Keir Starmer joined from Heathrow where he was supporting Unite members, on strike against plans to fire and rehire them on worse conditions.  He stressed the importance of the May elections.  With Scotland, Wales, London, councils, mayors, police and crime commissioners, and all the 2020 contests rolled in, this was the biggest test outside a […]

The chair Vince Maple reported on a positive meeting with general secretary David Evans, where he raised the need for more resources in the south-east.  A partywide review of staffing was under way, though David acknowledged the importance of replacing our communications officer.  Deficiencies in digital systems were being addressed. There was more to do […]

Disputes Panel This was the first meeting of the NEC cycle and Shabana Mahmood was elected as chair, with 18 votes to 11 for Yasmine Dar.  Yasmine was thanked for all her work during an exceptionally busy time.  Shabana is the fifth person to chair the panel in the last three years. We then heard […]

NEC Women’s Sub-Committee / Equalities Committee, 14 January 2021 Returning after a strange and subdued winter break, these were the first NEC meetings of the New Year.  The women’s sub-committee congratulated Christina McAnea on her election as general secretary of UNISON, the first woman to hold the position. The committee moved on to discuss arrangements […]