“I’ve been in four unions and it’s only in UNISON that I’ve become active,” said Marjory Winnie of Durham, speaking on a motion to encourage buddying and mentoring at UNISON’s women’s conference in Liverpool today.
Her move towards activism had come “thanks to the gentle persuasion and encouragement” of her colleagues as well as UNISON training, which was “second to none.”
She urged delegates to acts as buddies and mentors to new members of the union.
UNISON president Chris Tansley railed against the Tory government that had brought women’s unemployment to a 23-year high and would see 1.1m public service workers having lost their jobs by 2017.
And Eileen Best paid tribute to Inez McCormack, a previous regional secretary of UNISON Northern Ireland, who passed away on 21 January: “I’m proud to have met her and stood beside her at rallies.
“She inspired me to never be afraid to stand up for myself or others who were facing discrimination. She succeeded in what she set out to do – she made a difference.”
