LGBT+
It’s LGBT+ History Month – what is your branch doing to celebrate?
LGBT+ History Month takes place each February and is a fantastic opportunity to showcase everything UNISON does for LGBT+ equality in your workplace and branch. We have a range of material you can promote in your workplace, including a UNISON LGBT+ history PowerPoint presentation.
- Why not hold a lunch and learn, request a trans ally training sessionor an ace/aromantic education session (Out@unison.co.uk)?
- It’s also a good opportunity to use our policy checklistto make sure your workplace policies are inclusive of LGBT+ workers.
- Make sure you share what your branch and region are doing throughout the month! Our social media accounts are below – tag us and we’ll share the wonderful work you do!
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/unisonlgbtplus.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unisonlgbtplus/
Black members
Justice for Zane campaign – online memorial event
28 April is International Workers Memorial Day. It is a day when we remember the dead and fight for the living. This year we mark the death of 7-year-old Zane Gbangbola, tragically killed in 2014.
UNISON have been supporting this campaign for several years, and the Gbangbola family will be speaking at this year’s National Delagte Conference, including receiving an honorary award. So this is a great opportunity to highlight the campaign to members and activists.
- For more information on the campaign and to register for the Zoom memorial meeting, please follow the link: Zane memorial Zoom meeting
Reminder re: 2025 National Black Members Conference
The 2025 National Black Members Conference, which was originally scheduled to take place in Llandudno in January 2025, but was postponed due to a water crisis in North Wales, has now been rescheduled for the date and location listed below.
Date: 1:00pm, Friday 9 May – 12:30pm, Sunday 11 May
Venue: The Brighton Centre
For more information visit the National Black Members Conference webpage
You can also view the statement from the National Black Member’s Chairs Group regarding the decision to postpone the conference.
Women members
Webinar: International Women’s Day Event – Removing barriers to gender equality; 4 March, 12.00pm – 1.00pm (GMT)
To mark International Women’s Day, the National Women’s Committee has organised a webinar on ‘Removing barriers to gender equality’. Speakers include Liz Wheatley, UNISON NEC International Committee, Lina Montilla Diaz, Executive Committee member of the Central Unitary of Workers (CUT), Colombia’s largest trade union federation and Darnelly Rodriguez, human rights defender and coordinator of the PazCifico Human Rights Centre in Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city.
Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C5Vq5G7vRMSdduUMH_JDQg
Menopause is a workplace issue
An updated version of the “Menopause is a workplace issue” guide has been produced. This is a comprehensive guide for staff and branch activists designed to assist branches in ensuring that organisations consider how menopause symptoms can impact on workers experiencing the menopause. Download the guide here: https://www.unison.org.uk/the-menopause-is-a-workplace-issue/
Harassment at Work
An updated version of the “The Harassment at Work” guide has also been produced. The updated guidance can be used by UNISON branches and stewards to negotiate policies which prevent, tackle and deal with incidences of harassment and bullying in the workplace.
Download the guide here: 583_Harrassment_at_work_guide_2024.pdf
Disabled members
Disabled Members Branch Officer training 2025
The course outlines the role and purpose and covers UNISON’s organising agenda in relation to disability equality, including the social model of disability, bargaining for reasonable adjustments, campaigning and organising, and more.
The one-day Disabled Members Officer training courses will run on following dates, Click the links for more info and to register:
- Thursday 17 April – Disabled Members Branch Officer Training April 2025 | UNISON College
- Wednesday 3 September – Disabled Members Branch Officer Training September 2025 | UNISON College