Norma Stephenson NEC Statement

Norma Stephenson
UNISON Vice President
Northern Region

Honesty

Commitment

Members First

are the three KEY promises I pledge to uphold if YOU choose to re-elect me as YOUR UNISON Regional

National Executive Member.

NORMA STEPHENSON - VICE PRESIDENT

I recently had the privilege of being elected national Vice President, I see this as not just an honour for me personally, but to reward for the hard work of the region on issues such as anti-privatisation, anti-racism & equal pay.

NORMA STEPHENSON - INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

I founded and Chair UNISON’s International Development Fund (IDF) which allocates funds to International developments projects, such as trade union education in Iraq.

NORMA STEPHENSON— MEMBER’ INTERESTS ARE CENTRAL

I have worked tirelessly on behalf of branches with members who have lost out under the Farepak scandal, equal pay or complex legal cases.

Unlike some, I don’t claim to have all the answers to the issues faced by UNISON members. However, I am willing to listen to ideas and solutions.

NORMA STEPHENSON - PRIDE IN OUR UNION

I am proud to be a UNISON member. I am proud of our progressive policies, that’s why we all have a role in ensuring every public sector worker is a UNISON member.

Thank you for taking the time to read my statement

Yours

Norma Stephenson

NEC nomination forms have already been sent to branches and must be returned by 16 February 2007. The forms are available on the UNISON website http://www.unison.org.uk/elections/pages_view.asp?did=4507

Farepak - Ghost of Christmas Past

The Ghost of Christmas Past

The GI hope all UNISON members had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year, but my thoughts remain with those who's Christmas was destroyed by the Farepak scandal

We should remember that the multimillionaire “fat cat” owners of the Farepak Christmas savings scheme wrote to their customers to reassure them their money was safe - even as millions of pounds were being passed on to the parent company. The collapse of Farepak and its Christmas scheme has left more than 150,000 families facing a bleak festive season.

A furious protest by victims of the Farepak collapse took place outside the Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) head office as a champagne reception took place inside .

HBOS was targeted because, it financed Farepak’s parent company European Home Retail It grabbed £28 million from the ailing business and watched it go bust.

It should be remembered that the owner of Farepak, Sir Clive Thompson when CBI chairman not only opposed the minimum wage but referred to trade unions as “vermin to be eradicated”. I think we all know who the vermin is now.

UNISON for its part set up a UNISON Farepak fund to try and help members who lost out, in the scandal prior to Christmas.

Let the Blog Begin

Yes

Ive decided to join the blog age,

Why ?

Because, I hope this blog will allow members of UNISON to secure a better understanding of the excellent work UNISON local, regional and national officers do to benefit our members and society in general.

Let the blog begin