Unite held a conference of shop stewards and activists to elect the new Gibraltar Executive for the next three years. Over 80 shop stewards and activists attended the conference where the new Executive was elected. That committee then met directly after the conference to attend to some immediate business including the election of the new Chair of Unite Gibraltar.

The out-going Chair, Christian Duo, who had previously indicated that he was not looking for re-election, chaired the conference and then at the following committee meeting, Ann Smith, Public Sector Convenor was elected as the new Chair of Unite Gibraltar for the next three years.

Stuart Davies, Unite National Officer stated “It was incredibly positive to see such a solid number of our shop stewards and activists at the conference to elect the new Unite Gibraltar Executive. Also the mix of returning and new faces is really healthy in terms of maintaining continuity and experience, whilst balancing this with new blood, fresh ideas and perspective. I look forward to working with the new committee across the next triennial period. I also want to thank the out-going committee for their contributions across the last three years in what has been a challenging, post-Covid period.

 “I also want to pay tribute to the out-going Chair, Christian Duo who has made a massive contribution to Unite Gibraltar over his consecutive terms as Chair, he will be sorely missed in the role, but I am very pleased that he will continue a day to day involvement in Unite Gibraltar including forming part of the new executive. Also congratulations to Ann on her election as Chair of Unite Gibraltar, she has cut her teeth as convenor in the public sector and is no doubt ready for the challenging role of Chair. I also look forward to working closely with Ann across her period of office.

"The Unite Gibraltar Executive will now be tasked with developing the strategy for the union across the next three years and beyond, a Strategy Working Group was elected at the initial committee meeting and will get started on this important piece of work”.

 A minute’s silence was also held at the beginning of the conference to show respects regarding the tragic death of the seafarer yesterday on the bunker barge, MT Nisyros.