Activist and broadcaster Munroe Bergdorf opened Tuesday’s afternoon session with a moving address on LGBT+ rights, emphasising unity with the message that “none of us are free until we’re all free.” This set the tone for the rest of the conference, which saw the passing of motions on fighting exploitation of migrant workers, cementing the legacy of 2023’s Year of the Black Worker, taking action on domestic abuse service provision, and much more.
On Wednesday, General Secretary Christina McAnea celebrated UNISON’s achievements over the last year, including a High Court victory related to the Windrush scandal and a significant membership increase of 100,000 new members since the start of 2024. She emphasized UNISON’s role in advocating for a National Care Service, now part of the Labour Party manifesto, and called for an end to Tory rule and a Labour government which UNISON can work in partnership with.
Another significant speech was delivered by Dr. Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, who detailed the devastating impact of the Gaza conflict and the hope found in global solidarity. Following his speech, a motion supporting an immediate ceasefire, the recognition of the state of Palestine, and condemning all forms of discrimination was passed. UNISON’s commitment to international solidarity was on display throughout the week, with guests from Colombia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Cuba and Sri Lanka.
While we must acknowledge that serious concerns were raised by some sections of our union about derogatory remarks made by a small number of speakers, we witnessed excellent examples of comradely behaviour from members of our region. In particular, we were proud to see deputy regional convenor Claire Stanhope comfort a delegate at the rostrum during a highly emotional debate on access to domestic abuse services. We were also pleased to see a number of first-time speakers from branches in the region participate in debates on issues including the impact of workplace stress.
Friday morning’s proceedings ended with the region’s motion on Zane’s Law moved by regional delegate Mark Chiverton, which was passed by conference unanimously.
This brought to a close a successful week in Brighton. If you were there, we hope you found it rewarding and had an opportunity to spend time with comrades old and new; if you didn’t attend this year, we hope to see you next year in Liverpool.
Regional newssheets archive
Throughout NDC, the South East region produces a daily bulletin to keep delegates informed about conference proceedings. You can access the region’s newssheets from NDC 2024 below.
