UNISON Community Seminar 2012

Picture of Karen Jennings, Assistant General Secretary opening the 2012 UNISON Community (and Voluntary sector) Seminar at the Brighton Centre. Today is our Service Group seminar and tomorrow is our biannual Conference.

The Chair of Community Stephen Brown (middle) gave a vote of thanks to our former national officer Mike Short (left) who has been promoted within UNISON.

This weekend will be dominated by the impact of the cuts on our sector. Many "care and support" workers have already suffered massive pay cuts (30%) and the slashing of other terms and conditions. While the government is directly responsible for this, there are rogue employers who are leading a race to the gutter and undercutting responsible employers. How to combat this effectively will be a key theme.  Pointless and divisive sloganising will of course achieve nothing. But members are suffering and we need to defend them.

I am here as a Community NEC member. I'll try to post and tweet as we go on.