- Conference
- 2023 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 20 July 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference greatly values the opportunity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Plus (LGBT+) members to gather for one weekend every year at National LGBT+ Conference to share concerns and aspirations, and establish priorities for the subsequent year. This is a key event for the LGBT+ Self-organised group. Conference recognises the amount of planning involved, the resources allocated, and the time and energy committed by the National LGBT+ Committee and Conference delegates. Conference however notes some concern over the scheduling.
It has been tradition for Conference to commence on a Friday afternoon and close on Sunday lunchtime. The plenary sessions take place on Saturday and Sunday. Conference understands this previous arrangement has worked well. This is because many delegates who work on weekdays have been able to attend in their own time at the weekend. Nonetheless, Conference notes this practice has continued for several years without being reviewed.
Conference appreciates that a weekend is not suitable for everyone, and that travelling back home on Sunday afternoon by public transport can be very difficult. There are often major engineering works taking place on a Sunday, which disrupts journeys and makes them much longer. This can cause a lot of stress to delegates.
Furthermore, Conference notes low attendance at the plenary sessions on Sunday because several delegates leave early. This is so they can try to avoid traffic and aim to get home at a reasonable time.
Another consideration is the excessive cost to Branches booking accommodation on a Saturday night in a city centre location. Hotel rates are often double or treble the cost of a weekday night. Conference recognises that UNISON would save a lot of money if Conference finished on a Saturday instead of a Sunday.
The National Women’s Conference used to take place between a Friday and a Sunday, but this has since changed to happening between Thursday and Saturday. Conference notes that if another Self-organised group can change its schedule it should be possible to do the same for National LGBT+ Conference.
Conference therefore calls on the National LGBT+ Committee to:
1)Ask Conference delegates after this Conference for feedback on future conference dates;
2)Seek feedback from Regional LGBT+ Groups and the National LGBT+ Caucuses on Conference scheduling;
3)Consider the benefits and detriments to changing the days of the week when National LGBT+ Conference takes place;
4)Liaise with other UNISON bodies, such as the National Executive Council, to discuss the options for scheduling future conference dates.