✊ UNISON’s general secretary for the next five years will be decided by its members.
The ballot will run from 28 Oct-25 Nov. This vote will be via post, which will include the candidate manifestos.
At our most recent branch committee meeting, we voted unanimously to back Andrea Egan for General Secretary as she:
- Has shown real commitment to Higher Education for fair funding and pay, with a clear plan to end the stagnation of the last 15 years, and a plan to increase our strike pay.
- Opposes UNISON’s subservience to Starmer’s Labour. UNISON members will come first, not the Labour Party.
- Will take the wage of a social worker, not the £181,000 package our current General Secretary receives.
- Will free up and resource branches so we can better support you, giving you access to legal advice when needed.
📅 On Monday 22nd Sept, our branch committee will attend a regional nomination meeting
UNISON South West’s nomination will appear in the candidate’s manifesto pack, giving them more support 📑
We have the opportunity to ask each candidate (Christina McAnea, Andrea Egan) a question. We will be asking:
“For almost 2 years, we’ve watched in horror as Israel commit their genocidal onslaught in Gaza. Yet mentions of it being a genocide have been quite sparce in Unison’s communications to the public and members.
The UN has confirmed what we’ve been saying for a long time, that Israel are committing a genocide. Can you as a candidate say “UNISON stands unequivocally against Israel’s Genocide in Gaza”.
Can you as candidates commit to publishing an article outlining what your leadership as General Secretary of UNISON will do if the UK Labour government does not adopt the demands in the National delegate conference Composite H: Palestine or the TUC’s congress’ urgent calls e.g. to 1) Ban imported illegal settlement goods. 2)End to all licenses for arms traded with Israel inline with international law. 3) Sanction individuals promoting and committing war crimes, such as President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (as outlined in the UN’s report)?
How will you as candidates and potential General Secretary’s hold Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper to account over this desperate situation?”