Bolton Branch
AGENDA AND ANNUAL REPORT
Annual General Meeting 2025 with Guest Speaker David Jones
Lancaster Suite, Bolton Town Hall Wednesday 12th March 12.30pm
Bolton Local Government Branch 06450
Second Floor, Bolton CVS Building, Bold Street, Bolton. BL1 1LS
Tel: 01204 338901/2Email: admin@unisonbolton org Website: www unisonbolton org
Membership Total: 5507
Retired/Life: 700 Full: 4798 Unemployed: 9
Number of Stewards: 62 (47 accredited; 15 awaiting)
Number of Employers: 298
Including: Bolton Council, Bolton at Home, Bolton Cares, Bolton Community and Sixth Form Colleges, Bolton University, Bolton Community Leisure Trust (Serco), Birtenshaw, Lifeways, Creative Support, Academies and Multi- Academy Trusts
Number of Workplaces: 496
Branch Employed Staff: Vicki Berriman (Admin Officer)
Tracy Close (Office Domestic)
Tracy Jones (Admin Officer)
Ryan Quick (CVS Caseworker)
Sarah Trendall (Office Manager)
Regional Organiser: Vic Walsh
Political Affiliations: Labour Link
The Branch is affiliated to:
Bolton North East Labour Party
Bolton West Labour Party
Bolton South East Labour Party
Bolton Trades Council
Manchester Trades Council (for full 2024 affiliations please see Item 6 3)
Remembrance of Branch members who have died since AGM 2024
NAME WORKPLACE (if deceased in service)
Cowell, Anthony Employed Bolton Council - Wellington Yard
Derbyshire, Edna Retired
Goodwin, Katherine F Employed Canon Slade School
Harper, Emma Victoria Employed Bolton College
Hill, Edward Retired
Howarth, Emma Employed Bolton at Home - Valley House
Hulme, Alan Retired
Hunt, Dennis Retired
Isherwood, Gordon Retired
Markland, Julie Employed Walmsley CE School
Moss Mary Employed Bolton Council - Horwich Public Hall
Mugal, Khatija Employed Ladybridge CP School Bolton
Norris, Alan Employed Bolton Council - Bolton Town Hall
Sims, Audrey Retired
Solanki, Yasmita Employed Advinia Healthcare - Mill View Care Home
Swift, Julie Employed The Orchards - Cherry Tree School
Tamlit, Shell Employed Compass Fostering North
Taylor, Kathryn Employed Advinia Healthcare - Mill View Care Home
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY 13TH MARCH 2024
LANCASTER SUITE, ALBERT HALLS, BOLTON
Present: Phil Chanin (Chair); Andrea Egan (Branch Secretary; John Lewis (Regional Organiser); Christine Collins (Assistant Branch Secretary); Bernie Gallagher (Guest Speaker); Sarah Trendall (BES: Minutes) and 102 Stewards and Members
Hard copies of the full Committee papers were distributed at the meeting (and previously made available online)
Welcome and Introduction by the Chair
The Chair opened the meeting at 12.30pm and introduced the top table and advised the meeting that papers had been handed out in the UNISON bags provided
1. Remembrance of deceased members since AGM 2023
The names of Members who had died in the last 12 months was read out and a one minute silence was held in their memory.
2. Minutes from AGM 2023
Agreed for accuracy. No matters arising
3. Speaker: Bernie Gallagher
Bernie spoke about tenacity, passion and commitment. She said that fear has been used in every dispute by employers but that fear can be overcome through solidarity. “We are stronger together, not divided!” Be prepared to say no; this can be very empowering especially when done collectively.
She mentioned a list of people and groups who had spoken up or who had been victims of cover ups but have carried on and fought for justice. Maggie Oliver (Rochdale grooming gangs), Eileen Turnbull (Shrewsbury 24), Windrush (deportation), Fujitsu (Post Office), the infected blood scandal, Grenfell and Hillsborough We should be inspired by them
4. Motions
4.1 The role of the union in a General Election year
We are living in a broken society; the Tories have presided over 13 years of devastating cuts across every part of society leaving Britain Broken. What can we do? What do we need?
We know what we can’t take: another 5 years of Tory misery.
The period 1997 to 2010 saw the most dramatic improvements in our public services, with the largest ever peacetime investment in them’
Total spending increased by £326 billion in real terms over this period.
No other 13-year period since the Second World War saw such large increases in spending in any of these areas
Between 1997 and 2009 the average wait for hospital inpatient care fell from just over 13 weeks to four weeks We saw 44,000 new doctors in the NHS and 80,000 more nurses.
Adequate funding for local government is crucial for the provision of essential public services, job creation, and social welfare
It has and can be done; we must vote to ensure we demand change!
The availability of affordable housing is a pressing issue affecting many workers and their families, and it is imperative to address this crisis through progressive policies.
We the trade union movement have the collective power to campaign for decent jobs and decent services and we the trade union movement should do everything in our power to get rid of these corrupt ruthless Tories, and then redouble that effort to hold a future Labour government to account
Bolton branch resolves to:
1. Encourage all members and their families to register to vote, to make all our voices heard
2. Encourage members to become UNISON Labour Link members to ensure we have a strong voice advocating for workers’ rights and well-resourced public services.
Proposer: Christine Collins proposed
Seconder: Leanne Greenwood
Carried with 2 abstentions
4.2 Branch Rule Book Amendments
Background:
Bolton Branch Rules have been amended over the years through rule amendments brought to Bolton Branch AGM However, having evaluated the whole of the branch rule book, Branch Committee are recommending to do a complete over-haul. The amendments are not controversial and are deemed to be tidying up to bring the whole of the rule book in line with the National Rule Book
Amend:
3. b) To achieve the aims and targets set annually through the branch assessment.
The branch assessment has been replaced by the National Organising Framework.
Change to:
To achieve the aims and targets set annually through the Organising Framework.
Replace:
Rule 4 Membership with a new Rule 4 as we have not had a discrimination statement in any previous version of the rule book.
Adding:
4 ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POSITON
The Branch shall seek to ensure that discriminatory acts are not committed against any persons by the branch, it’s members or officers, on grounds such as race, gender, sexuality, gender identity, disability, age or creed.
Re-number as we continue to add:
5. BECOMING A MEMBER
Every person wishing to become a member of the Branch shall complete and sign a membership application form and return it to the Branch Office or the appropriate Regional or National office as may from time to time be determined. Alternatively, prospective members may join on line via the UNISON website www unison org uk An application for membership takes effect from the date upon which a completed form is received by the branch, region or national office.
If the branch declines to accept an application the procedures as laid down in the National Rules will be followed Such a decision will be explained to the individual in writing together with details of appeal rights
All Members shall observe the Rules of the Union and shall be afforded such rights and benefits from membership as prescribed in National Rules.
The NEC may terminate an individual’s membership in accordance with the National Rules
6 SUBSCRIPTIONS
It is the obligation of the member to ensure that their subscriptions are paid to the branch/union on the date on which it is due. Payment will usually be by docas (check-off) arrangements made through the employer or by direct debit. Members will be notified of the appropriate subscription on joining and of any changes prescribed by the National Delegates Conference
7 ARREARS OF SUBSCRIPTIONS
In accordance with National Rules, any person owing more than three months’ subscriptions shall cease to be a member of the of the branch unless the National Executive Council or Branch Committee decides otherwise.
8. CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
Disciplinary action may be taken by the branch against any member who does not follow the rules of the union.
Renumber:
what used to be rule 5, to rule 9
Amend:
Rule 10 Remove Campaigns Officer, add Assistant Treasurer and amend Environmental Officer to Environmental/Green Officer, to reflect the work of officers in the branch.
10 BRANCH OFFICERS / CONVENORS
The Branch shall elect the following Branch Officers annually in accordance with rule 10c:
Branch Chairperson
Branch Secretary
Treasurer
Vice Branch Chairperson
Assistant Branch Secretary
Assistant Treasurer
Membership Officer
Health and Safety Officer
Education Secretary
Lifelong Learning Officer
Communications Officer
Welfare Officer
Equalities Coordinator(s)
Women’s Officer
Young Members’ Officer
International Officer
Sports and Social Officer
Environmental / Green Officer
Labour Link Officer (elected by members who pay the APF levy only)
Retired Members’ Secretary (elected by the retired members)
Continue to renumber the remaining rules to reflect the additional wording.
IK – Point 4 change creed to religion
JMc- Point 4 change sexuality to sexual orientation
Amendments agreed
Motion carried with amendments
5. Ratification of Branch Stewards and Officers
Agreed
6. Finance
6.1 Treasurer’s Report
JP – happy answer any member queries about the Branch finances
6.2 Branch Income and Expenditure 2023
6.3 Donations and Affiliations 2023
6.4 Auditors Declaration for 2023 Accounts
The Finance reports were accepted
7. Annual Reports
No questions
All reports accepted
8. Branch Organising Framework & Action Plan
AE: confident we can achieve our goals and targets for 2024, based on all we have achieved in 2023
9. Presentation of the “Graham Walmsley” Award to Steward of the Year
Awarded to Andrew Thomas.
Other gifts:
Thank you to Tony Cowell – years of service as a steward, now stepping down ahead of his flexible retirement.
Thank you to Regional Organiser John Lewis – recognition of organising work, he is retiring later this year so this will be his last Bolton Branch AGM.
10. Raffle
Winners
Alex Kaicalo
Tiffany Sellers
Rhiannon Whitehead
Amanda Beard
Rachel Penketh
Annette Hall
Alison Leach
Sean Warren
Craig Brayshaw
Christine Collins
The Chair closed the meeting at 1.30pm
Guest speaker - David Jones
David has been the Wirral UNISON Branch Secretary since 2018. In that time he has overseen a revitalised branch that has developed new activists based on an organising approach that delivers results for members, including:
• The Real Living Wage for Care Workers
• A Homeworking Allowance
• Significantly enhanced Maternity, Menopause and Pregnancy Loss Policies
• Previously outsourced Day Services, returned to the Council
• Since 2018 no UNISON member in Schools or Council has been made compulsory redundant
He was elected to the UNISON NEC for the first time in 2023, in a Local Government Seat, and is currently standing for re-election.
Welcome, Dave!
MOTION: Strengthening member power through organising
Bolton Branch believes that our strength lies in the collective power of our members. To effectively defend and advance the interests of all workers, we must prioritise organising in workplaces and communities to build a stronger, more active, and united membership base.
Bolton Branch is compromised of membership across Bolton Council, Bolton at Home, Bolton Cares, Schools, Colleges, Bolton University, Serco, Housing, Social Care and Private Care. Trade unions strengthen member power by organising and mobilising their collective efforts through various activities These efforts aim to increase solidarity, improve working conditions, and ensure that members’ voices are heard Here are some key ways the Branch can build power through organising:
1 Become an Active Member: If you are not ready to become a steward in your workplace UNISON has created an active member role UNISON is only as strong as its membership
2. Workplace Organising: Members can get involved in their workplace to address common issues. This could include holding meetings or running campaigns to tackle problems such as poor working conditions, unfair wages, or unsafe environments.
3. Collective Bargaining: Strengthening member power means negotiating as a collective. Through collective bargaining, as members we can secure better wages, benefits, and protections for our membership, ensuring that individual workers have more leverage than they would have on their own
4. Rank-and-File Involvement: seeing active participation from ‘our work place members’ is a critical strategy By being part of the decision-making, we continue to ensure the branch leadership is accountable to the branch membership, this leads to members feeling directly invested in the union’s goals.
5. Training and Education: Offering education to members can empower our members to become more involved in the collective. Training in leadership, organising, and advocacy develops stewards to take an active role in strengthening our branch. Member learning opportunities
6. Solidarity Networks: Building solidarity campaigns with other trade unions builds power but can strengthen the resistance. This can include joint actions, rallies, or support for causes that benefit workers more broadly, helping to build a broader sense of unity and power.
7. Community Outreach: Engaging within our community outside of the workplace can amplify our branch power. For example, organising public campaigns, speaking out on social issues, and building alliances with other community groups can create pressure on employers and political figures
By organising and empowering members in these ways, the branch can increase our collective strength of members, making it more difficult for our employers to ignore our demands which can lead to greater success in achieving workers’ rights and interests.
Bolton Branch notes:
1 Declining membership in key sectors undermines our ability to negotiate better pay, conditions, and rights.
2. The success of UNISON’s Organising to Win strategy by prioritising grassroots organising is building power from the ground up.
3. The increasing challenges we face posed by public sector investment, outsourcing, and antiunion legislation
Bolton Branch resolves:
1 To invest resources in recruiting and training a new generation of workplace organisers who can build active networks in every workplace, including those with low union density or insecure employment.
2. To run regular campaigns aimed at recruiting new members, particularly in under-represented sectors, and to provide good quality training for members to confidently organise their colleagues.
3. To increase the support available for local stewards and members taking industrial action, recognising that workplace disputes build solidarity and inspire others to organise
Ratification of Elected Stewards 2025-2026
Adults Services (Bolton Council)
Gleason Bradburn Steward
Phil Chanin Convenor
Karen Dalley Steward
Leanne Greenwood Deputy Convenor
Liam McLoughlin Steward
Ben Moore Steward
Tracey Rigby Deputy Convenor
Anne Walmsley Steward
Chief Execs and Place (Bolton Council)
Susan Bennett Steward
Shelley Duncan Deputy Convenor
Tracy Lord Senior Steward
James Merrick Steward
John Pye Convenor
Liz Whitworth Senior Steward
Children's Services (Bolton Council)
Lauren Alergant Convenor
Julie Cooney Steward
Lee Hawksworth Steward
Jane Howarth Senior Steward
Wendy Little Steward
Andrew Thomas Deputy Convenor
Bolton at Home
Victoria Alberts Steward
Stephen Billington Steward
Zoe Bretherton Steward
Janet Bryan Convenor
Jeanette Clayton Senior Steward
Gaynor Cox Senior Steward
Nicola Craven Steward
Johanna English Senior Steward
Mark Joyce Steward
Julie Ralph Senior Steward
Moya Rodgers Steward
Lesley Tyrer Steward
Paul Whittle Steward
Bolton Cares
Julie Tudor Convenor
Bolton College
Suzanne Boardman-Middlefell Steward
Richard Lee Steward
Schools
Bryony Batchelor Steward
Hayley Burt Steward
Karen Casterton Steward
Tracey Laycock Steward
Shelley Matthews Steward
Anne Nuttall Steward
Alicia Piri-Sadigh Steward
Diane Rowson Steward
Suduf Shahzad Steward
Emma Sleith Steward
Julie Travis Steward
University of Bolton
Marta Cunado Bellido Steward
Election of Branch Officers 2025-2026
First Name Surname Role
Phil Chanin Chairperson
Andrea Egan
John Pye
Liam McLoughlin
Branch Secretary
Joint Treasurer
Joint Treasurer
Jane Howarth Vice Chairperson
Christine Collins Assistant Branch Secretary
Phil Chanin
Tracey Rigby
Membership Officer
Health & Safety Officer
Janet Bryan Education Officer
VACANT
Lifelong Learning Officer
Martin Challender Communications Officer
Julie Tudor Welfare Officer
Christine Collins Equalities Co-Ordinator
Christine Collins Women's Officer
Ben Moore Young Members Officer
Ben Moore
Razwana Majid
Leanne Greenwood
Karen Dalley
Andrea Egan
LGBT+ Officer
Black Members Officer
Disability Officer
International Officer
Sports & Social Officer
John Pye Environmental Officer
Treasurer’s Report
John Pye
I firstly need to thank our branch employed staff and other officers for their support especially our Assistant Treasurer Liam McLoughlin and auditor, Shaheed Issak. Branch Committee recommends that AGM elect Shaheed again
The overall financial position continues to be sound, we hold an appropriate level of cash reserves and sufficient revenue budget to continue the branch’s normal activities. At the end of 2024 the branch held approx £160k in combined General, Industrial Action and Premises accounts (£29k, £58k, £71k respectively).
Core Officers and Branch Committee have continued to prioritise expenditure aimed at retaining existing members and recruiting new ones so as to improve our ability to get the best deal for all of us in our workplaces We may see reserves reduce towards the minimum necessary as this aim is prioritised above that of purchasing our own premises and maintaining a dedicated fund for that purpose
Please note that the amounts listed as funds on the balance sheet do not necessarily represent cash at the bank Cash appears under the headings bank deposit and current account under current assets.
I would remind all branch members firstly that our accounts are fully open and all transactions on our books are open to scrutiny by any member at any time. It would be good to have some back up in the role, particularly from a younger member who would be able to take things forward in the future and/or someone who has experience in payroll.
A list of affiliations and donations is included with the AGM papers.
Expenses have all been paid in accordance with national recommendations.
An honorarium payment of £500 is proposed for our auditor mentioned above; authorised confirmation of the completed audit for 2024 as at Item 6.4.
Joint Chair and Branch Secretary Report
Phil Chanin & Andrea Egan
This report highlights some of the areas of work that the branch has participated in Whilst we do not include all our activities over the year, these have been covered in more detail in the regular members bulletins, flyers and ‘Battling for Bolton’
Our branch membership shows consistent growth, which is phenomenal as declining membership is both a branch and national challenge given the average age of a UNISON member is 55. This year we surpassed the National 1% target, achieving a 3% net growth. The AGM report concludes with the Branch Organising Framework Action Plan for our key activities for 2025.
Organising to Win
We begin the report by highlighting UNISON’s National ‘Organising to Win’ strategy which is going from strength to strength It is not one dimensional, and encompasses branch organising, branch planning, member engagement, UNISON’s digital strategy, and industrial action strategy This is a strategy that aims to move our union nationally, from a reactive, servicing model, to a proactive campaigning and organising model
Personal casework is and will always be an important part of the work we undertake as a trade union, it’s our fundamental principle, and we have a great team of skilled, enthusiastic experienced reps who support members in the branch. But we should all be mindful that all our reps are volunteers, they are you from your workplace, who agree to step forward to help keep the movement of trade unionism moving
‘A union isn’t a model of an outside organisation that comes in to help you, A union is YOU and your colleagues coming together to empower each other as a COLLECTIVE An approach way more powerful!!!’
UNISON’s Organising to Win is built on the emphasis on collective action, that increases participation in union activities, which leads to improved terms and conditions for all members.
We have a proven track record of winning in the branch, but to win more we need to improve our organised base. It is this strategy that underpins our work moving forward. This is why we are forever asking for members to identify a steward in their workplace, this is the best way to ensure information between the membership and the branch flows But we recognise that not everyone wants to be a steward, that’s why we have introduced our new ‘Active Member’, for members who do want to be involved
Back Pay
In February 2024, a small group of Unison members in the Civic Cleaning section took on the Council over the failure to pay the 30% enhancement for hours worked before 7am. This came about when management were proposing to change workers start time. During the consultation it exposed that worker hadn’t received the 30% enhancement on the hours worked before 7am.
The cleaning staff voted through collective bargaining to not only oppose management proposals by a collective dispute, but to also challenge the council for back pay of their 30% Through the process the council came back to the table, and we reached an agreement over their hours, alongside accepting that back pay was indeed due. Given the variance in the workers hours and length of service the council went away to do some on work on a pay offelst we understood some of these arrangements had been in place, for some, as long back as 15 years, we advised members that this would not be what they would get, but anticipated Bolton Council coming back with an ‘offer’. The offer was a deal equating to nearly 3 years of back pay, whereby if the members had gone an employment tribunal the maximum that the tribunal award would only be up to 2 years back pay The maximum some individual workers received was more than £5K!!
Further, the council came back to inform us after taking advice, it had exposed that they had failed to pay additional staff the 30% shift enhancement for hours worked before 7am This impacted over 100 other workers
This is a phenomenal amount for a small group of workers to achieve By standing together and organising themselves just shows ‘organising to win’ works! Well done
Bolton Council
This year the council budget, which was better than they had originally anticipated, has been considered without any significant cuts to services, jobs and conditions. This is welcomed, but we know that 15 years of government-made austerity has taken its toll on the council services. We look forward to see what a Labour Government does to address the funding crisis They have already pushed back on the National Social Service, until 2028, but the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) is still on the agenda However, as a note of caution we were negotiating SSSNB when they were last in power!
Last year we reported that the branch focus would be on an In-Sourcing Campaign, and Corporate Property Services which was outsourced in 2019 was on our list We are pleased to inform you that this service is in the TUPE stage at the time of reporting but is scheduled to be back in house for May 2025.
The Serco contract, which covers the leisure services and Bolton Arena, is now in the review stage. We have put a marker down that this is another service we want back in house. Officers have been slow to respond, but we continue to push for full details of cost for the Council to provide these services
Bolton Cares is also in our sights. We have commenced discussions with the Council and took our fight to the highest bargaining level, the Council’s Single Local Joint Consultative Committee, but the council have dragged their feet We have put them on notice that the branch will mount a full public campaign if they don’t start discussions soon!
Migrant Workers
The Branch Secretary invited all 3 Bolton MP’s, The Leader of the Council and the Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health & Wellbeing to come to meet a group of our migrant workers members.
Steve North, Branch Secretary of Salford UNISON, also attended as they too were going down the same route with their own employer and he brought some migrant workers from his branch. Here in our own branch, Oluwaseyi Bamisaye, (Shay) has done a fantastic job of organising the migrant workers in his workplace Bolton Cares
Our Migrant Workers meeting took place on Wednesday 21st August, with the 3 MP’s, the Leader and the Executive Member all in attendance The meeting was very well attended by migrant workers both in the room and also online The meeting heard from the workers how they live in daily fear but also about their poor experiences working at Bolton Cares At the end all the politicians thanked the attendees for being brave coming forward to tell their stories, one MP said she had looked into sponsorship visas, and it wasn’t that costly for the employer to set up.
Steve North said Salford Council had made a commitment to sign up to the Charter when it is launched at the end of September; the Executive Member said the meeting had given him plenty of things to think about and he would be looking to work with other councils to help support them in making a commitment
Whilst some progress is being made, we are not there yet in convincing Bolton Council to sign the charter, however the GM Authority are in the process of working together on a Greater Manchester Charter So watch this space
Schools and Academies
We have had another busy 12 months organising in schools. The branch introduced ’10 Minute Talks’ back in 2023 and since then we have been busy in 2024 visiting schools all over Bolton, with the assistance of our retired members, engaging with members, finding out what the key issues are for them and recruiting new Active Members and Stewards. They have proved popular and have been well attended.
In November we celebrated 10 years of ‘Stars In Our Schools’ by sending goodie packs and our specially written bulletin to every school in Bolton This time our focus was on what has changed for support staff over the years and our steward at Gaskell Primary, Anne Nuttall, wrote about how expectations on support staff have risen while wages haven’t and how the lack of funding and government cuts have had a significant impact on staff morale
For 2025 our main focus will be visiting schools to share information of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) which is part of the Labour Government’s plans to re-evaluate support staff pay, job descriptions and terms and conditions. UNISON will be heavily involved in influencing and negotiating alongside organising our new workplace contacts to help spread this message to all our members in schools.
We have also embarked on a ‘School Kitchens’ project as well. These are often a forgotten section of our membership. Our focus was on Health and Safety in the kitchens, and we are pleased to announce that whilst there were some issues which we were able to help to put right, most of our schools in Bolton run safe workspaces for our members As a branch we will continue to support and engage with our schools’ members over the next year
10-minute Talks
In addition to schools and academies, the Branch has run 10 Minute Talks across the borough including Bolton Town Hall, Castle Hill Centre, Bolton College, Farnworth Town Hall, Royal Bolton Hospital & Howell Croft offices.
10-Minute Talks allow the branch to have conversations with members & non-members in the workplace, to tell them about what the branch has being doing on their behalf & to listen to issues on the ground.
We now hold our ‘Welcome to Our Branch’ new member meetings every month It’s a great opportunity for new members to meet the officers of the branch, let them know about our UNISON Learning College and our organising structures
NJC Pay
The NJC Committee has already started its discussions regarding the pay claim for council and school workers for 2025-2026. The NJC Committee proposes that the 2025 pay claim is for an increase of £3,000 on all pay points, along with a clear ‘roadmap’ to reach a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour.
UNISON members in councils and schools continue to experience a significant cost of living crisis, with food, heating and transport costs continuing to increase
While headline inflation figures have fallen, RPI inflation, the inflation measure which UNISON believes is the most accurate reflection of the realities our members face, is currently at 3 4% and is forecast to be at an average of 3 6% over 2025 Meanwhile, we know that on average, members have lost more than a quarter of the real terms value of their pay since 2010
Hence the NJC Committee proposing a claim for £3,000 on all pay points, which is above inflation, to ensure the real value of members’ pay does not fall further behind, and begins to catch up on the years of lost earnings.
The claim for a clear move towards a £15 an hour hourly rate is in line with policy agreed at UNISON’s Local Government Conference
Local government pay towards the bottom end is in clear need of a ‘reset’, so that staff are properly rewarded for their work and employers can recruit and retain staff
Bolton Cares
It's been a complicated year with Bolton Cares, with so many changes. There has been yet another new managing director take over, Rhian Stone; a completely new computer system (Cascade) came into place and all staff now have access to their own records, plus a new care recording system, cAir, all of which members are expected to use without training which has caused lots of problems Recently the majority of staff in Supported Living have been left unable to access Outlook documents because Bolton Cares have not renewed the Office 365 licences for support workers! The upcoming 2025 pay award has been discussed, with the employer stating they are waiting for the Council’s February budget to know if they will still be given enough money to pay the real living wage to workers Sick pay also remains an issue, in particular the appalling fact that workers are not paid for the first three days of sick leave. UNISON has raised this yet again, the response was that the employer is waiting to see what the Government are planning.
UNISON is working with the Council and Bolton cares to create a company that will provide sponsorship for migrant workers. At the moment unscrupulous companies are exploiting these workers, ripping them off for thousands of pounds with the promise of sponsorship, a job, and a place of work when they arrive here, none of which happens; they are then trapped, controlled by these companies who threaten to cancel their sponsorship if they don't do as they are told, the modern day equivalent of slave labour
If Bolton Cares starts offering sponsorships then it will be done correctly, honestly and properly The care sector is understaffed: we need willing workers, who only want the same as you and I, to make a decent living, and we can stop them being held to ransom by these companies.
UNISON have started a campaign to bring Bolton Cares back in house: we have met with Rachel Tanner (Assistant Director Adult Social Care, Bolton Council), Nick Peel (Leader of the Council) and briefly with Andy Burnham. We believe local services should be controlled by local people; we are now awaiting figures from the Council for us to work with, we can then put together a business plan to show how much more viable it will be to bring this service back in It is not just all about costs, it is also the quality and delivery of service, standards of care and helping staff to be able to work under better conditions with more stability
Hopefully you will be hearing more about these two projects as we advance forward
Bolton at Home
Although previously Bolton at Home was known as a progressive employer with its employees and the community at its heart, actively encouraging Trade Union Membership and involvement, BH now refers to its employees as "headcount" and the service as a "business".
The last 2 years have seen a concerted attempt by the Employer to drive down pay and conditions and marginalise the Trade Unions because we are, rightly, seen as an obstacle to that regressive agenda We are particularly concerned about BH's treatment of unwell and disabled employees Despite this UNISON has stayed strong and the membership steady We welcome new Stewards and members on a regular basis Over the last year Stewards have carried out 2 consultative pay ballots, actively consulting members throughout, held two all-member meetings with more to follow, bulletins, several all-member consultation exercises and an all-member stress survey
All in addition to normal Steward and Branch engagement and successfully representing individual members.
University of Greater Manchester (formerly Bolton University)
Huge cuts (called ‘Intelligence Reshaping’ by the University) and ‘cost saving measures’ introduced over the summer have led to scores of redundancies that have impacted everything from teaching to student support services “It’s shocking being in negotiations and seeing the way that staff are being taken for granted and ignored in what the university is trying to push through” says Josh Davies, one of two UNISON Area Organisers working around the University amongst other public sector areas “Talking to staff, it’s one thing after another; it’s not just these redundancies, it’s also the trust in management that this is going to be the end of the process” he adds “No one’s really sure of things after the dust has settled in terms of what their jobs will look like or if they will end up doing the job of two people ”
Retired Members Section
We could not do a branch report without acknowledging the fantastic work that our retired members do. Whether it’s lobbying the council on social issues, or attending international rallies, packing up Stars in our Schools boxes, or supporting the branch to visit schools with the Kitchen Project (special thanks to Elaine Jones-Williams) Dedicated, experienced and committed to the cause!
Palestine
UNISON since its conception has been a proud part of the international trade union movement, with an established record of international solidarity. It is important to talk about the genocide that is currently taking place in Gaza.
In the past 15 months, at least 46,707 people in Gaza have been killed, which includes about 18,000 children. The death toll means that one out of every 50 people has been killed in Gaza. Many analysts and rights groups believe the real number killed is far higher. Despite global condemnations and pleas from international organisations and rights groups, Israel has continued a collective punishment campaign on the besieged enclave, where half of the population is under the age of 18
Bolton UNISON does not support terrorism and opposes any expressions of Islamophobia, antisemitism or racism We condemn the attacks that took place on the 7th October and call for the release of all hostages (on both sides) We reaffirm our opposition to victimisation of anti-war protesters, including those Arab and Jewish people in Israel who face persecution by the state for opposing the war. UNISON’s national position is for a viable Palestine state as part of a two-state solution, but there has to be a permanent ceasefire now and the people of Palestine allowed to rebuild their lives. Bolton Branch activists are proud to continue to support calls and demands for an end to the Genocide.
Holocaust Study Tour
This year the branch agreed to send a branch member Rachel Penketh, as part of the Northwest UNISON delegation, on the Holocaust Study tour of Auschwitz
We know that this will be an emotionally challenging experience for Rachel, but we do feel this is an important commitment to make. The horrific history of the Nazi regime, the Holocaust and events at Auschwitz and elsewhere and the lessons to be learnt must never be minimised, trivialised or forgotten.
Commemorating 80 years since the Liberation of the Holocaust in Auschwitz
The branch collaborated with faith groups and Bolton Council to host a memorial event to recognise 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz at Bolton Library. It was a well-attended event, with guest speaker Ernie Hunter, who told the story of his father Anton Hunderdorfer, and sister Sonja, and his non-Jewish German family who were victims of Nazi Persecution because they were communists.
Other speakers were Glen Williams, who runs the annual UNISON NW Study tours to Auschwitz, and Geoff Brown. ‘The from Rock Against Racisms Northern Carnival’ who ran a concert with the Anti-Nazi League
It was an emotional event, but we are proud to have been able to be part of pulling it together and being able to host it
A Bolton Tenants Union
Born from a motion agreed at Branch Committee which came from our Bolton at Home stewards, we are working with Ben Clay from Greater Manchester Tenants Union to establish a tenants union in Bolton. The first meetings have taken place, and we are now looking at formulating a plan, and scoping out what the group want to change Initially we have started to organise in the Farnworth area, as the advice was don’t start too wide.
Endeavour Project
We continue to work with and support Bolton’s Endeavour Project which supports families, including their pets, who are escaping domestic violence. This includes taking part in the Ellen Strange Memorial Walk every July and attending the Remembrance Service at Christmas
Christmas Wishes is Endeavour’s Christmas collection They seek presents for people who are engaging in and seeking support from their services 2024 was another year when OUR members bowled us over in their generosity. Workplace collections were organised by stewards, and we received not just boxes and boxes of presents, we also received a collection of over 100 selection boxes, following the work of some of our Market Porters, who not only made cash donations but encouraged some of the market stall traders to contribute! This generosity amazed us, and Endeavour, as we know many of our members are struggling themselves
And finally, Endeavour run a ‘Paws for Pets’ Lottery
This costs just just £4 a month, payable by standing order, and with monthly prizes of £150, £50 and £25 All the money goes towards temporarily rehousing pets whilst those who have to flee abusive relationships find permanent relocation. Often having a pet stops some from leaving abusive relationships in fear of what will happen to them if they must leave them behind Endeavour’ss motto, much like ours, is ‘No-one gets left behind’. Pets are looked after until families are resettled and then reunited with them
Membership Officer Report
Phil Chanin
Over the last 12 months the branch has recruited over 600 new members, with a total branch membership of 4,798 across 298 separate employers
The branch has continued to maintain good communication links with members and to recruit potential members through ongoing 10 Minute Talks across the borough; these have been held with most schools and school kitchens, Bolton Town Hall, Farnworth Town Hall, Bolton Sixth Form College, Castle Hill, Wellington Yard, Mayor St depot, Barnett House and Bentley House
Through to the middle of 2024 the branch worked with the North-West region to pilot membership retention and recruitment, Bolton Unison being one of the four branches (out of 13) that had positive membership growth. The branch committed itself to have a comprehensive retention strategy, calling all leaving members to understand their reasons for leaving.
Alongside this, the branch has held regular online meetings with new members to welcome them to the branch, to introduce officers to them and to understand their reasons for joining
There have been some great activities over the last 12 months to recruit and retain members. Thanks must go to the branch’s Self Organising Groups who have organise a range of events to recruit and inform members. Also, thanks go to the retired members who undertook 10Minute Talks in schools and school kitchens, as well as helped run recruitment stalls at Bolton Sixth Form College.
The branch continues to maintain our membership database It is a legal requirement to keep our membership information up to date and we need your help to do so Please complete a change slip, so we can check your details and update if necessary
Being part of Bolton Unison is the first step in working towards better terms and conditions and having safer workplaces If you have colleagues who aren’t members, they are the weakest link Strength in solidarity – give them a membership form today
7.3
Health & Safety Officer Report
Tracey Rigby
At the end of my first full year as Branch Health and Safety Officer, here is the summary of the year.
In April, I attended the Health and Safety Conference in Belfast, and the theme of this was ‘Violence in the workplace, it’s not part of the job’ The day was very informative and allowed different experiences to be shared It was surprising and disappointing to hear of violence and aggression throughout different professions and how a lot of members have accepted this as part of the job role The day was able to show that this is not the case and our members deserve and, have a right to expect, their safety to be maintained throughout their working day
Also in April, it was International Workers Memorial Day and, following speeches, a wreath was laid at the workers’ memorial stone. Solidarity was shown to fallen workers throughout the world.
There have been 4 Health and Safety training days held through the last 12 months. It has been good to see stewards involved. Workplace inspections have been completed and reviewed which has allowed improvements in the workplace to be facilitated. This can only be to the good for members. The effect of different weather conditions has on inspection, also been noted, throughout the year
A theme that has been present throughout the year has been the conditions of the workplace due to extremes of temperature and this was brought to the attention of the Central Health and Safety Committee The effect of adverse weather conditions was discussed and alerts requested for workers to be informed when temperatures were expected to rise This led to information being sent in the Staff News Bulletin
Work continues into the next year and the theme of the training days will be workers welfare and how we can support members. It is important to remember that our members wellbeing is the responsibility of all of us. Workplace inspections will continue to be completed, keeping those workplaces and our members as safe as possible.
Education Officer Report
Janet Bryan
This year, as in previous years, Bolton Branch has continued to prioritise training to ensure that Reps, Activists and Members have access to the skills and knowledge they need to organise and progress.
At the time of writing the Branch has spent £7450.19 in 2024 on education and training, financing courses and attendance both in person and on-line.
We recognise that this has been an extremely challenging year for members and reps alike We are aware that many members are obliged to work more than one job for instance and that employers are cutting back on their own training offers
Still, the Branch remains committed to furthering education and development for Reps, Activists and Members We would urge everyone to take up those opportunities Union Education provides
Out of pocket expenses, grants and assistance are available dependent on the course. If you would like to become involved in education, training and development please consider becoming a Learning Rep.
Lifelong Learning Officer Report
Gaynor Cox
Over the last 12 months I’ve promoted the Lifelong Learning Union Learning Rep role to members in person and through UNISON Member newsletters and worked closely with the Branch Education Officer to plan education/learning activities
At the start of last year, I had planned to develop and deliver a programme of learning activities to members tailored to responses received from last year’s Member Learning Survey. I had also planned to trial promoting member learning through the 10 minute talk model However, due to the organisation-wide cost-cutting restructures and redundancies (that have been taking place across Bolton at Home since February 2024 and continuing) which have impacted a large number of services and members across the organisation (including myself), the pay dispute as well as day-today member support, I have unfortunately not been able to deliver those activities.
If you’re interested in becoming a UNISON Learning Rep in your workplace you can find out more information about what’s involved on the UNISON College page www learning unison org uk/supporting-learning/union-learning-rep/ or contact me at gaynor.cox@boltonathome.org.uk
International Officer Report
Karen Dalley
I have been International Officer for 12 months. My role requires an interest in international affairs especially in the domain of promoting Human Rights, peace, security, equality and social justice
It is a very important time in history to raise awareness and challenge oppression worldwide On October 7th 2023, we saw the start of the Israeli military assault on Gaza, 47,000 deaths, genocide and more recently a ceasefire However, we have recently witnessed President Trump and Netanyahu’s press conference in which Trump threatened to take over control of Palestine and occupy the land Suggesting that United states will develop the country and displace thousands of Palestinian people.
The United States has provided Israel with weapons and aid and supported them diplomatically for the last 15 months Now Trump wants to make profit from other people’s misery by introducing a colonialist, ethnic cleaning policy The UK, alongside many other countries do not support this, it is unlawful and likely will encourage further conflict and violence The message from UNISON remains very loud and clear, that we must challenge and change oppressive social and political environments and stand in solidarity against occupation and oppression
We need to remind ourselves how important, global harmony and social justice are. President Trump’s Global Trade war on other countries, his shameless, self-invested agenda to empower billionaires and block aid is shameful and immoral and we should be distancing ourselves from these far-right ideologies. It is vital that we stay within the perimeters of international law and that war criminals such as Netanyahu be held to account. Palestine belongs to the Palestinian people. This is not a free land for the capitalist oligarchs to grab and transform it into a real estate deal
In 2024 I have been very involved with pro Palestine campaigns, attending regular UNISON rallies in London, Manchester and Bolton and supporting a number of direct-action campaigns against companies investing in the Israeli regime and its military Encouraging divestment is an important strategy for ensuring that we are not complicit in unjust military action and genocide
In November I was actively involved in the “Workplace Day of Action” organised by the TUC -this was a day in which we were asked to demonstrate our support for Palestine in any way we can. I raised over £150 “cake and bake day” to raise money for Medicare. I plan on continuing my finding raising activities.
Under the Geneva convention every individual has a duty to stop Genocide, it is irrelevant that we may not share the same ethnicity or faith - the common denominator that binds us all together is being a human being and understanding that we may all become victims of dictatorship and authoritarianism, and we would be the first to want international support It is everybody’s business
We need to continue challenging the politics of hate and to support oppressed peoples We can achieve this in several ways: by being involved in counter campaigns or we can support the (BDS) “Boycott and Divestment Sanctions” movement by promoting sanctions against Israel- The Boycott app can be downloaded.
In the summer I attended the anti-fascist counter protest to the far-right demo called by Tommy Robinson. This was well attended, and it was awe inspiring to witness such a large coming together of people from widely different demographics to challenge racism and hate
Unison is committed to tackling racism to and advocate for equality and social justice I attended the annual islamophobia awareness event in November 2024, which aims to challenge stereotypes and celebrate the important contribution of the Muslim community to the wider society. The 2024 theme was “Seeds of Change “encouraging everyone to take small steps and deepen their understanding of islamophobia.
I feel that I have gained in confidence in my role, and I have ensured that I have kept myself updated with current research and training events. In Nov 2024 I had the privilege of attending the Trades Union Annual International Solidarity event which was held in the Manchester Mechanics institute – best known for being the birthplace of Trade Unions. This event centred around joint seminar sessions on the work that delegates have done, each region representing their country of interest
For us in the Northwest, we focused on Colombia and Cuba, the aim being to raise awareness of the US blockades and give support for funding campaigns (such as the Viva La Cuba) helping raise money for medical and surgical equipment Her Excellency, Isma Mecedes Vergon Waltar, the Ambassador for Cuba attended and made a powerful speech in solidarity with Palestine. Other Regions focused on raising awareness of the struggles in Ukraine and Palestine sending a reminder of how important Political education and campaigning is
I also had the opportunity to attend the Ellen Baker Organizing conference last summer 2024 This is an annual weekend event held in Nottingham. This activist training event is well-respected and offered an amazing panel of speakers, which were very inspiring and has helped me to further develop my activism in the community The programme offered a huge programme of various workshops, panels, debates and seminars.
I had the privilege of attending the Holocaust Memorial Day in February – it was particularly significant this year as it marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz -Birkenau The Theme for this event was “For a better Future” and hope we can learn from this and that it be put into context for our hope for Palestine’s future.
My future hope within my role as International Officer is to further develop an international perspective amongst Unison members, promoting our international work and continue to be actively involved in campaigns that highlight international issues I do passionately believe that an essential purpose of my role as international officer is to recruit new members and encourage members to be aware of the importance of internal solidarity issues within the context of the overall work of the Union.
Equalities Coordinator Report
Christine Collins
UNISON Bolton have been busy in 2024 in all areas within the equality structures, at a branch, employer, regional and national level and this report highlights just some of the fantastic work branch officers, members, activists and the self-organised groups have been doing through 2024.
We had our first Holocaust Memorial event held at Bolton Library, working with the Northern Holocaust Education Group, where speakers told their stories of family members who lived through the Holocaust
International Women’s Day was marked by joining forces with Endeavour at their event at Victoria Halls We had bracelets made for the event and information about the Women’s Charter, women’s policy and medical issues. As a Branch we have picked up and secured a menopause policy within our main employer.
I attended a UNISON North West Women’s seminar where Leanne White, whose 12-year-old daughter Ava White was tragically stabbed in Liverpool at a Christmas light switch on, spoke about how she had set up the Ava White Foundation to get bleed kits put in all public places to help save lives in events such as Ava’s The kits cost just £60 and to know that would have potentially saved her life is heartbreaking As a branch we committed to circulating the petition and purchasing two bleed kits for our UNISON offices and we are now on with taking it to the council asking them to consider the bleed kits in public places in and around the town centre
We worked with the council to develop the Endometriosis guide as we recognise many women suffer but insisted that managers needed some guidance to enable them to support staff.
The branch set up a disability event and has some new engaged disability members who have helped work with the branch to feed into recruitment for those who have neurodiverse conditions, Through working together the council have now developed the neurodiversity guide and have secured mandatory training on disability and reasonable adjustments, and neurodiversity.
The Black Members group have again supported the Bolton Eid Extravaganza event and continued to represent UNISON with the Race Ally network within the council, and have supported ‘Palestine Day of Action’ events alongside ‘Stand up to Racism’ demos locally, in Manchester and London We also passed a motion at our Branch Committee brought by the black members in relation to GMP to stop racist policing
The branch set up a Migrant Workers network within Bolton and has successfully held meetings with all 3 Bolton MPs, the Leader of the Council and the Councillor who is Executive portfolio holder for Adult Services, employers and Andy Burnham to highlight the exploitation, mainly within the care sector, by agencies charging for a sponsorship visa. They also gave testament regarding terrible work practices and living conditions having been asked to leave their families behind to come to the UK and work lookimg after our vulnerable people They took up the fight to challenge Bolton Council and Bolton Cares to sign up to the ‘Migrant Workers Charter’ Our active migrant members have also engaged regionally and nationally to raise their plight
2024 saw UNISON celebrating ‘Year of LGBT+’. As a branch we supported the local Pride event as we do each year and had a film showing of PRIDE the movie with guest speaker Mike Jackson, one of the founder members of ‘Lesbian and Gays support the Miners’ campaign group that the film is based on Mike was portrayed in the film by actor Joe Gilgun
Branch stewards and officers completed the ‘Stand up to Racism’ training and committed to do more We also attended the annual Islamophobia Conference, held at Bolton stadium, which highlights the devastating impact that the likes of Tommy Robinson and the far right can have using Islamophobia to incite hate and division as they did with the shocking scenes in Southport and across the country. Unions and Stand up to Racism mobilise to counteract the hate with bigger peaceful protests to show we will not tolerate hate and we will defend our communities and continue to organise in the face of discrimination of any kind; this is the message from us as a Branch that I will end with, being part of UNISON Bolton means you are an upstander - not a bystander.
7.7
Young Members Officer Report
Ben Moore
Over the past year, we have made significant efforts to establish the Young Members SelfOrganised Group (YMSOG), with varying levels of success Our activities have included distributing newsletters, holding meetings, engaging members on workplace floors, sending emails, and encouraging greater participation among our young members While the outcomes have not met our expectations, we remain undeterred The work will continue throughout 2025, with renewed focus and support through the new Organising Framework
Our branch’s ongoing action with Bolton Cares is expected to strengthen our connection with young members in the care sector. Additionally, the progress made in schools will enhance our visibility among teaching assistants and younger support staff.
In the coming year, I will be working more closely with other Young Members Officers across the North West through regular monthly meetings Coupled with support from the Organising Academy, this collaboration will allow us to build a robust Young Members Self-Organised Group
The revival of Bolton Council’s apprenticeship scheme also presents an excellent opportunity to engage with new apprentices early We hope to identify potential activists within this group and support them in developing the skills needed to actively contribute to the branch
It is important to acknowledge that our young members concerns are not limited to age. They face a variety of challenges and bring diverse perspectives. With this in mind, we plan to incorporate elements of LGBT+ support and mental health awareness into our Young Members activities. In addition to my role as Young Members Officer, I am proud to serve as your LGBT+ Officer, ensuring these priorities are addressed
This year, we will place a stronger emphasis on addressing the needs of our younger comrades and ensuring their voices are heard equally within the branch If you or any colleagues are interested in getting involved with the Young Members group, please do not hesitate to get in touch You can email me directly or contact the branch
Sports & Social Officer Report
Andrea Egan
In 2024 all events organised were evaluated
TRADE UNION FESTIVALS
Durham Miners Gala - Saturday July 24 A must for any activist A great day out Wigan Diggers – Saturday September 24 A great local event with a variety of educational entertainment and music.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Blackpool Lights Coach Trip – October 24
We continue to run our annual trip to Blackpool. The coach was full, we had a great afternoon in Blackpool and then we drove back through the lights
THEATRE AND PANTOMIME
Octagon Theatre – Animal Farm February 24
A powerful re-telling of George Orwell’s chilling and timeless classic 3 tickets left over
Bolton Library - Showing of the film ‘Pride!’ during Bolton Pride Weekend June 24 Mike Jackson, one of the founder members of Gay and Lesbians for the Miners did a Q&A panel after the film. Well attended, we saw a larger representation from young people attending.
Octagon Theatre – Brassed Off September 24
Story of a small mining community of Grimley, Yorkshire, fighting to keep their colliery pit open in 1994, and how the part of the colliery brass band played in that relationship. All tickets were sold.
Bolton Albert Halls - Rapunzel December 24
We purchase tickets for the whole theatre for the matinee Again, tickets sold out within 4 days of them going on sale
SUPPORTING LOCAL CHARITIES
The Endeavour Project – Bolton based domestic abuse service – The Ellen Strange Memorial Walk We met at Holcombe Brook Church, we set out onto Holcombe Moor, Ramsbottom, for about an hour before we reach the ancient cairn that marks the spot where Ellen Strange was killed by her husband in 1761. We have a reading of the names of all those who have been murdered at the hands of a partner or family member over the last 12 months. It is quite an emotional, but inspiring event. To lift the mood we walk back to the church where we enjoy a ukulele band performance and a great buffet and hot drinks supplied by Odessa
SHOWINGS
Banner Theatre at The Hub - Battlelines - October 40 years since the miner’s strike, a show of music and film examining the role of the trade unions under the Tories and the similar challenges we face today
GET INVOLVED, GET IN TOUCH!
If you are interested in attending any of these events, please look out for further information or contact the branch office. I hope to see you at one of our events during the year!
Environmental Officer report
John Pye
My main activity this year has been working with the Fossil Free Greater Manchester campaign to keep our pensions safe by divesting entirely from fossil fuels The group’s strategy is to put pressure on the decision makers within the fund, Tameside Council They have denied the group any direct contact for many years and have restricted democratic control by holding the majority on the decision making body so the strategy has involved 3 main activities-
Organising protests outside as many meetings of the Pension Fund committee meetings as possible to show that members of the fund and the public care
Lobbying the leaders of other Greater Manchester councils including Bolton and Andy Burnham the Mayor of Greater Manchester, in the belief that they have influence on the Tameside councillors.
Providing clear, credible and comprehensive information to those leaders and other representatives on the various pension fund committees to rebut the claims made on behalf of the fund
I want to thank all those members who have supported the campaign in particular the Retired members committee who have been attended with their banner
I have attended monthly Northwest Climate Emergency Group meetings. The group is going to become a full Standing Committee of UNISON North West and brings together Environment reps and activists across the region to compare notes and share information aiming to help each other working within UNISON and with others in organising, bargaining and campaigning around tackling the climate emergency.
Communications Officer Report
Martin Challender
I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as Branch Communications Officer. These days people are swamped by emails and information from social media. I think it is great to have Battling for Bolton a physical, printed magazine that people can read in their leisure at home. It is a great way of publicising union events and sharing information, whether that is about pantomime tickets and social events or the latest news about pay negotiations.
Since COVID people can feel more disconnected than ever from colleagues in different sectors, so it’s good to hear about the different jobs people do and the pressures people face There are always things that we could do differently or better Although feedback about the magazine is usually quite positive, I’m always conscious that we need to look at new ideas and ways to keep the magazine fresh and relevant for everyone Maybe you would like to get involved or have some suggestions? If so then please don’t hesitate to get in touch
ITEM 7.11
Welfare Officer Report
Julie Tudor
It's been another very busy year for UNISON's welfare organisation, supporting members who are struggling to make ends meet With the sharp rise in the cost of living we are finding it harder to pay for the necessities of day to day living
There for You offers lots of specific financial assistance, such as School Uniform grants and their Winter Essentials grant, to help towards winter fuel bills. But demand has become so great that the amount available has gone within hours of the applications opening. Applications for general financial assistance are also overwhelming and it is now reported that a third of working families need to access foodbanks to support their income.
But it's not all about finances If you go on the UNISON website and search There for You, you will find all sorts of support available, debt advice and support, wellbeing breaks, all sorts of ways we can help you when you are finding things difficult
In the last year UNISON has launched UNISON Debtline, a free debt advice service for members run by trusted partners, PayPlan The service offers free, confidential debt advice to help members on the road to becoming debt-free It deals with all types of debt from credit cards through to County Court Judgment (CCJ) claims and priority debts such as mortgage, rent and council tax arrears.
UNISON is the only union offering this level of support, and in these challenging times it is a valuable resource.
If you need information please contact the branch office, they will put you in touch with me, Julie Tudor, your branch Welfare Officer or come and meet me on our stall at the AGM, all information is treated with strictest confidence and I will do my best to support you
Retired Members Secretary Report
Jackie Winstanley
As you are already enjoying the benefits of being a UNISON member, why stop just because you retire? You can join a like minded group of people, who are campaigning for workplace benefits to assist their old colleagues and fighting for the rights of the retired population.
You can help new activists in the workplace by passing on your experiences, and join workplace meetings to encourage new membership You can write to MPs, councillors, attend lobbies at the town hall, sign petitions and send letters, helping to change local, regional, national and international concerns
We meet every month at the UNISON Office at the Bolton CVS HUB in Bolton town centre, where our individual worries can be discussed, considered and possibly taken further You can be as active as you choose, no pressure We also have social events which include a subsidised meal out in summer and at Christmas, visits to events in Manchester, plus you would also still have access to the Branch low priced sports & social tickets like the Panto, Blackpool lights, Octagon events etc. that you could access as a working member.
At our meetings we have a selection of very interesting speakers from all aspects of life recently Money Skills, the CEO of Bolton at Home and the WASPI campaign
For just a one off payment of £15 you’ll become a lifetime retired member and continue to enjoy access to legal help, including a free will service, also UNISON There for You welfare services
We meet on the second Wednesday of each month (apart from December), 11 00am to 12 30pm at The Hub, Bold St, Bolton, BL1 1LS, next meeting 9th April 2025
We are a happy bunch and we look forward to welcoming you into the group. Some of us will be at the AGM, so if you need to chat or have questions do come over and see us.
BRANCH ORGANISING FRAMEWORK & ACTION PLAN 2025
OBJECTIVES ACTIVITIES LEAD(S)
Keeping the UNISON Membership Database and members’ details up to date
Member details update slips to be handed out at all 10-Minute Talks and workplace visits.
Members without email address or no permission to use email: follow up by contacting directly on alternative means where possible
Membership Officer and Branch Admin Staff
Activist Recruitment
Activist support and development
Stewards to identify new workplace activists and stewards
Overall Target is 20 Specifically: Children’s Services 4 (Social Workers & wider representation) University of Bolton 2 plus Bolton College BMBC Waste/Transport BMBC Chief Executives & Place Bolton At Home
Continue to hold quarterly Branch Stewards’ training and development events every year with expectation that all Stewards attend
All new stewards ERA accredited within 12 months
Convenors to follow up nonattendance. and report to Core Officers Group
Encourage more Stewards and members to attend organising, leadership training & NW Academy.
Review take-up of mandatory GDPR and other training requirements by Stewards and encourage to engage with relevant training Keep up-to-date register
Membership Officer supported by Convenors and Stewards
Branch Secretary Convenors, Education Officer and Branch Admin Staff
OBJECTIVES ACTIVITIES LEAD(S)
Organising opportunities
Membership growth
Target: 400 new members in 2025
Maintain engagement with members to identify common issues and areas to organise on.
Branch Secretary Convenors and Stewards
Branch communication
Continue with workplace visits, 10minute talks, stalls & events, targeted direct communications, website & social media, updated noticeboards, newsletters, press releases, Battling for Bolton, main employers’ intranets
Communications and Membership Officers, Convenors, Stewards and Branch Admin
Local bargaining priorities
Improved pay settlements
Refresh social media, produce departmental / employer specific bulletins, Digital Organising, Text Services, Rollout Comms plan once National Template strategy is released.
Organising members, finding new activists Campaigning over key issues
Communications and Membership Officers
Branch and Assistant Secretary and Membership Officer
Workplace inequality and discrimination
Increased membership & Activists in priority groups
Raising awareness of issues and workplace rights
OLBA (UNISON Branch Accounting system)
Caseweb (UNISON case management system)
Continuing work of the SOGs, engaging with national campaigns
Raising awareness through communications
Equality Officer and SOG Leads
Input 2025 Budget into OLBA Treasurers and Admin
Monitor dormant & unallocated cases and address where necessary
Asst Branch Secretary
BRANCH ACHIEVEMENTS 2024-2025
National Conferences & Seminars
Branch members participated in the Black Members, Womens, Community, Local Government, National Delegates, Retired Members, LGBT+ and Hazards
Conferences on behalf of the Branch. Members also attended the Schools Support Staff, Social Work, Health & Safety and FE Seminars
SPORTS & SOCIAL 9 EVENTS HELD INCLUDING PANTO, OCTAGON THEATRE, BLACKPOOL LIGHTS
Casework 514 recorded individual and collective member cases dealt with
COMMUNICATION
Over 55 “10-minute Talks” in workplaces across Bolton
Over 65 visits to School Kitchens
12 new member meetings held monthly online
2 issues of ‘Battling for Bolton’ sent out to all members’ homes
7 Branch newsletters
‘Stars in Our Schools’ 10th anniversary bulletin delivered to all schools
Newsletters for Young Members, Disabled Members, Schools Members
Newsletters about UNISON College and ‘There For You’
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union isn’t an outside organisation that comes in to help you. A union is YOU and your colleagues coming together to empower each other as a COLLECTIVE...and trust me, that’s way more powerful”
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