Hi Everyone
The year is flying by! I wanted to give a quick update on some of the amazing outcomes we’ve had in UNISON North West so far.
Pay Fair for Patient Care Campaign
The year began with clinical support workers at the Wirral on strike in their fight for fair pay. I was delighted to see the campaign end with a win. These inspiring campaigners achieved what they set our to – the same deal as their colleagues across the North West.
Over 600 people took action in this campaign. Most of them hadn’t been on strike before. But they came together to stand up for each other and win justice. I’m immensely proud of their courage and resilience.
Before the victory at the Wirral, North West UNISON HCAs had already won over £44,000,000.
That figure will only go higher.
I have confidence that the campaigns in East Lancs, Morecambe Bay, Mersey and West Lancashire and more will be as successful as the rest.
3 New Priorities
Finally, I am delighted to announce 3 new priority projects that I will be leading on this year. I chose these priorities based on issues that have been highlighted by members and activists across the region.
- Campaigning to end violence against women and girls.
This has long been a priority campaign for my branch, and it’s been great to see other branches and members take up this campaign. In the coming months I will prioritise equipping UNISON activists to hold their employers are held to the highest standards. - A renewed focus on health and safety.
I will focus on mental health advocacy and promote the rights of workers who are diagnosed with terminal illness while still in employment. With long-term sickness on the rise, the Tories are once again pointing the finger at those they deem “work shy”. The truth is that mental illness represents a significant barrier to work, particularly for young people. It’s important we make sure our employers recognise this and act accordingly to take care of their workforce. - Supporting and organising migrant workers.
For too long migrant workers have been exploited, particularly in social care. I am engaging with branches and members to promote UNISON Migrant Workers’ Network. This project aims to empower migrant workers to get organised in their union to advocate for the interests of them and their families.
National Delegate Conference – 18-21 June
I’m looking forward to seeing many of you in Brighton at our National Delegate Conference. It’s always such a pleasure to represent our region on the national stage, it’s a region to be rightly proud of.
Yours,
Joanne