Officers report for AGM

                        Unison Barnardos

 Retired Members Contact Report for AGM

February, 2010.

FROM: Phillip A Francis and Ishbel Anderson, Joint Retired Members Contact:

We are pleased to inform you that another successful year has gone by, and your union continues to make overall growth, both in terms of representation and numbers. To this end, the Retired Members have added to their numbers. Unfortunately, though there are many more Retired Members of the Organisation, we have only 25 registered with the Committee. This means that many are missing out on possible services available, as well as being unable to offer their union the benefit of their vast knowledge and experience. This, therefore, serves as a request to existing members, as well as serving members, to inform us of friends, or persons who have retired (of course with their permission) so that they can at least have the opportunity to make use of the benefits of membership.

During the reporting period, the position of Retired Members Contact has been held by two retired members as noted above. Ishbel and I will make every effort to get in touch with as many, if not all, retired Barnardo's Unison members. We of course would value the help and support as stated above.

As contacts, we have attended Committee meetings and have kept members informed of events by newsletters. It is hoped that, in the future, we will be able to keep in touch via the website; hence, those who are able to access the site will be getting updates more frequently. It would also be helpful if members would respond to communications via either e-mail or post directly to us. This will enable us to take up issues on your behalf.

We have also attended induction meetings and assist in promoting the Union's aims at such meetings.

 In October we attended the Retired Members Conference, which was held in Scarborough. At the Conference, we wrote and spoke in support of the motion pertaining to the Abuse of the Elderly. We are pleased to report that the motion was unanimously carried. We went further in recommending that this motion be taken up at the National Conference for further action.    

 General:

Even though you have retired, UNISON still values and needs you. There are lots of exclusive benefits for you to enjoy as a retired member, as well as the usual bonuses that come from belonging to a trade union.

 Some of these include:

*        Campaigning and social contact for pensioners;

*        Use of the Croyde Bay UNISON holiday centre in Devon;

*        Discount on holidays;

*        Favourable rates for home and holiday insurance;

*        Support and advice from Unison Welfare at times of financial or personal difficulty

As a Retired Member, you should take advantage of the available services which are on offer. Where possible, attend functions in the areas near to you. We must keep ourselves informed of what is going on and what is available for retired persons. Make use of the inter-active website and gain access the information contained thereon.

Two of the many resources which we believe would be helpful are listed hereunder:

 *        Croyde Bay Holiday Village (Unison).You may wish to write or telephone for a 2010 brochure and group leaflet. Help is given in organising group holidays from Croyde Bay Village (Unison), Croyde Bay, Braunton, North Devon. EX33 1QB. Phone 01271 890 890. Fax: 01271 890 888. Email S.Wills@unison.co.uk.

 *        Unison Holiday Club: This club indicated that you are guaranteed to save money on your holiday fares by booking through them. You can phone or write to them for further information, which will be sent to you directly:

 Unison Holiday Club, PO Box 196. BR6 0ZA. Phone 08707 555 000. Fax: 08707 555 004. Email: www.unison-holiday-club.co.uk

 We wish to remind you that it would be very helpful if you would let us know whether you could attend Annual Conferences or other Retired Members Meetings in the future, as well as attend the Annual General Meetings.

 Each year at the AGM, members are asked to elect a Retired Member Contact, and you are required to assist in this process. This position is now being held by two persons.

The role of the Retired Member Secretary (Contact) is as stated here under:

 *        To organise meetings of branch retired members.

*        To ensure that the regional retired members' co-ordinator is aware of the branch retired members group.

*        To establish links with branch stewards and employers to obtain the details of members who are about to retire.

*        To organise the production of a retired members' news sheet.

*        To organise links with other retirement organisations in the area.

*        To make contact with the branch welfare secretary and liaise with him/her when the branch becomes aware that a retired member is ill or needs help.

 The person(s) elected need to be in contact with members, so that the above could be effectively implemented.

 Thank you for your support during the last year. We look forward for another year of fulfillment to all.

 Ishbel and Phillip