For the next ten months she would cook for doctors and nurses, Covid-19 patients and visitors. I will not let this government, nor any future one, forget that.". Christina McAnea has been elected the General Secretary of Unison – the public services union. The former assistant general secretary beat fellow officials Paul Holmes, Roger McKenzie and Hugo Pierre in the contest, which began in October. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Posted on 25 January 2021 25 January 2021 by Christina McAnea. But that was only the start of her worries. Unison, which represents public sector workers, has 1.3 million members. McAnea’s victory will come as a relief for those close to Starmer after she saw off candidates from the Labour left who had said they wanted to change the union’s financial arrangement with Labour. “Health, care, council, police, energy, school, college and university staff have worked throughout the pandemic, and it’s their skill and dedication that will see us out the other side,” she said. The expectation is that one of the assistant general secretaries, Christina McAnea (born 1958) is a British trade union leader. Will trade union contests help or hinder Starmer? She takes up the post on 22 January. An official who has represented health and social care workers during the Covid-19 crisis has been elected as the first woman to lead the UK's biggest … Scot becomes general secretary with 47% of vote, seeing off challengers from left of Labour movement, Last modified on Mon 11 Jan 2021 23.37 EST. Christina McAnea will lead UNISON after winning the contest to become the union's new general secretary. Print / Translate Print page Translate page. Unison boss stepping down after 20 years in role, Stop wrangling over Corbyn, unions tell Labour. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also demanded a U-turn on public sector pay, as he urges ministers to "protect family incomes" from the effects of lockdowns and other restrictions in his first speech of the year. Facebook Twitter Email More options. "And it's a significant moment for the union to elect its first woman general secretary. She was worried about falling sick. She succeeds Dave Prentis as general secretary of the union, which has a majority of women among its 1.3 million members. https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/unison-elects-first-woman-leader Elected on Monday, Glasgow […] Unison's newly elected General Secretary Christina McAnea (Image: Daily Mirror/Ian Vogler) A member of the Government's stakeholder group on social care - … Unison, the UK's biggest trade union, has elected a woman as leader for the first time. Christina McAnea is currently an Assistant General Secretary for UNISON and previously the head of its NHS division. Most analysis of Sir Keir Starmer’s relationship with the trade unions that fund, staff and to a large extent control the Labour Party focuses on the moods of Len McCluskey, the general secretary of UK politics Education Media Society Law Scotland Wales Northern Ireland More UK news. Christina McAnea takes over as Unison's general secretary from Dave Prentis, who has been in the job since 2001. bbc.co.uk UK's biggest union elects first woman leader It’s our chance to learn the lessons of the past … Christina McAnea, who was an assistant general secretary at the union, took 47 per cent of the vote in the race to succeed Dave Prentis, defeating … The Labour leader welcomed her victory, saying: "I know you will be a brilliant representative for Unison members. Ms McAnea said: "Despite the risks, the immense pressures and their sheer exhaustion, the dedication and commitment of our key workers knows no end. Mr Holmes came second in the Unison contest, with 33.8%, followed by Mr McKenzie, on 10.8%, and Mr Pierre, on 7.8%. Ms McAnea said: "I become general secretary at the most challenging time in recent history - both for our country and our public services. The Glasgow-born negotiator has shown little interest in internal Labour machinations but is expected to be broadly supportive of Sir Keir Starmer, the party leader. Elections will soon follow at the top of the second- and third-biggest unions in the UK, both of which are also major donors to Labour. She takes up her post on 22 January. Ms McAnea grew up in Glasgow and worked as a housing officer before becoming a union employee. The pharmaceutical company is under pressure as production delays limit its supplies to the EU. Unison calls for nurseries in England to close amid third Covid lockdown. AstraZeneca-EU row escalates over vaccine shortage. Her nearest competitor was Paul Holmes with 33.8 per cent. Every year on 27 January we remember the millions of people who have been affected by the Holocaust and subsequent genocides around the world. Unison, the UK’s biggest trade union and a major Labour party donor, has elected its first female leader. Christina McAnea has today (Monday) been elected as the new general secretary of UNISON – the first woman to head the UK’s largest union. She will be the first woman to lead the UK’s largest union. VideoWho's behind the recent killings in Iraq? Christina McAnea won 47.7% of the vote and takes over as general secretary from Dave Prentis, who has been in the job since 2001. McAnea won with 47.7 per cent of the vote. Christina McAnea. Christina replaces Dave Prentis, who is retiring after 20 years as general secretary. Christina McAnea, who was an assistant general secretary at the union, won 47% of the vote, seeing off three challengers from the left of the Labour movement. Read about our approach to external linking. Unison, the UK's biggest trade union, will have a woman at its helm for the first time. — Christina McAnea (@cmcanea) January 11, 2021 “Despite the risks, the immense pressures and their sheer exhaustion, the dedication and commitment of our key workers knows no end. By Justin ParkinsonPolitical reporter, BBC News. Christina McAnea assumes the role as general secretary after winning 47.7% of the vote. Len McCluskey is expected to announce he will stand down at Unite, clearing the way for a contest for control of the union. McAnea was previously one of the assistant general secretaries (and responsible for collective bargaining and negotiation). I look forward to working with you.". What happens to your body in extreme heat? Sources say she is expected to follow a similar political line to her predecessor Dave Prentis, who endorsed Keir Starmer. Authorities had four warnings about Reading attacker's mental health . Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, has said he cannot “justify a significant, across-the-board” salary increase while the economy and public finances are under severe strain from the pandemic. Sources said she is expected to follow a similar political line to Prentis, who endorsed Starmer in the Labour leadership election and voted in his favour on the national executive committee. When the pandemic hit the UK last March, Natasha* was working in the kitchen for a hospital in Sheffield. In January 2021, she was elected as general secretary of Unison, and succeeds Dave Prentis, who is retiring after 20 years. “Supporting public service workers through the pandemic, securing an early pay rise for NHS staff and ensuring the government backs down on its plans for an ill-judged pay freeze will be my immediate priorities. I will not let this government, nor any future one, forget that. Video. “It’s probably pretty much even,” Christina McAnea, the first woman to be elected general secretary of Unison, said. Read about our approach to external linking. “I wouldn’t say management were any worse than unions.” Christina McAnea (born 1958) is a British trade union leader. Despite the risks, the immense pressures and their sheer exhaustion, the dedication and commitment of our key workers knows no end. Glasgow-born McAnea, who was assistant general secretary responsible for collective bargaining and negotiation until now, has become the first female leader of the union in its history. Monday 11 January 2021. “Their union will continue to speak up for them and do all it can to protect them in the difficult months ahead. Every time Boris Johnson holds a Downing Street press conference trade union membership applications spike, Unison’s newly elected General Secretary has revealed. The union is promising action against the government’s pay freeze for 1.3 million public sector workers, which Prentis described as an attack on members’ livelihoods. Who's behind the recent killings in Iraq? Christina McAnea promised to fight the public sector pay freeze Unison, the UK's biggest trade union, has elected a woman as leader for the first time. 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