Disabled members
Welfare reform parliamentary event
UNISON hosts parliamentary event to highlight the findings of welfare reform survey – read the full article
UNISON welfare survey report
Read the UNISON Welfare Survey Report or access a hard copy in either standard or large print via UNISON Catalogue
National disabled members conference
Over 300 delegates gathered in Liverpool for this year’s UNISON disabled members’ conference – celebrating the power and unity of a growing community, now more than 210,000 disabled workers strong. Read more on the conference
View the 2025 National disabled members’ conference decisions booklet.
UNISON disabled members network 2026 meetings – save the dates!
And we are pleased to include our first network meetings for disabled young members.
These national meetings are a great opportunity for disabled members from underrepresented groups to have an opportunity to network and identify motions to submit to national disabled members conference. The schedule is below.
Deaf/native BSL members
Wednesday 24 June: 11am – 1.30pm
Thursday 6 August: 2pm – 4.30pm
Disabled women members
Thursday 25 June: 11am – 1.30pm
Wednesday 5 August: 2pm – 4.30pm
Disabled Black members
Thursday 25 June: 2pm – 4.30pm
Wednesday 5 August: 11am – 1.30pm
Disabled LGBT+ members
Wednesday 24 June: 2pm – 4.30pm
Thursday 6 August: 11am – 1.30pm
Disabled young members
Tuesday 23 June: 2pm – 4.30pm
Friday 7 August:11am – 1.30pm
Registration links will be available and circulated in the next newsletter in the new year.
Women members
UNISON women’s health and workplace experience survey
UNISON’s recent survey reveals significant gaps in workplace support for women’s health issues, including menstruation, menopause, chronic conditions, and related challenges. Intersectional analysis shows increased risks for Black women, disabled members, LGBT+ workers, and young women, who face higher rates of non disclosure and negative outcomes like absence reviews or performance warnings.
Read the results: UNISON-Womens-Health-Survey-Report-Final.pdf
UNISON parental leave survey
UNISON’s survey reveals several critical challenges faced by working parents, including financial strain, mental health challenges and pressure to return to work earlier than desired, primarily due to financial constraints or lack of support. The findings underscore the urgent need for reform of parental leave and pay entitlements.
Read the results: https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2025/09/Parental-Leave-Survey-Report-2025.pdf
Kinship carers
Kinships carers take on the care of a relative’s child, often at short notice and in traumatic circumstances. Kinship carers, unlike those who foster or adopt children, receive no statutory entitlement to leave or pay, with the consequence that many kinship carers give up work or reduce their hours to enable them to fulfil their caring responsibilities. Kinship is asking the government to introduce paid leave from work for kinships carers.
Sign the petition: #ValueOurLove: kinship carers shut out of paid leave | Kinship
Retired members
Updated handbook
The revised branch retired secretary handbook was launched at this year’s national retired member’s conference. The handbook can be read online or hard copies can be ordered via the UNISON Catalogue
Conference
With 167,000 members, UNISON’s retired members organisation remains one of the union’s most active, proving that trade union values don’t stop at retirement.
Read more about the national retired members conference and Christina McAnea’s article on why age is no barrier to our union
A group of retired members sitting in the conference hall, some holding voting cards in the air
Read the 2025 national retired members conference decisions and ballot booklet
Training
Following successful pilots in July and September 2025, the branch retired training was launched at the national retired members conference in October, and will be rolled out nationally and regionally in 2026.
Black Members
Young Black member award
Nominations now open for the 2026 Young Black Member Award
Do you know a Black member, under 30 who should be nominated for the Young Black Member Award?
We are looking for branches and regions to nominate young Black members who are active in the union, dedicated to race equality and passionate about improving workplaces.
Download Young Black Member Award nomination form
This award was introduced by the National Black Members’ Committee (NBMC) in 2019, UNISON’s Year of Young Members. The award winner will be presented with award and also invited to the National Black Members’ Conference in March
The deadline for submission is Wednesday 14th 5pm January 2026.
The McIntosh fight for Windrush justice
Hetticia and Vanderbilt McIntosh with Christina McAnea and others at UNISON Centre.
Hetticia and Vanderbilt McIntosh are petitioning for legal aid for all Windrush survivors seeking compensation from the government. Read the full article
National Black members conference 2026
A reminder that the 2026 national Black members conference will now be held on 2022 March 2026 in Brighton, and the deadline to register delegates is 12noon 17 December 2026.
For more information on the conference visit the Black conference page.
Young members
Webinar: what does a young members officer do?
10 December 2025: 1:00pm–2:00pm
Have you thought about standing as a young members officer in your branch but you’re not sure what the role involves? Or maybe you’re already a young members officer and want to do more for young members in your branch. Join us to hear from UNISON young members about the realities of being a young members officer.
https://www.unison.org.uk/events/what-does-a-young-members-officer-do-2/
LGBT+ Members
LGBT+ history month
A reminder to plan ahead for LGBT+ History Month held in February each year, which is a chance to end invisibility and celebrate the lives and achievements of the diverse LGBT+ community.