- Conference
- 2023 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 20 July 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that UNISON is often described as ‘The Public Sector Union’ and has a huge amountof members working in the public sector. The Public Sector Equality Duty came into force in 2011 and requires public authorities, in carrying out their functions, to have due regard to the need to achieve the objectives set out under s149 of the Equality Act 2010 to:
(a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010.
(b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
(c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
In order to ensure transparency, public authorities are required to publish their equalities objectives every four years, and information to demonstrate their compliance with the public sector equality duty.
Conference notes that this is an important part of UK equalities legislation, covering England, Scotland and Wales, as is the Section 75 duty covering Northern Ireland. Conference questions whether these duties are having the impact that was intended, and whether the reported outcomes are scrutinised appropriately.
Conference calls upon the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Plus Committee to:
• Work with regions and branches and with other self-organised groups, to develop a campaign for greater awareness of the duties and more detailed scrutiny of the reporting from employer.
• Work with grassroots activists to better equip them, educate them and prepare resources to bring to their employers, raising awareness of the duty, its implications and requirements.