In June 2025, the branch had two delegates, Luqman and George attend the National Delegate Conference, held in Liverpool. Luqman has provided a report of his experience at the conference below.
Luqman Uddin Workplace Steward/ Representative
This was my third time attending the National Delegates Conference. It is a great opportunity to network with other members, discuss issues and hear how other sectors are meeting the challenges in the workplace. I would definitely encourage other members to attend in 2026.
The conference was held 17–20 June 2025 at the ACC Liverpool, Liverpool. It ran for four days, open to delegates and visitors though only delegates vote on motions. There were 89 motions plus amendments, and the conference went through a large majority of them. I attended all four days and voted on all the motions presented as advised by our Branch.
Some of the main themes arising and motions passed were around:
- Organising & growth
- Migrant workers & exploitation
- Young workers, apprentices & single mothers
- Equality, inclusion & intersectionality:
Motions on trans, non-binary and gender diverse rights (following a Supreme Court ruling), the gender pensions gap, and other equality issues were carried. - Political context: There was a clear mood of frustration among some delegates at the government’s approach and expectations that the union take more robust action.
The passing of these motions sets the union’s policy direction: increased focus on organising work, member driven activism, better support for migrant workers, young workers and carers, and stronger equality work.
Effective implementation is the key next stage: branch level activism, workplace organising, legal and bargaining support, and following up the motion commitments will determine how much impact results.
The 2025 NDC was a significant event. It reinforced the union’s strategic emphasis on organising, highlighted pressing issues around migrant worker exploitation, young workers, public service funding and equality, and adopted a substantial body of policy motions. I found, the breadth of themes and carried motions indicates a busy and substantive conference.
Further information about policy motions, can be found on the main Unison data base Motions Archive | UNISON National
