Unite East Midlands

02/06/2026

11/05/2026

Unite East Midlands were delighted to present a cheque for over £10k to the Derby Royal Hospital Combined Day Unit. The money will be used to buy specialist chairs to allow patients to receive treatment for cancer and blood disorders in comfort and safety.

Deputy Regional Secretary Scott Lennon, and Dean Collins & Kevin Hoyle from our Regional Committee went to present the cheque and hear from staff in the department about the vital work they do in our region. Money was donated by the region's branches towards a sponsored skydive which several members of staff on the unit were taking part in to raise money for the hospital's charity to buy the chairs for their patients.

You can make your own donations at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/cdu-skydive

04/05/2026

Chesterfield May Day 2026. Another fantastic celebration of working class solidarity and trade unions.

As well as the annual march and rally, this year's event linked in with others around the town marking the centenary of the General Strike 1926

02/05/2026

Nottingham May Day march and rally 2026!

A celebration of trade unions and all that can be achieved through unity over division.

01/05/2026

Lots going on across the East Midlands region this weekend to celebrate and commemorate the General Strike of 1926. If we have missed any events, please let us know in the comments ⬇️

Friday 1st May

Northampton and the General Strike. Northampton and District Trades Union Council's May Day Lecture 18:30 - 20:30. Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/northamptonanddistricttradesunioncouncil1/2004443

Saturday 2nd May

Nottingham May Day March and Rally - Guest Speakers include our Regional Secretary Paresh Patel and Nadia Whittome MP - Assemble for march through the city centre from 11:00 at the Brian Clough statue, near Market Square. March through Nottingham - rally at Brian Clough statue.

Monday 4th May

Chesterfield May Day March and Rally - Assemble at 10:30 at Chesterfield Town Hall, Rose Hill - Further details: https://fb.me/e/3JYmZ1u80

The Future in our Past: The General Strike 1926–2026 - Rose Hill Arts Centre, Chesterfield, S40 1LW at 13:30 - 14:30. Free tickets at: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/redpepper/2147919

28/04/2026

28/04/2026

On International Workers Memorial Day 2026, we recommit to making sure that everyone who goes to work, makes it home safely.

Safe workplaces must be a fundamental right.

Join Unite in the fight for workplace health & safety.

Remember the dead. Fight for the living.

24/04/2026

Shaun Lee (Regional Coordinating Officer) will be retiring today. I wanted to place on record on behalf of Unite the Union and the East Midlands, Regional Committee our heart-felt thanks and appreciation to Shaun for his commitment, dedication and support to our Union and its members over his many years of service.

Shaun joined UCATT Midlands Region as a Health & Safety Rep in 2003. In 2014 he became acting Regional Secretary and in 2015 was successful in securing the permanent position. Shaun became a Regional Co-ordinating Officer with Unite when the UCATT/UNITE merger took place in 2017, spending just over 4 years of his time with Unite as the East Midlands Deputy Regional Secretary. Adding up to just under 23 years being employed in the trade union movement.

His contribution to our Union and movement has been immense and whilst he starts a new chapter in his life, with his lovely wife Deb, I know Shaun will continue to contribute to our Union and the wider Trade Union movement in a different way.

On behalf of all of us Shaun, wishing you a long, happy and healthy retirement.

In Solidarity,

Paresh Patel

Regional Secretary

23/04/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for today's Equalities & Legal Conference in Leicester. The conference centred around recent and upcoming legislation changes around sexual harassment in the workplace and the duty on employers to prevent it happening. Conference also heard about the results of a survey of Unite members' experience of sexual harassment and how intersectionality can impact on the levels of sexual harassment experienced.

Conference opened with speeches and presentations from our Regional Secretary Paresh Patel, Chair of our Women's Committee Nicola Parrish, Unite National Director of Equalities Alison Spencer Scragg, Regional Legal Officer Susan Harris and Regional Women & Equalities Officer Neelam Verma.

The afternoon session included break out areas for delegates to discuss what is in place in their workplaces to prevent sexual harassment and what else needs to be done.