrated effective and innovative campaigning. Nominations for the award can be made by branches and Regional Young Member Forums. Contact y.members@unison.co.uk for a nomination form.

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