• Check your emails for a nomination pack from CES votes, to be sent to branch secretaries week commencing 15th December.

• Schedule your nomination meeting and let me know the date by emailing monicataylor4ec@gmail.com 

• Advertise your nomination meeting - at least seven days in advance

• Take minutes of the meeting

• Agree to use branch funds for campaigning - at least 10p per member will cover the costs of sending texts to your members asking them to vote

• Submit nomination paperwork in plenty of time for the 6th February deadline

• Read the full "How to nominate" guide by clicking here.

My details for the paperwork

Monica Taylor | Member 14326608 | West Midlands - Branch code WM/5202

I was elected to the Executive Council last year on a mandate of campaigning to defend pensioners’ rights from attack, and this is what I have done.

This year we successfully forced a government u-turn on Winter Fuel Payments. That campaign began when I was National Retired Members Chair and grew after I was elected to the EC.

We have a government which is hostile to pensioners. We should expect more attacks on our hard-won entitlements, from the bus pass to the state pension and the triple lock. We need to be ready and have someone on the EC able to get continued support for our campaigns.

If you elect me again I will continue to do this.

• Ensure retired members have a voice on union campaigns that affect us - from pensions to social care and the NHS

• Work with EC members and the General Secretary to secure retired member representation in all parts of the union that affect us, such as equalities committees

• Listen to the views of members from all regions by attending regional coordinating committees where possible and receiving regular reports from regions

• Publish regular national reports available to all members

I have been EC member for Retired Members for just over a year, and before that I was Chair of the National Retired Members’ Committee for 5 years, the first woman in that role.  I’m proud that under my leadership we have taken a strong stand on winter fuel and Unite is now the leading voice defending pensioners.

In my time as EC member and chair we have:

• Forced the government to u-turn on Winter Fuel Payments

• Kickstarted the 68 Too Late campaign

• Created and campaigned on a retirement manifesto

• Established a website and newsletter for retired members

Fifty years ago I worked at Lucas Automotive. My colleagues elected me as shop steward, but the T&G blocked it because I was black.  In response, the factory downed tools and demanded they be represented by me.  This was my introduction to the union and I have remained a fighter ever since.

In the last ten years of my working life I became the first black woman elected to the EC.  I was instrumental in drawing up the first Rule Book of Unite and also in helping equalities committees to become fully constitutional.

I have represented workers at every level, from shop steward in a multinational company to representing the trade union movement on the European Economic and Social Committee. 

Industrial and geographical branches within Unite can also support candidates standing for their sector and regional seats.

I am standing as part of the Workers Unite slate of candidates.

backtotheworkplace.org/executive-council-candidates/

View the full slate and read the statements of all the Back to the Workplace Executive Council candidates.