NEU Equality Conferences

Annual equality conferences

There are three annual conferences for

• Black Members
• Disabled Members
• LGBT+ Members

These conferences meet annually and agree a motion which is sent forward to NEU National Conference. For more details of these conferences please email rachael.garvin@neu.org.uk

These three groups also have their own Reserved Place National Executive Member. This is because members of these groups are in a minority in the Union and they are under-represented.

These are the current seatholders:

Black Members: Den Henry. You can contact Den directly at Den.Henry@exec.neu.org.uk

Disabled Members: Colleen Johnson. You can contact Colleen directly at Colleen.Johnson@exec.neu.org.uk

LGBT+ Members: Kacey de Groot. You can contact Kacey directly at Kacey.DeGroot@exec.neu.org.uk

These executive members also represent the union on the relevant TUC equality committees.

What about women?

Women make up 76% of the Union so they are not a minority group although they are still under-represented at executive level and at conference delegations.

The strategy of the Union has therefore been to increase the engagement of women at all levels of the union through a holistic approach to training, membership, activism, membership on delegations and action.

There is no single reserved Executive seat for women. Instead, there is a rule that the National Executive must be made up of at least 50% female representatives.

Chair of the Women’s Organising Forum: Heather Mckenzie. You can contact Heather directly at Heather.Mckenzie@neu.org.uk. Heather is also the NEU representative on the TUC Women’s Committee.