GETTING MORE BLACK TRADE UNION ACTIVISTS IN SENIOR ROLES

The TUC has launched a new mentoring scheme to provide a way for experienced Black Trade Union Activists to support new and less experienced activists to develop and enhance their knowledge of the trade union movement. The Black Activists Mentoring Scheme will be operated through an online portal on the TUC Education web site.

The Black Activists mentoring scheme is an initiative that the Race Relations Committee believes will play an important role in giving confidence and encouraging black activists become more proactive in equipping themselves to play a bigger role in the trade union movement. If you know activists who might benefit from the scheme please encourage them to apply.

2016 UNISON NATIONAL BLACK MEMBERS’ CONFERENCE

The 2016 UNISON National Black Members’ Conference bulletin is now available on the UNISON Conference website. The conference is now open for registration on the Online Conference System (OCS).

The conference will be held at the Venue Cymru, Lladudno, Wales from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 January. If you are interested in attending, now is the time to speak to your branch about registering you as a delegate to the conference.

Nelson Mandela Award

UNISON 2015 Black members’ conference resolved to establish a Nelson Mandela award that embodies his attributes and becomes an annual feature of the conference.

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Y&H REGIONAL DISABLED MEMBERS TRAINING COURSE

Y&H Regional Disabled Members Training – Disability And Austerity – Exploring the Challenges of Welfare Reform

12th July 2014 10am to 4.30pm

Venue: UNISON (Regional office), Commerce House, Wade Lane, LEEDS LS2 8NJ

The training will aim to cover the impact of austerity measures and welfare reforms on disabled members and how other disabled and non disabled members can be engaged through publicity and campaigning.

  •   Austerity and Welfare Reform – The story so far…
  •  Impact of Welfare Reform
  •  Debunking the Myths – the correlation between austerity measures and hate crime
  •  Fighting Back – UNISON Campaigns
  •  Doing the UNISON Talk

If any members wish to attend, please complete this application form and send it to unisonadministrator@shu.ac.uk.   Attendees do not need to a member of the Regional Disabled Members SOG, but should identify themselves as disabled.

Lunch will be provided. Please indicate if you have any Dietary requirements.  If a Crèche place is required, please book this in advance with Jo Turnbull.   Travel expenses will be covered by the branch.

Deadline to register to attend the training is Friday 4th July 2014.

UNISON LGBT CONFERENCE

UNISON’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Conference 2014 will be held at

the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool, from 1.30pm Friday 21 November to 1.20pm Sunday 23

November 2014. This conference is organised under UNISON’s rules on

selforganisation.  All delegates and visitors to LGBT Conference must themselves be

lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender UNISON members.

 The closing dates form delegates is Friday 26 September 2014  read more

If you wish to attend please email unisonadministrator@shu.ac.uk

 

 

 

National Self-Organised Group Conferences

Self-organisation is an essential part of UNISON’s work; it is one of the key ways in which we promote equality. Self-organisation brings together members from certain under-represented groups – women members, black members, disabled members and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. These groups help the union identify and challenge discrimination and build equality.

Each Self-Organised Group (SOG) has a national conference every year to bring together members from across the country. Any member of one of our branch’s SOGs is entitled to go to the relevant National Conference and it’s very easy to become a member of a SOG: you just need to express an interest!

The following SOG National Conferences are coming up and it would be great to send delegates from our branch to each.

Disabled Members’ 2013, Sat 26 – Mon 28 October, Manchester Central – link http://www.unison.org.uk/conference/disabled.asp

LGBT 2013, Fri 22 – Sun 24 November, BT Centre, Liverpool – link http://www.unison.org.uk/conference/out2008.asp

Transport and accommodation are paid for by UNISON and delegates are also given a subsistence grant to cover food costs.

If you would be interested in attending either conference or would just like some additional information please feel free to get in touch with me at r.sadler@shu.ac.uk

A message from One Sheffield Many Cultures and Sheffield Unite Against Fascism

Please support the statement below.

Don’t let the racists divide us – Unite to peacefully celebrate and defend One
Sheffield Many Cultures

Oppose attempts by the racist and fascist English Defence League to
exploit the tragic death of soldier Lee Rigby to whip up racism

Join the rally on Saturday 8 June.

Please email your support for the campaign statement to
info@onesheffieldmanycultures.org.uk or info@sheffielduaf.org.uk and
spread the word about the rally on Saturday 8 June called by One
Sheffield Many Cultures and Sheffield Unite Against Fascism.

Campaign statement

We urge people from all walks of life in Sheffield to unite in
celebration and defence of One Sheffield Many Cultures on Saturday,
8th June from 12 noon in Barkers Pool.

We strongly oppose plans by the English Defence League (EDL) and their
national leadership to demonstrate in Sheffield on Saturday 8th June.

We condemn the brutal murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich last
week. There can be no justification for such a terrible attack on an
individual. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and
friends.

We also oppose the cynical attempts by the EDL and others to exploit
the murder to whip up racism and direct hatred against all Muslims in
defiance of the wishes of Lee Rigby’s family and regiment.

The EDL is a racist group dedicated to attacking Asian people and
Muslims. Islamophobia – bigotry against Muslims is as unacceptable as
any other form of racism.

The EDL’s aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community,
just as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s.

Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jewish people,
Hindus, Sikhs, black people, lesbians and gay men, Travellers or
Eastern Europeans. There is no place for the fascist EDL in our
multicultural and multi-faith city.