Two new senior appointments at UNISON

Public services union UNISON has today (Thursday) announced two new appointments to its senior management team.

Margaret Thomas and Emilie Oldknow are to become assistant general secretaries, alongside the existing team of Christina McAnea, Liz Snape and Roger McKenzie, and general secretary Dave Prentis.

Margaret’s role has responsibility for UNISON’s 12 regions, and Emilie’s remit covers staffing and other internal union matters.

Margaret is currently the union’s Wales regional secretary, who began her journey as a UNISON member of staff 20 years ago in Yorkshire and Humberside as a trainee regional organiser. Before that she worked for Merseyside County Council and the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive and Authority.

Emilie Oldknow joins UNISON from the Labour Party, where she was executive director for governance, membership and party services. She first started working for the Party 15 years ago, joining as a trainee organiser, before becoming a regional organiser, and then regional director. Prior to the Labour Party, Emilie worked for the NHS.

UNISON assistant general secretary Margaret Thomas said: “I’m proud and privileged to be joining the senior management team at UNISON, and am looking forward to playing a key role working on behalf of members, staff and our public services in all parts of the UK.”

UNISON assistant general secretary Emilie Oldknow said: “I’m delighted to be joining such a well-respected and successful organisation as UNISON, with its proud record of standing up for members and protecting the nation’s vital public services. I’m keen to work with the fantastic staff and members to do everything within our power to ensure fair pay for public service workers and proper investment in public services.”

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “I’m delighted to have people of the calibre of Emilie and Margaret joining UNISON’s top team. As Britain’s biggest and best union – with more than a million women in its membership – it’s a real boost to have such excellent assistant general secretaries leading our work to make UNISON even better for our 1.3 million members across the UK’s public services as we celebrate our 25th year.”