UNISON at 30 – delegates pass first motion at NDC in Brighton

Passionate speeches open debate on the first morning of national delegate conference

Delegates clapping at National delegate conference

Debate kicked off on Tuesday morning at UNISON’s national delegate conference with UNISON at 30, a motion calling on the NEC to produce a statistical report and an action plan to improve the number of women participating at all levels in UNISON.

Moving, Miriam Mafemba from Newcastle Hospital branch paid tribute to the “many fantastic women across my region who have been and continue to be an inspiration to me and others”.

Heralding their inspiration as the reason she stopped being a “paper member” and got active, which led her to be elected as a new Labour councillor in Newcastle, she said: “Who knew I would be here now when I joined UNISON in 2004”.

She told conference: “We don’t need more research on the barriers which women face, we know all too well what they are, now we need to know what the plan is across our service group and regions”.

Rosie Macgregor of the retired members committee followed up, speaking in favour of the motion with a passionate speech highlighting how the union has changed since its formation from “grey men in grey suits”, saying “we’ve come a long way in 30 years, but not quite far enough.”

She finished with a rousing call to delegates, saying “There is no place in our union for angry misogyny. We must ensure that women – low-paid women, young women, all women are at the forefront of our union.

Another delegate called the measures outlined in the motion, wise, sensible and long overdue arguing the measurements would lead to improvements to the quantity, quality and equality of women in all and senior roles.

Finally, Lola Oyewusi spoke to thank UNISON for helping her to become the first Black candidate for the position of police and crime commissioner in the whole of the UK.