NDC leaflet 2025 - accessible text-only version
Text as follows:
Time For Real Change achieved more in four years than we have seen in UNISON before. Lay members took up the challenge of genuine leadership, rather than subservience to officers, and: increased strike pay; embedded Organising to Win; grew our membership in every consecutive year; ensured UNISON had a presence on all Palestine demos; created a £1 million Energy Support Fund, plus much more. We did meet resistance however and failed to make progress on improving UNISON legal services and its servicing-focused communications. Progress has been interrupted, but we know UNISON can be much bolder and better than it is, so will be working as hard as ever to return Andrea Egan for General Secretary!
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Time For Real Change Rally
Tuesday 17th 7.30pm, Adelphi Hotel, Banqueting Hall Ranelagh St, Liverpool L3 5UL, Social with DJ afterwards.
Speakers:
Andrea Egan
NEC Local Govt Rep & Candidate for General Secretary
Steve North
UNISON member
Julia Mwaluke
UNISON Vice-President
Jenny Black
NEC Local Govt Rep
All welcome
UNISON is crying out for real change. We are rank and file UNISON activists determined to make our union democratic, transparent and successful - a fighting union that delivers for its members: https://TFRC-NDC-Rally.eventbrite.co.uk
We need a UNISON willing to fight Starmer’s cuts
The Starmer Government is implementing an unprecedented attack on the welfare state. The fact that they are able to do this demonstrates that UNISON’s political strategy does not currently serve UNISON members. The General Secretary and her allies have repeatedly used UNISON’s vote to enable Starmer’s allies to pursue a reactionary agenda, while handing over millions of pounds of our members’ money to Labour, securing only minimal concessions.
It’s not enough for our union to say that the cuts are bad. We should be talking about withdrawing money from supporting a Party and MPs who are not acting in the interests of our members or our democratically agreed policy.
Combatting Reform
UNISON and the Labour Government did not take the threat of Reform seriously and our members are now under threat from proposed attacks on pensions, equalities, working arrangements, and pay and services.
It is not enough to encourage workers who are affected to join UNISON and hope that Reform fail on their own. It is time to act and the whole union must produce a member-led plan to respond to the challenge that Reform now poses.
UNISON must commit to supporting those branches and members threatened by Reform and take a lead in local councils and communities, exposing the division and hatred this rancid party seeks to spread. Reform must not isolate our branches.
When Reform threaten our Equalities work, homeworking, pensions or facilities time, we need a leadership and General Secretary that will act.
Key Issues at NDC
For full information on what motions Time For Real Change recommends supporting, go to: https://timeforrealchange.uk/latest/motions-at-ndc-2025
REINSTATE STEVE NORTH
The removal of Steve North from his elected roles of UNISON President and Chair of the NEC Staffing Committee was a politically-motivated effort to influence the NEC elections and the General Secretary election later this year.
The decision stemmed from a complaint made almost two years ago relating to how Steve carried out his role as Chair of Staffing. In the interim period the Union had not suspended Steve or placed any restrictions on his activities of any kind. The sanction came during the first week of the NEC elections and only weeks in advance of UNISON’s National Delegate Conference.
Steve has proven to be a popular and principled President and a diligent Chair of Staffing, who has stood up for UNISON members and been willing to challenge unelected officers on behalf of members.
For too long UNISON’s senior paid officer leadership – its General Secretariat led by Christina McAnea – has dealt with disagreements over how our union should be run through politically-motivated disciplinary action against elected lay members. There has been ample evidence of this in the last two NEC terms since 2021 when Time For Real Change first achieved a majority.
Steve remains a member of UNISON and has made it clear he intends to challenge the decision against him. We send our solidarity to Steve, his family and his branch in Salford. UNISON needs real change and we are determined to deliver that change this year in the General Secretary election.
The attacks on Steve demonstrate how much UNISON needs to change. Time For Real Change are rank and file UNISON activists determined to make our union democratic, transparent and successful - a fighting union that delivers for its members. To find out more, come along to the
Time For Real Change Rally on Tuesday 17th at 7.30pm at the Adelphi Hotel, Ranelagh St, Liverpool L3 5UL.
STOP PRESS
In a shocking development, Julia Mwaluke has been removed from the Presidential Team by UNISON Officers, and is the second of the Presidential Team of three to be removed. Come to our Rally on Tuesday at 7.30pm to find out more. Solidarity to Julia and Steve!
Andrea Egan
If elected General Secretary of UNISON, Andrea Egan will:
Take the wage of a social worker and give the rest of the £181k GS salary to strike & welfare funds.
Oppose welfare cuts and all attacks on living standards, ending our subservience to the Labour Government.
Undertake a comprehensive review of our union machinery, to ensure we effectively implement the decisions and policies decided by members.
Ensure our trade union organising strategy is embedded in all Branches, Regions and Service Groups and fully resourced.
Defend trans rights, migrants’ rights and the rights of all other discriminated groups in the face of attacks from Reform and the Labour Government.
Nominations for UNISON’s General Secretary open later this summer
Andrea will be speaking at the Time For Real Change Rally Tuesday 17th – 7.30pm Adelphi Hotel, Ranelagh St, Liverpool L3 5UL
Web: andrea4gs.org.uk
Facebook: Andrea4GS