Worcester
Branch Newsletter May 2023
- Are you retiring or recently retired?
Did you know you can become a lifetime retired member of UNISON for a one-off fee of £15? You will keep all the non-work-related benefits (free legal advice on non-work-related issues for you and your family, free wills, insurance discounts, etc). We also have a retired membership section at the branch which organises interesting trips and talks. Membership of the section is optional but I can really recommend the talks. I recently attended one about Australian female convicts transported to Australia from Worcester in the 18th Century. Absolutely fascinating!
- Are you a Teaching Assistant?
Are the other TAs in your school members of UNISON? You could have an important role in signposting them to http://JoinUnison.org.uk and sharing with them the benefits of joining (and the risks of not joining!). Did you know that 95% of teachers and head teachers are in a union? Schools are struggling financially, and may be thinking that TAs are a soft target. The more members we have, the stronger we are.
- Are receiving relevant communications from us?
With the NJC Pay Ballot about to be launched, and news and changes across all sectors, there has never been a more important time to update your details. Ballots will be sent to home addresses, so it is important that we have the right address. But selection for receiving the ballot depends on your workplace, employer and job being correct too! It is also very important that we can contact you by email or mobile with news and reminders about the ballot and other relevant issues. Updating your details online is quick and easy. If you’ve never done it before, you will need to register first, at MyUNISON . If you are unable to update your details online, please contact the branch and we will be happy to help.
- International Workers Memorial Day
The Branch marked International Workers Memorial Day last Friday with comrades from Worcestershire TUC, outside The Hive in Worcester. Sadly, the Fire Brigades Union were unable to attend this year as their Branch Secretary was poorly (not work related). It was an extra poignant occasion this year as we were thinking about Sean Morland, who passed away over the Easter Holidays, and whose funeral took place later that day. Sean was an excellent Steward for Fort Royal School, and a great friend to the Branch.
- May Day in Worcester (International Workers Day) 29th April
The Branch Secretary, Branch Organiser and Office Manager (Jane, Ida and Sue) ran a stall at the event in Cornmarket in the city. It went very well and there was a good turnout. Some excellent speeches, including Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and musical entertainment including excellent samba band. Membership forms were taken by a couple of people keen on joining. Jane and Sue danced around the streets with the samba band but luckily there are no videos!
- In Memoriam
Sadly, the branch lost three people in the last few months.
Sean Morland, workplace steward at Fort Royal School, passed away unexpectedly over the easter half term. He was an active steward and great friend to the branch. He is missed by the branch and the members he supported so well.
Francesca Fairhurst, workplace steward at University of Worcester, passed away in December. She was a very long serving and active steward and will be greatly missed by a lot of people.
Laurie Gregory, one of our long serving branch auditors, sadly passed away in January. He’ll be greatly missed by the branch and his fellow auditor Paul Griffith.
- The future of the Branch – We need you!
We have a number of branch officer vacancies at the moment, and two very important roles which will become vacant in a matter of weeks.
Our Branch Secretary, Jane Evans, is retiring in July. This is a vital role for the Branch and requires a range of skills and knowledge, but there is training available. This role is not actually employed by the branch, they are seconded full time from their employer, and elected by branch members. This means that anyone taking on the role will retain their current salary, terms and conditions, while leading the Branch full time. Our Branch Treasurer Odette Fielding is also retiring this summer, but we are going to hold on to her a little longer. This is not a full-time role but facility time is given. This is also a crucial role, so it would be good to recruit an Assistant Treasurer to work alongside Odette and take over when she does stand down. Our current vacancies include Health & Safety Officer, Equalities Officer, Women’s Officer, and Young Members Officer. If you are interested in any of these roles, and would like further information or a chat, please contact the branch at enquiries@unisonworcestershire.co.uk or call on 01905 26186. There is also a more detailed description of branch officer roles at: https://www.unison.org.uk/about/our-organisation/activists/branch-roles/