13 – 15 February 2025
Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), The Exchange, 150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE
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UNISON’s National Women’s Self-Organised Group Committee has agreed to hold a National Women’s Self-Organised Group Conference from 12pm Thursday 13th February to 1pm Saturday 15th February 2025.
We have now opened the Online Conferencing System (OCS) to allow branches to register delegates and submit motions in line with the rule-book requirements.
Please note the deadline to submit motions on OCS is 12.00 noon on Friday 18th October 2024
UNISON’s National Women’s Self-Organised Group Conference takes place over Three days. All delegates and visitors may attend all sessions of conference but voting on motions is restricted to delegates only. Delegates should attend all sessions of Conference.
The conference bulletin will have further information on motion submission from the SOC and submission deadlines.
Delegates should contact their branch to be registered through the OCS.
Registration and Enquiries
If you want to attend the conference, please contact your branch who can register you as a delegate or visitor on the Online Conference System (OCS). Once you are registered you will receive an email confirmation from OCS. Deadline for registration is Thursday 21st November 2024 at 12pm.
Use the link below to search for your branch details:
Travel Arrangements
Please consider the impact on the environment when making your decision on how to travel to Conference. Branches are asked to book all travel arrangements for Conference through Stewart Corporate Travel via email at unison@stewarttravelmanagement.com or call 0800 091 4272.
Please advise Stewart Corporate Travel if your delegates have railcards.
Travel can also be booked online using the Steward Travel Online Portal at https://www.gtp-marketplace.com/
Branches are reminded that:
- Standard Travel costs for Delegates only will be funded from National Office
- Travel costs for Visitors must be paid for by the branch. Please note that a booking fee is applicable – further details from Stewart Corporate Travel.
- Taxi fares are the responsibility of the branch/nominating body
Conference Travel should be booked by the cheapest possible means – Anytime train tickets should be avoided. Off peak tickets should be booked where possible.
Driving is discouraged for conference unless delegates are travelling together or as a reasonable adjustment. Total reclaimable will be the cost of standard tickets or cost of car travel – whichever is the lesser.
The 250 mile / upgraded or 1st Class travel rule is not applicable for conference travel
All travel requests (including upgraded or 1st Class Travel or Driving) as a reasonable adjustment must be reviewed and authorised by the Head of Conferences.
Branches are responsible for funding their delegates’ and visitors’ attendance at conference. Subsistence should cover the cost of accommodation, meals, childcare, dependent care and facilitation.
Branches are reminded of the Organising for Equality guidelines which state that “Branch delegates to self-organised group conferences should normally be given the same level of subsistence as branch delegates to other UNISON conferences”. The guidelines can be found at: https://www.unison.org.uk/search/organising+for+equality+guidelines/
Any branches that may suffer financial difficulties as a result of these procedures may apply in writing to the Finance Officer for consideration for additional branch funding.
Reasonable adjustment requests for travel should be made by 12pm Thursday, 30 January 2025
Accommodation
Booking accommodation – please book any accommodation required with a reputable provider with a generous cancellation policy. Please ensure that members have written confirmation of any booked and paid for accommodation.
Timetable
| Time | Dates | |
| Deadline for Submission of Motions on the OCS | 12:00pm | Friday, 18 October 2024 |
| Publication of Preliminary Agenda | Friday, 15 November 2024 | |
| Deadline for Submission of Delegates on the OCS | 12:00pm | Thursday, 21 November 2024 |
| Deadline for Amendments to Motions on the OCS | 12:00pm | Friday, 29 November 2024 |
| Deadline for babysitting and crèche requests on the OCS | 12:00pm | Thursday, 05 December 2024 |
| Deadline for reasonable adjustment requests for access on the OCS | 4:00pm | Thursday, 05 December 2024 |
| Publication of Final Agenda | Friday, 03 January 2025 | |
| Deadline for Submission of Emergency Motions on the OCS | 17:00pm | Friday, 07 February 2025 |
| Deadline for reasonable adjustment requests for travel | 12:00pm | Thursday, 30 January 2025 |
| Deadline for Submitting Change of Delegates on the OCS | 11:59pm | Sunday, 9 February 2025 |
Personal Pronouns
It is now possible to add your personal pronouns to the online conference system so that they can appear on your credentials.
For information on how to do this, please visit the UNISON website, click on events, choose your conference and scroll to the documents at the bottom of the page and open “Personal pronouns in OCS – User guide”.
If you require help, please email the conference team, conferences@unison.co.uk or telephone, 0207 121 5123.