NEU Equality Conferences

There are three annual conferences for

• Black and Minority Ethnic Members

• Disabled Members

• LGBTQ+ 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 alex.kenny@exec.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 direct at Den.Henry@exec.neu.org.uk

Disabled Members: Colleen Johnson

You can contact Colleen direct at Colleen.Johnson@exec.neu.org.uk

LGBT+ Members: Kacey de Groot

You can contact Annette direct at Kacey.DeGroot@exec.neu.org.uk

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

Women

Women make up 76% of the Union and although they are still underrepresented, they are not a minority group.

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.

There were plans to hold a national women’s conference in 2020 but Covid-19 means that all such conferences are unlikely to take place in person this year.

Chair of the Women’s Organising Forum: Heather Mckenzie

Heather is also the NEU representative on the TUC Women’s Committee.

You can contact Heather direct at Heather.Mckenzie@neu.org.uk