UNISON Self Organised Groups
Equality is at the heart of UNISON. We challenge discrimination and win equality in the workplace and beyond. Everyone shares responsibility for equality in UNISON.
But our equality work includes groups for members who experience particular types of prejudice and discrimination.
These groups meet locally and nationally to discuss, campaign and organise around the specific issues that affect them. They help UNISON understand equality and meet our equality aims.
Our four self-organised groups are for
black members
disabled members
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members
women members
We also have equality groups for young members
and retired members.
In UNISON, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plus members work together to combat homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and build equality for us all.
We are stronger together.
I'm Helen, the LGBT+ Officer for Cardiff and Vale Health branch. As a member of the LGBT+ community, I'm passionate about supporting the community and working to improve our rights both within the workplace and our wider lives. I have spent several years working in the UHB's Equity and Inclusion team before joining the Occupational Health team, and I set up the LGBT+ Blanket Project, which provides handmade blankets to LGBT+ people across the country who are struggling to keep warm in the cost of living crisis, or those who just needed some comfort.
I'm working on establishing a Self-Organised Group for LGBT+ members of Unison, and making sure LGBT+ voices are represented within the branch.
Members who are interested can get involved by completing this form (https://forms.office.com/e/eTT9xi2rkJ) to register their interest in joining the Self-Organised Group. Or if you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, you can reach me by contacting helen.anderson6@wales.nhs.uk.
Womens SOG
Hi, my name is Lorna McCourt,
I am currently Womens officer for the health boards Unison branch and have been re-elected as Womens officer for 7 years now.
I became Womens officer as I am passionate about Women’s rights, and also their safety – both in the workplace and in the community, but this always works alongside my passion for workers' rights and protecting the rights of all NHS employees, working together to combat prejudice and striving to make Cardiff and Vale a safer place for all employees.
If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, you can reach me by contacting
lorna.mccourt@wales.nhs.uk
Black Members Officer
My name is Sophie Odunaike currently an active member of Unison.
I joined Unison in 2016, I have attended many conferences such as Black members conference, Women conference and the National conference.
I moved to Cwn Taff branch in 2019 while I was a student nurse at the University of South Wales, at the same time working as a Health Support Worker in a Private health sector and as a bank staff with Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
A first time speaker during the National conference in Brighton supporting the motion “ More black Members to be involved in the Management Level of Unison.
Joined Cardiff and Vale Health Board 2023, but I was not able to continue my membership with Unison due to an overwhelming responsibilities as a Registered Mental Health Nurse..
I realised that Black Members need support in their various jobs and are underrepresented in every aspect.
I decided re-joined Unison to be able to encourage , empower and most importantly to support all Black Members as need be.
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.