I ask for your vote in the upcoming election of your Branch Secretary.

The future

This election is a choice. While we have collective aims, we must not forget that UNISON is made up of individual members. I will continue to support members and activists in any way I can.

As a branch, the immediate focus needs to be on effectively building our activist base. Ensuring more workplaces have a local representative who can, with the support of the branch, organise our members and support them to actively achieve their objectives.

A key priority has to be to protect our members terms and conditions. Pay, reward and organisational design are all interlinked. I have the experience to lead those negotiations, with a team of stewards, health and safety reps and branch officers behind me. For example, my extensive knowledge of undertaking job evaluations and the existing terms and conditions will be invaluable but the experiences of our members and activists will be essential in shaping the work we do.

I want to ensure that, if you work in the council, at a school or are providing local services in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, you know you can rely on your branch at the times when you need it the most. Together we can organise around the issues that matter to you!

I want the branch to spend its money responsibly. We need to focus on growing our union. I will prioritise recruitment, training for members and activists, and supporting our self-organised and equality groups. However, I will hold onto the activities our members can enjoy like the pantomime and the beach hut, so you and your families can have the opportunity to take a well earned break!

I will share my knowledge and encourage others to participate and learn from each other. I want our branch to listen to its members and embrace the diversity within our workplaces.

I will give our self-organised groups the space to develop their own priorities and the opportunity for all our members to organise around the issues that are important to them. Women members, black members, LGBT+ members and disabled members are central to the equalities work of UNISON. I will encourage young members to continue to take an active part in our union, building on the success of previous years. Retired members offer a lot of experience and we need to keep them involved in the campaigns and social activities they wish to take part in.

We need to be able to meet the organising challenges we face in the years ahead. I am committed to negotiating the best possible outcomes for our members, and passionate about involving you in the future of our branch.

Experience

I have been a UNISON steward for 16 years, working tirelessly for members and supporting them get better outcomes to their issues at work.

As a steward in, what was, Poole’s Children’s Services, I dealt with many restructures over the last decade and have seen the impact on our members and the services they provide. Throughout this time I have taken on cases across different service areas and workplaces. Seconded to UNISON since July 2018, I have supported members through the TUPE process and the ongoing re-organisation of services required during the creation of the BCP.

In 2015 I was UNISON South West’s Rep of the Year. I am and have always been committed to our members first and foremost, providing reliable advice and support.

I became Poole and District Branch Chair in 2014. I was part of the team of activists, led by Kevin Judd, which introduced a branch mentoring scheme, helping new reps achieve their goals and complete their training. I was part of the team who successfully defended our employee terms and conditions against some of the more harmful proposals.

In 2011 I set up the branch website and social media accounts, working with others to showcase the work and interests of members. How we communicate as a branch is crucial to its success and an area I want to develop should I become Branch Secretary.

I am a branch Disabled Members Officer and I have been an active member of the UNISON South West Disabled Members Committee for over a decade. I contributed to a guidance booklet on disability in the workplace which was distributed across the south west.

I co-tutor the Disability and Your Rights course, as a UNISON lay tutor, leading activists to have a greater understanding of how they can use such knowledge to support members in their workplace.

I have always been very active in my involvement across the south west region and currently I am member of:

• The South West Committee and the Development and Organising Sub-Committee, which oversees the equality strategy and education programme in the region.

• The South West Local Government Service Group.

• The national Local Government Standing Orders Committee.

I have also chaired the Joint Information and Consultative Committee, dealing with collective issues within the preceding Poole council, and I am used to negotiating with staff across the organisation.

I am passionate and pride myself on always carrying out my role to the best of my ability and with the support of the branch behind me.

I urge you to vote in this election. Make sure your voice is heard.

Vote Jon Hartley for Branch Secretary.

Contact me on twitter.