NDC Blog: Welcome to Brighton!

Delegates descend for UNISON’s 27th National Delegate Conference.

The sun is shining on Brighton seafront and the Brighton Centre plays host to UNISON’s 27th national delegate conference for the next four days.

This morning delegates held a minute’s silence for those lost in the Grenfell Tower fire five years ago today and one-minute silence for friends, family and colleagues lost to Covid-19. A moment of reflection that felt poignant in the conference hall.

As business kicked off the finance report informed conference that the union will back strike action across the union campaigning against cuts to pay amid a cost of living crisis. This statement was timely for members in our region as St Monica Trust staff have just voted in favour of strike action against cuts to their pay, hours and sick pay.

UNISON will celebrate it’s 30th birthday in 2023 and, with Motion 15 ‘UNISON at 30’, conference voted to increase the participation of women in the union and to ensure that it’s proportionate to our membership. As the largest organisation for women in the United Kingdom, conference was vocal in support of this motion. We look forward to preparing the celebrations for next year!

Later this evening, delegates who affiliate to Labour are invited to a rally with deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner at 5:15pm in the Restaurant.