- Conference
- 2016 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 20 July 2015
- Decision
- Carried
This conference notes that the numbers of young Black members attending have been very low for a number of years and that it is vital work is undertaken to address this.
This conference also notes the scheme of branch representation requiring branches sending 5 delegates to include a young member in their delegation.
This conference further notes that Black members conference offers unique learning, educational, political, cultural, and social opportunities that can contribute to young Black members personal development and as UNISON activists.
This conference calls on the National Black Members Committee to adopt the following measures in respect of National Black Members Conference 2017:
1)Issue a statement to all branch Black Members Groups
a)stating that all branches should make efforts to send a young member to Black members conference, regardless of whether the scheme of branch representation requires them to do so
b)encouraging them to make direct contact with all young Black members in their branch and encourage their participation in the group and to take up delegate opportunities
c)encouraging more experienced members to relinquish delegate positions if that makes it possible for a young member to attend
d)calling for conference visitor places to be made available to young members.
2)Include an article in Black Action about a young Black members’ experience of attending Black members’ conference, and to promote Black Action to young members.
3)Use social media to promote this work, and seek promotion of it through UNISON communications channels.
4)Liaise with the National Young Members Forum about reaching out to young Black members through their networks.
5)To publish in the 2017 annual report the numbers of young Black members registered to attend in 2017 as:
a)delegates and
b)visitors, comparing it with numbers attending this year in those capacities, and all future annual reports to maintain a rolling table of this information so that conference is kept informed about any progress made.
6)To facilitate a discussion at Black members conference 2017 about improving young members participation in the Black Members Self-Organised Group at all levels of the union.