Minutes of Annual General Meeting of Camden Unison Retired Members
6th March 2025 held at 5 St Pancras Square
Present: George Binette, Liz Leicester, David Eggmore, Kenneth Pereira, Keith Hallam, Ruth Appleton, Diane Pearson, Phoebe Watkins, Jane Matheson, Paula Lea
- Welcome and Apologies for absence: George Binette welcomed members; and apologies were received from Sarah Bourne
- Minutes of 2024 AGM: Diane electronically circulated the minutes of 2024 AGM at the meeting. They were approved.
- Update on past year’s activities: Paula and Keith attended the Retired Unison Members’ Conference in Llandudno last Autumn. Our emergency motion on the slashing of Winter Fuel Allowance was not taken forward.
Deputation to Camden Council’s Pensions Committee (18 November 2024) – the deputation focussed on the request for divestment in unethical sources. There has been no formal reply, and it is unknown if there has been any action by the Council, but it was well worth doing and attracted extensive coverage in the CNJ.
The Committee enjoyed a fun Xmas lunch in Camden High Street – a first!
- Information on Cuts to Winter Fuel Allowance: The speaker from the National Pensioners Convention (NPC), Jan Shortt (general secretary), was unable to attend as they’d had a serious fall recently. Press Releases from NPC and Age UK were circulated for information.
A short discussion on Thames Water price increases, the Freedom Pass and the Two-Children Benefit Cap followed. There is concern that the Freedom Pass may be withdrawn or severely restricted as TFL are running a large deficit. Currently there is no ‘social accountancy’ for the Freedom Pass.
- Election of Committee and Officers (Chair and Secretary)
The current committee agreed to stand again, and Ken Pereira was adopted.
George Binette – was re-elected as chair
Keith Hallam and Jane Matheson – agreed to job share as Joint Secretary.
- AOB:
- Unison General Secretary Election – there is no timetable yet for the election but is likely to take place in the Autumn. This is the only Unison election retired members are eligible to vote in. Currently it is unknown whether Christina McAnea will stand again. The committee will find out who Camden Unison supports – this is likely to be Andrea Egan. Once the election is announced it was proposed that other retired members were informed/lobbied to revitalise the Union. Phoebe reminded the meeting that we now have more email contacts since the recent phone round to retired members.
- Police Violence – Ruth will raise the issue of police violence with Sadiq Khan as she has not had a reply from Anne Clarke, GLA member. Community Workers find that young people do not report incidents as they don’t expect any results.
- The International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) weekly protest meetings at Swiss Cottage have been banned by the Met and moved to the Kings Cross area.
- The meeting will watch out for any protests at Trump’s future visit.
- Pension credit – encourage people to seek help if they need to for pursuing claim.
- Noted that major welfare cuts are anticipated to pay for defence.
Next meeting for Committee: 15/5/25 at 11.
It would be great if you can make the meeting in person – we had been fully online for a number of years, but at the hybrid meeting last year it was good to have quite a lot of members present in person – we could meet you, and you had a chance to meet your branch officers and reps too. As we have managed to get a room in 5PS this year, it should be even easier to come along!