I am thrilled to have been appointed as your Regional Secretary while Jo Galloway is on maternity leave. It’s an exciting opportunity for me to work alongside the lay leadership team and the region’s staff, all of whom share the same passion and commitment to delivering for our members across London.
For those who don’t know me, I’ve spent two decades working within the Health Service Group, where I’ve had responsibility for the union’s work on bargaining and campaigning across the sector, and leading the joint NHS trade unions in their interactions with the government.
Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to work across the union on industrial action and the new government’s legislative programme. This work has been made all the more impactful thanks to the contributions of activists across London – including the chance I had last year to speak with the Regional Committee, where I saw first-hand the commitment and drive that makes our union such a powerful force. I’m excited to apply my industrial and policy experience to the challenges and opportunities ahead, especially in a year that promises to bring about some of the most positive changes for workers we’ve seen in over a decade.
This year is shaping up to be a landmark one for workers’ rights, with the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill. This is a historic piece of legislation strengthening job security, improving stability, and promoting a better work-life balance.
One of my top priorities in this role will be working with you all to lay the groundwork so the new rights make a real, tangible difference for our members. I’ll work with the lay leadership to give branches across our region the information and training to help members access their new rights and embed new provisions like the recognised Equality Rep role. The new collective rights are a huge opportunity for us too – our work in Schools and Social Care will be vital preparation for the new bargaining structures.
Another major priority for me will be to work with you to build ‘End the Exploitation: Standing with Migrant Workers’ – our regional priority campaign. This campaign builds on the legacy of the 2023 Year of the Black Worker campaign, which made incredible strides in raising awareness and challenging discrimination, exploitation, and barriers faced by migrant workers.
As we know, migrant workers are often subjected to some of the most severe forms of exploitation in the workplace, and it’s our job to stand up and challenge that. This campaign will shine a spotlight on the issues faced by migrant workers in London, while also providing a platform to address and challenge the barriers faced. We will build a resource pack to support this work so look out for updates and materials on the Activist Hub.
It’s a challenging but exciting time for trade unionism, and I know that with the combined strength of our members, activists, and staff, we will be able to tackle the challenges ahead. We have a lot of work to do, but together, I’m confident we can make this year one of growth, progress, and tangible victories for UNISON members across London.
I look forward to working with you all.
In solidarity,
Sara Gorton
Regional Secretary, UNISON Greater London