Dear comrades,
We hope you’re all enjoying the sunshine! We’re back with our April newsletter.
We’re going to try to send our newsletters shortly after our monthly members’ meetings so we can update you with other goings on alongside the meeting recording and minutes.
Most information will also be links to our website to avoid bombarding you with long emails.
Stewarding information session
Alex K, our chair, will be running a stewarding information session on Thursday 17th April from 12:30 to 1:30 pm in the UNISON office (1D Priory Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1TX) and via Teams.
Come along to learn more about becoming a trained steward – someone who has been officially elected to represent UNISON members within a particular workplace. Stewards support members during grievance or disciplinary procedures and advise them on their rights and how to tackle the problem.
National Delegate Conference motion prioritisation meeting
National Delegate Conference in June is the primary decision making body of Unison annually, with branches across the country submitting 87 motions on the preliminary agenda to be discussed, debated and voted upon as potential policy for the union. With so many motions however, there will not be time for all of them. As such the agenda will have to be prioritised. All branches have a chance to set their preference for 12 motions to make the final agenda, and to submit amendments to any motions.
Any interested members are welcome to join our discussion about how our branch will set our prioritisation at a virtual meeting (tomorrow) Wednesday 16th April from 12.30-1pm via Teams.
Branch sec office hours
Vicky is away over Easter; her usual drop-in hours at the UNISON 1D Priory Road office (Wednesdays 1-5pm) will resume on 23 April.
NEC elections reminder
Voting will open for the upcoming UNISON NEC (National Executive Council) elections on 21 April. The NEC runs our union and determines the kind of union we are and can become, so it’s important to vote. Please see this post for more information: NEC Elections 2025: branch nominations – University of Bristol UNISON
UCU petition – Save our staff at UoB’s CALD
The University’s CALD (Centre for Academic Language and Development) has been hit by redundancy proposals. Please show your support by signing their petition against staff cuts here: Save our staff at University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Language and Development (CALD) – UCU petitions
Motion passed: Austerity Demo resolution
At our last executive committee meeting, the ‘Austerity Demo resolution’ motion was passed, for action against Starmer’s Austerity 2.0.
See here for the full motion: Motion passed: Austerity Demo resolution – University of Bristol UNISON
Some of the exec will be travelling to London on the 7th June for the march with our banner – message us if you’re keen to join!
Unison disabled LGBT+ members network meeting
The disabled LGBT+ members network meeting will be a hybrid meeting, held in the UNISON West Midlands, 23 Livery Street, Birmingham, B3 2PA and on Teams on Friday 11 July 2025 from 2pm to 4.30pm. Travelling expenses will be paid for anyone attending the meeting in person.
The meeting will include a guest speaker, some training and an update on the work that your representatives on the national LGBT+ committee have done over the last year.
This network meeting provides an excellent opportunity to meet other disabled LGBT+ members and discuss the issues faced in the workplace and ways we can work together to overcome these.
Please note that you must register in advance to attend. Please either complete and return the attached registration form to arrive no later than Friday 13 June 2025. Or register online using this link.
Bristol Walk Fest
(From Kaye and Lucie, our environmental officers)
This year’s Bristol Walk Fest starts on 1st May. The festival showcases a wide variety of walking related events and activities, personal challenges and self-guided walking routes. For example, a Nature Poetry Trail through Eastville Park on 9th May.
Very best wishes,
The comms team (Mia & Alex T)