As this is a four-day meeting it is almost impossibloe to cover veverything. This is the agreed report from the three EC members for Health. Any questions get in touch. many thanks to Suzanne Abachor for creating the first draft.
UNITE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (EC) MEETING, Summary Report to Members Belfast 1–5 June 2026.
Andy, Janine, Suzzy
The Executive Council met in Belfast on the week 1st June – 5th June 2026, discussing key industrial, constitutional and equality matters affecting Unite members.
Key Updates
Tribute to Bus Driver Sergei Kredev
The EC paid tribute to First Bus driver Sergei Kredev, who tragically died following a violent attack while at work. Unite has called for urgent action from employers and transport authorities to improve the safety and security of bus workers.
General Secretary Election
The EC approved the nomination arrangements for the forthcoming General Secretary election. Candidates will require nominations from at least 174 branches (5% of eligible branches) to secure a place on the ballot paper. ( General Secretary was not present in the room ).
Equality and Employment Rights
The EC received updates on Unite’s work around. Flexible working rights, Pregnancy and maternity protections, Menopause policies, Gender equality measures, Protection of migrant workers, and Support for carers in the workplace. The union reaffirmed its commitment to tackling discrimination and improving support for members facing workplace injustice. Migrant Workers Concerns were raised about workers whose visa status is linked to their employment. Unite will continue campaigning to ensure migrant workers can raise workplace issues without fear of immigration consequences.
Transport Sector
The EC discussed the growing problem of violence against bus workers following recent serious incidents. Unite will continue campaigning for stronger safety measures and protections across the transport sector.
Food and Agriculture Industries
International events continue to impact fuel prices, transport operations, and food supply chains, creating additional pressures on workers and employers across these sectors.
Union Structures and Conferences
The EC approved several updates to committee structures to reflect membership growth and improve representation. Preparations are also underway for upcoming Unite conferences, including Equalities, Young Members, Retired Members, and Industrial Sector Conferences.
Services Sector Report
NHS Cuts Campaign, were raised. A point was raised in relation to the NHS Cuts Campaign, highlighting the importance of also focusing on members who remain in the workforce following staffing reductions. Janine Lee emphasised the impact on these workers, who are increasingly expected to absorb additional workloads as posts are cut. A request was made for Unite to monitor not only workforce reductions but also how employers manage the consequences of these cuts, including the redistribution of work and the expansion of responsibilities placed on remaining staff. Examples were shared of workplaces introducing highly generic job descriptions, leading to a dilution of roles, reduced clarity around duties and responsibilities, and increased expectations on workers without appropriate recognition or recompense.
EC members Visited Belfast Office
Members were informed of an opportunity to visit the newly refurbished Belfast Unite office on Wednesday afternoon. Transport arrangements were being coordinated for those wishing to attend.
General Secretary’s Report – 2 June 2026
Summary for Members.
The General Secretary explained that her report is focused on the work carried out over the last 10–12 weeks, including industrial disputes, political work, workplace campaigns, and support for reps.
Key Priorities – the main priority remains taking the union back to the workplace. The General Secretary stressed that the strength of Unite is in its members, reps, and organised workers. Political work remains important, but it must support workers and workplace campaigns. Also Support for Reps and Members. The union has increased frontline support for reps, including access to forensic accounts to challenge employers’ financial claims, improved bargaining tools such as Work, Voice, Pay, stronger mental health support for reps, greater legal support for discrimination cases, with barriers to legal backing being removed.
Industrial Action and Pay Wins.
The report highlighted the importance of supporting workers in dispute. Over the last four years, Unite has spent around £74 million on strike pay, helping workers win nearly £700 million back into their pockets. Recent wins included pay increases in different sectors, including aerospace, construction, finance, transport, and manufacturing. The General Secretary made clear that a good deal is one that reps and members believe is fair.
Combines and Sector Bargaining.
A major focus was the need to bring negotiating reps together by sector, known as “combines.” This will help Unite deal with major issues such as, Artificial Intelligence, Pensions, Pay anniversary dates, New technology agreements, Health, and Safety. The aim is to build more collective power across sectors, instead of dealing with issues company by company.
Artificial Intelligence. The General Secretary warned that AI is already affecting workplaces and that there is currently no strong legislation protecting workers. Unite will push for proper legal protections and sector-wide agreements to protect jobs, pay, and conditions.
Political Position.
The report made clear that Unite will no longer give Labour a “blank cheque.” Politicians who do not support workers should not expect support from the union, Concerns were raised about Labour’s position on, Fire and rehire, Zero-hour contracts, Workers’ rights, The NHS, Local authority cuts, Industrial investment. Unite has already reduced its Labour affiliation funding by 40% following concerns over the Birmingham bin dispute.
NHS Under Attack. The General Secretary raised serious concerns about NHS cuts, job losses, and long waiting times. She highlighted Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, where proposed cuts of £120 million over two years could affect cancer waiting times and patient care. Unite’s position is that the NHS needs investment, not cuts.
Local Authority Funding. The report warned that local councils are under major financial pressure, with local authority debt at around £122 billion. Unite is calling for fair funding, action on council debt, and a wealth tax to properly fund public services.
Oil, Gas and Green Jobs. Unite supports moving towards net zero, but only with a proper jobs plan. The General Secretary stressed that workers in oil, gas, refineries, and related industries must not be abandoned without secure alternative jobs.
Birmingham Hotel and Conference Centre. The report also addressed the serious financial issues linked to the Birmingham Hotel and Conference Centre. The General Secretary said new checks and controls are now in place to ensure such failures cannot happen again.
Legal Report. The Legal Director has commissioned a barrister to look at the legal situation around Cwm Taf Morgyanwg where the Trust is refusing to implement a JE outcome as mandated by the whole AfC agreement. He also reported that the 49% to 51% legal turn down process is being checked. A point was raised about NHS holiday pay (‘AfC Absence’) being miscalculated and the response was to offer full support.
Conclusion
The General Secretary’s message was clear, Unite must remain a workplace-led, member-led union. The union’s strength comes from organised workers, strong reps, proper support for disputes, and political action that delivers real results for working people.
EC Health Sector Report. Andrew Ford, Janine Lee, Suzanne Abachor
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