Happy new year. I hope 2026 will be another great year for UNISON.
As you know, I will be retiring on 21 January. My successor Andrea Egan becomes general secretary the following day. I wish her well and hope our union continues to go from strength to strength.
It’s been a huge privilege to lead the union for the last five years. In that time our membership has grown, and we’re strong and financially secure.
We’ve used that strength to speak up for members and fight for the most disadvantaged, both here and across the world.
I’m proud that our membership and activist base has grown for four years in a row. The UNISON College is a success and providing training for thousands of members and activists. We’ve delivered additional funding and the democratic control of resources to branches, devolved nations and regions.
During 14 years of Tory rule at Westminster we saw attacks on public services and living standards fall for ordinary people. Labour was elected in 2024 and I’m proud of the part our union played in getting the Employment Rights Bill into law.
This will bring the biggest change to worker and union rights in a generation. It comes with two major advances that UNISON fought for – the fair pay agreement in care – hopefully the first step towards a national care service – and the school support staff negotiating body for England. Around 400,000 of our members will benefit.
We press for change when governments get things wrong. Just last week ministers introduced legislation abolishing the two-child benefit cap, something UNISON had long pushed for.
We stopped attempts to outsource NHS facility staff into subsidiary companies. I met government and NHS leaders many times to argue against these plans. When ministers backed down, they acknowledged our campaign, saying they’d “listened to UNISON”.
Our pay fair for patient care campaign has delivered over £250m in back pay for healthcare assistants and other low-paid workers in the NHS.
These achievements are made possible by the commitment and hard work of our activists and staff. It’s this partnership working that keeps the union strong and focused.
A lasting legacy
My job has been to ensure there is a voice and a space for everyone. To ensure no single group or faction dominates and to work with all the different parts of our union. To make sure under-represented groups have both a place and power in our union. Whether that be school or care staff, migrant or disabled workers.
I’ve always been aware of the responsibility we have, as the biggest women’s organisation in the UK, to make sure women’s voices and issues are at the heart of our union. Our equalities work on race, gender, disability and LGBT+ issues is second to none in the union movement. We should be very proud of that.
Our international work has achieved much too. Often working behind the scenes with unions across the world and supporting their campaigns for justice. The union and I have worked hard to get the wider labour movement involved in our campaigns for Palestinian rights and to use our influence to achieve recognition of the state of Palestine. A fact that was recognised by the Palestinian Ambassador.
Whenever I’ve been a spokesperson for the union – in the media, at conferences, with governments and employers across the UK – I’ve always tried to ensure I acted in the best interests of our union. The aim hasn’t been to get a quick headline but to get the best outcome for members – and to make a difference.
It’s easy to stand back and stay out of decision making. The hard part is rolling up your sleeves, getting stuck in and trying to make a bad situation better. I’ve always been up for the fight whenever it’s needed.
Members at the heart of everything
I’m so proud of our members who take strike action. I’ve led national disputes and know it’s not an easy decision to walk out. Whether you are a council worker, cleaner, paramedic or a housing association officer – our members know only too well what happens when they go on strike. When we fight for our members, we’re also doing it on behalf of the communities relying on the services they help run.
It’s been amazing to be able to represent members and be the face and voice of the union. UNISON members do amazing jobs across our essential services. They keep our entire country well, educated and cared for. Our streets safe, help prevent crimes and look after victims. Local services running, libraries and youth centres open and our pavements clean. Providing the water and energy we need and protecting our precious environment.
I’ve worked for the union movement for over 37 years. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and above all to have been able to do a job I love for so long.
I will miss the many friends I have among the staff, members and activists. And I will of course now join the ranks of our wonderful retired members. No matter what I do next, I will always have UNISON in my heart.
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