Branch Chair Report 2021

Well, what a year of change

Myself James and Arfan have had some very challenging situations to deal with over the last year including ensuring that the Branch continues to function during the pandemic and that members continue to receive the service they require. I consider that we have met those challenges face on and found appropriate solutions.

I appear to have entered a totally virtual world and have lost track of how many teams meetings I have attended be they to do with my job or to do with Trade Union duties. I even attend virtual court hearings.

All regional committee meetings and Service Group Executive meetings have been held virtually held and we have managed to conduct business as normal or as normal as it should be. We also managed to convene a branch executive meeting via zoom.

The Community Conference was also held virtually and I hope this meant a lot more of our members could participate.

In October last year I became Chair of Unisons Community Housing Association Sector Committee and I have prepared a briefing paper that was an action from 2020 Conference on the challenges of the Governments terrible idea of introducing shared ownership right to buy.  

It appears that management in some areas have chosen to use the pandemic as an excuse to cause unnecessary angst to members by being unreasonable in adjustments to working environments and trying to slip in changes to contracts. In our region there are 2 ongoing disputes at Heartlands Hospital with the porters concerning changes to their rota and Sandwell Leisure Trust where industrial action has been made difficult due to the centres being closed. Heartlands just for your information is an employer who had spare vaccines and gave them to their senior managers instead of their front-line staff !

Members are extremely affected by other factors rising from the pandemic for example higher rates of sickness amongst colleagues affecting their workloads, home schooling and childcare.

Social care is high on the agenda nationally and some members of the Community SGE are sitting on the steering group.

We have a new general secretary in Christina McAnea and I am sure we wish her all the best in the challenges she will no doubt face.

Finally, may I wish you all good health and wellbeing in these uncertain times.

Lynn Gillespie - Chairperson